THE TORCHBEARER follows THE SWORDSMAN as the second book of the WINDOW TO YESTERDAY series. What is it like to be so different? Not just different. To be told you can't do things others can do. Because you're different. And they won't let you go home. Well, they let you go there, but they say your home isn't really yours. And they don't allow you to do things. Even there. So home isn't really home. So you go somewhere new, where no one knows you. And you make friends. But then they say you're different - same story and worse - that you're evil. It's hard to believe what they accuse you of... When they attack others like you, do you run? Or fight? There are a lot more of them than you. The answer: it depends. On the details. Then you'll understand. "The Torchbearer is a beautiful entrée into the fascinating and often astonishing world of Jewish life during the Middle Ages. Jews traveled more than most other communities, spoke many languages, and served invaluable roles in both the Christian and Muslim worlds. This book brings this universe to life in all its complexity through an engaging narrative with adventure, surprise and intrigue." - Dr. Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College and Affiliate Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California "Ever wonder what life was like for a Jewish kid during the First Crusade? Well, now you can find out! Weaving in a tremendous amount of research, Jeff Lefkowitz has created a living world that spans both the Muslim and Ashkenazi lands ... What a fabulous addition to the Jewish educational landscape." - Dr. Rachel Lerner, Dean, Graduate Center for Jewish Education, American Jewish University "Once again, Jeff Lefkowitz lights the way for teens toward a deeper understanding of Jewish life and history. The Torchbearer, his latest addition to the Window to Yesterday series, is a well-researched, relevant, and marvelous journey. Truly fun to read." - Dr. Bruce Powell, Head Emeritus, de Toledo High School and co-author of Raising A+ Human Beings "I definitely recommend this book! Teenagers and adults alike will enjoy David's journey. The story unfolds through the eyes of young characters; teenagers will cheer for them and truly connect with them." - Carolyn Kessler, senior at The Emery/Weiner School, Houston, Texas

"In this important, sophisticated, and original study, Chad Williams establishes the centrality of black soldiers and veterans to the struggles against racial inequality during World War I as no other book does. Torchbearers of Democracy sensitively examines the fraught connections between citizenship, obligation, and race while highlighting the diversity of black soldiers' experiences in fighting on behalf of a democracy that denied them rights and dignity. This is a major contribution to political, military, and civil rights history."--Eric Arnesen, George Washington University.

Like any bored eleven-year-old with an imagination, Prem makes fantastic wishes. So when his father drags him to a monsoon-lashed Mumbai, Prem know it's futile to dream of home. Instead, he wishes for a genie, a dragon and some superpowers. What he certainly doesn't wish for is a quest to save some gods who are at the brink of extinction. He finds that the gods' last hope lies in the hands of those who channel the mysterious power of the Vedas. Caught in a cosmic crossfire, with a talking fish, some inventive monkeys and a few unexpected allies, Prem learns of his true identity-as a Torchbearer. Can the Torchbearers stop bloodthirsty demons from getting their hands on the Nectar of Immortality and bring the gods back to power?

What if ... buried deep inside your brain were eyewitness memories of events that changed history? Memories of what your own great, great - too many to write - grandfather or grandmother saw and did when they were young. Of how a prankster, a hothead, and a smart, tough girl were swept up in one of history's great clashes: the first war between the ruthless Roman Empire and underdog Judea. Are you the descendant of heroes? Or of cowards? Would you want to know? And what of those Judeans whose ideas, not swords, would one day conquer the world?It's too late for them. But it's not too late for you.This series debut is fun, thought-provoking, and historically accurate. But what's with the goat? For ages 12-120. *** "A wonderfully engaging and easy way for young teens to enter the tumultuous Jewish world of the first century C.E. Readers get to know in a very personal way the issues faced by the people who shaped what Judaism came to be. This book reminds me of ... As a Driven Leaf, ... by far ... the favorite among my students of Judaism in antiquity ... No wonder it has been republished many times ... I fully hope and expect that this book will have the same memorable impact on its young - and older - readers for an equally long ... time." -Elliot Dorff, Rabbi, Ph.D. Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy American Jewish University "What a fun ... way to learn about Jewish history! Jump in with these lovable characters as you go back in time ... This book is extremely well researched, using primary sources as a springboard for compelling historical fiction. Teachers of Jewish history, texts, and culture, this book is your new go-to resource!" -Dr. Rachel Lerner, Dean, Graduate Center for Jewish Education, American Jewish University

New Poetry Collection a Torchbearer’s Salute to 100 Years of Olympic Spirit Jacksonville, FL – (December 7, 2004) – Every so often there comes along a poet who chisels his words out of an unforgettable experience, a rare event in his life that left him forever changed. When Kermite Bristow, gifted in the expression of the beautiful, was chosen to be an Olympic torchbearer, he was inspired to create wonderful poetry now comprising his new book, A Torchbearer’s Salute to 100 Years of Olympic Spirit. This poetry anthology—perfectly worded, exquisitely realized—tells of true-life stories of Olympic heroes. Written in rhyme, it explores the Olympics down through the ages and the people involved. At the same time, it pays tribute to the men and women whose passion for and love of sport has kept the Olympic spirit alive. About the Author Kermite Bristow was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1953. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Bristow won his first international poetry contest out of Baltimore, Maryland, as awarded by the International Library of Poetry in 2000. In April 2004, he placed in a national poetry contest as awarded by the American Poets Society in Baltimore, Maryland. A Torchbearer’s Salute to 100 Years of Olympic Spirit * By Kermite Bristow Publication Date: December 1, 2004 Trade Paperback; $21.99; 60 pages; 1-4134-5061-X To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 476. Tearsheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Jia Wang. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (215) 923-4685 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 876. Xlibris is a strategic partner of Random House Ventures, LLC, and a subsidiary of Random House, Inc. For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.

This tells of surgeon-aristocrat Mayoso Marti, an unconventional, contradictory man of enormous magnetism and courage whose intense loyalties to persona and principle draw him into a life of double jeopardy. One is a world of established wealth and power the other is one of hunger and adversity. Through Mayosoʼs burning commitment to the value of the individual human life, these opposite worlds are interlocked as the novel moves from a Connecticut mansion to a hospital faced with scandal, to a cathedral confessional, to the bullet-spattered avenidas of Caracas, to an American courtroom shocked into silence. Itʼs an emotional sage of abortion versus the Catholic faith.