If you loved My Family and Other Animals and can't get enough of the Durrells after the Corfu series, this is the book for you. It constitutes a series of anecdotal snippets and short stories including 'The Picnic', a laugh-out-loud account of an ill-fated Durrell family excursion, which should have been a relaxing, jolly affair. But with the Durrells things are seldom straightforward and on this occasion all that could go wrong did go wrong - except Gerald Durrell's sense of humour in recounting the tale. Other hilarious and surreal Roald Dahlesque stories ensue, including the critically acclaimed Gothic horror story 'The Entrance'.

Hummingbirds. You know what they are. Tiny emerald speed demons. People used to hang out jars of red sugar-water for them... until environmental disasters rewired their tiny brains and aggressive appetites to prefer the taste of human blood. But they’d better watch out who they mess with, because Sissy has an aerosol can, and she knows how to turn it into a flamethrower!This is not a story about Book of Dark.This is the story of a Majjikon who lost his memory.This is the story of a boy named Keane...Keane Davies is an ordinary fourteen year old orphan, normal in every way. Except that he sometimes awakens in the middle of the night to find his hands glowing bright green.He doesn't understand why he dreams of a scary, black dragon and an enchanted forest, or why his best friend won't let him use his strange new powers against the bullies at school and their needlessly violent methods of "conflict resolution". And things aren't helped any when he starts to develop a crush on the new girl at John Atkins High, inadvertently making her a target for the terrifying bullies.It's a good thing, then, that he remains quite unaware of his innate connection to the fearsome band of supernatural beings who call themselves Terralytes, and who are on the rise against the Council of Majjikons and the High Realm in their quest to claim the Earth in the name of their Order.Will Keane ever learn to use his powers? Will the dark dragon and the mystical forest in his dreams ever make sense? And will he ever find the mettle to face up to his high school tormentors?"Always Stand Up" is the first of thirty-six installments which comprise the Book of Dark Series. Find out more at www.BookOfDark.com.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming, who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses--Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose--to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms. But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening--even if no one will ever know it was they who did it. Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination--it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

Young fans of Star Wars and silliness will toad-ally love Commander Toad! When Commander Toad finds a new planet that seems the ideal place for a picnic for his tired crew, he and Lieutenant Lily go down to look around first, only to be swallowed up by giant grapes. Is this the end for the brave crew of the Star Warts? Or can Doc Peeper, the ship's medical officer, help them escape from the Planet of the Grapes?

Paul's attempts to adjust to New York City life are thwarted at his high school, nicknamed Don't Care High, until his manipulation of a new Student Council president wakes up the apathetic student body.

JOURNALIST Josie Fox lives a solitary but enjoyable life. When her half-sister Amy crashes her beloved car and suffers severe head trauma, later lapsing into a coma, Josie rushes to her side. Amy's neurosurgeon is not optimistic in his prognosis. Josie is then faced with the more than likely possibility that Amy will never regain consciousness.JOURNALIST Josie Fox lives a solitary but enjoyable life. When her half-sister Amy crashes her beloved car and suffers severe head trauma, later lapsing into a coma, Josie rushes to her side. Amy's neurosurgeon is not optimistic in his prognosis. Josie is then faced with the more than likely possibility that Amy will never regain consciousness. Josie investigates the car accident and learns, much to her dismay, that Amy had tried to take her own life. Josie employs her investigative skills and uncovers the reason for Amy choosing to commit suicide - her boyfriend reneged on his promise to marry her after his divorce became final. While Josie sits at Amy's bedside, praying for her full recovery, she comes up with a plan to pay back Amy's boyfriend for his callous disposal of her sister.

From blockbuster author James Patterson comes the third installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling Middle School series! Georgia Khatchadorian plans to excel at Hills Village Middle School in all the places her troublemaking brother failed. She's even bet him that she'll quickly become one of the most popular girls in school. But Rafe left a big mark at HVMS, and no one will give Georgia a chance! Even worse, Rafe has sneakily signed up her band to play at the school dance, and she's terrified to embarrass herself in front of the snooty "Princesses" who run the school and the boy who's caught her eye. Will she be able to overcome her fears and win her bet with Rafe? Find out THE TRUTH about Rafe Khatchadorian's sister in the first Middle School story from the point of view of the hilarious Georgia--a girl who's ready to speak her mind! Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout.

A star-studded anthology with a devilish hook, whose proceeds benefit 826nyc: the fabulous literacy non-profit founded by Dave Eggers.   Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? That man is Herman Mildew. The anthology opens with an invitation to a party, care of this insufferable monster, where more than 80 of the most talented, bestselling and recognizable names in YA and children’s fiction learn that they are suspects in his murder. All must provide alibis in brief first-person entries. The problem is that all of them are liars, all of them are fabulists, and all have something to hide...

Taking The Reins is the first installment of The Rosewoods, an exciting new Young Adult series for readers who love fun, flirty love stories.Brooklyn Prescott (if that’s even her real name) is the new girl at The Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence, now that she’s moved back to the States after two years living in London. Rosewood, a boarding school for children of the rich and famous and known for its celebutantes, is missing just one element important to any junior’s education: boys. But luckily for Brooklyn, and the rest of the Rosewood girls, there’s a boys’ boarding school, The Westwood Academy, just a few miles away.On her very first day, Brooklyn meets Will, a gorgeous and flirty boy on campus to help with move in. But is he who she thinks he is? And what about Brady, the cute stable boy? Or Jared, the former child actor with his grown-up good looks who can always make her laugh? As Brooklyn settles in at Rosewood, she’s faced with new friends, new challenges and new opportunities to make herself into the girl she always wanted to be. Whoever that might be.Taking The Reins is the first installment of The Rosewoods, an exciting new Young Adult series for readers who love fun, flirty love stories.

Tambrera rum executive Sam Bartleby receives a company notice that he is fired. Discontent with his paltry severance, Bartleby discusses with his uncle an avenue to stay in the British Virgin Islands without a job, involving an arrangement with a sugar baby. Having a drink in a terrace, Bartleby sees the perfect candidate: Ethnographer Flower Parkwood, the good friend of teleoperator Clarity Nice.On a 'Martini Bianco' bar terrace in the British Virgin Islands, Tambrera rum executive Sam Bartleby receives notice that he is fired. Worried about his financial future and the grim prospects for his personal life, Bartleby discusses with his uncle Clive, an unexplored business strategy that will allow him to stay in the Islands without a job. His plan involves recruiting a sugar baby, and over drinks, Bartleby finds the perfect candidate in Ethnographer, Flower Parkwood, the why-not, clueless, bohemian friend of teleoperator Clarity Nice.While Clive spends time with Clarity, Bartleby spends the day with Flower trying to convince her of the benefits of being his sugar baby but Clarity´s friend refuses the slick executive’s propostion. He persists; he will provide food, lodging, travel arrangements and valuable personal guidance to her for the long term. To entice her, he pays for a large shopping spree on the island of Tortola.After a good meal in one of the island´s nicest restaurants, Flower finally accepts Bartleby´s offer to board the company boat, a wannabee-yacht, the 'Lady Moura'. She will be his sugar baby for a few days while he carries out a business transaction for a marriage and dating site named Oleanne. The deal allows Flower to bring her friend Clarity onboard. Together they collaborate on the business transaction with Bartleby and a man known as Chubby Caddy, an important client of the Oleanne dating service coming from Panama.

A bit like the original Planet me - with added zest! A calculating and savage analysis of everyday life situations. Oh, and a monumental annihilation of contemporary political thinking.Follow up to the original "Planet Me". Very little to do with Whisky, or even the Scottish. Simply "a book with some more stuff in it". A large glass of red should make the words go down easier. A humorous philosophical look at life in general and incompetence in particular. Check out the full original book Planet Me.

Gadzooks! It's another term at Dother Hall for Tallulah and her mates. But can they keep their minds on the arts with all those boys about...After the thing-that-will-never-be-mentioned last term, Tallulah is keen to put all thoughts of Cain behind her. But that seems like that the last thing he wants. Their performing arts college may have been saved by Honey's mystery benefactor, but for how long is anyone's guess. So will Tallulah finally get to wear those golden slippers of applause or will Dr Lightowler swoop down on her glory days? And with Seth and Flossie forever snogging, Vaisey and Jack loved-up and Phil and Jo fondly biffing each other can Tallulah resist the call of her wild boy? Don your craziest tights and Irish dance your way to some surprising and hilariously unexpected answers...

A nonbeliever wakes up in the afterlife. After conversing with angels and demons, he must decide: Heaven or Hell.My first original work of Science Fiction, a genre I have been a fan of for quite sometime. I hope you enjoy reading it! PJ

pistache (pis-tash): a friendly spoof or parody of another's work. [Deriv uncertain. Possibly a cross between pastiche and p**stake.] From Thomas Hardy's football report to Dan Brown's visit to the cash dispenser, the work of the great and the not-so-great is here sent up with little hope of coming down. Most of these pieces began their life on Radio Four's The Write Stuff, but have been retooled for the printed page. Others, such as Martin Amis's first day at Hogwarts, have been written specially for this collection. Philip Larkin's Lines in Celebration of the Queen Mother's 115th Birthday, first banned, then cut by the BBC, appears in its entirety for the first time. This is not a book for the faint-hearted or the downstairs lavatory. It is a book for the bedside table of someone you cannot live without.

All a princess wants is to be rescued by her prince -- isn't it? Perhaps staying with her dragon wasn't such a bad idea after all...A new life in Alaska.A massive aurora.A spaceship hidden under the ice and snow.For Hawk and Zach Callahan, getting to the small town of Salmon Run presents the first challenge. From the moment they arrive the locals freely share their opinions. While still in Cordova an old prospector declares the two cheechakos unprepared for the realities of an Alaskan winter and goes about fixing it. A failed sled-dog takes an unwelcome liking to Hawk, giving rise to an old phobia. The young native Sasha attaches herself to Zach, much to his disgust. They think they have it made when they board the unique train that will take them through a dark roadless wilderness to their new home.The same night a massive display of the Aurora Borealis lights up the sky.Resulting in the Solar Express train powering down all by itself, stranding its passengers.Only, the energetic aurora affected something else out in the wilderness.Welcome to Salmon Run, Alaska! A place of wild animals, wild lands, and wild inhabitants...oh, and native legends come alive and an interplanetary alien conflict at their backdoor. A fun contemporary science fiction series for teens, young adults, and adults of all ages.Books in the Salmon Run series in order:Night of the AuroraAlien WinterThe Singing LakesSecret IllusionsSpecter of the White DeathAurora EquinoxBreakup - Alaska StyleThe Legend of Crazy Uncle George