Carol Zapata-Whelan describes her son's struggle with the rare genetic disease Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), focusing on the time of diagnosis at age nine to his first year in college (he matriculated as a pre-med student at the University of California, Berkeley, in September 2004). Zapata-Whelan illustrates how this struggle with FOP has shaped and strengthened her family, and how, as a mother, the experience has taught her to put her trust in the universe, and live life one day at a time. Through her son's remarkable grace and strength in dealing with his disease, she has learned that an unexpected encounter with suffering can be a blessing as well. Through flashbacks and anecdotes, Zapata-Whelan leads the reader through the ups and downs of dealing with FOP in everyday life, while offering insight, hope and guidance throughout.

Pawel Huelle imagines the adventures of Hans Castorp from Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.

The squirrel family must move to a new house, but Nonu's not happy Little Nonu Squirrel, playful and daring, has just moved into his new house with Papa Squirrel and Mummy Squirrel. As he starts exploring his new neighbourhood, he realizes there are many exciting adventures in store. He learns to skate with his newly-found friend Nicole, enjoys being fed tasty nut cakes by her Grandma, eats juicy mangoes with the Mango Gang and indulges in some crazy shenanigans with Cousin Danny. But life’s not all mangoes and skateboards. Voracious Goonda cat is on the hunt—will Nonu become his next meal?

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER • A monumental work of erudition and irony, sexual tension and intellectual ferment, The Magic Mountain is an enduring classic. With this dizzyingly rich novel of ideas, Thomas Mann rose to the front ranks of the great modern novelists, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929. The Magic Mountain takes place in an exclusive tuberculosis sanatorium in the Swiss Alps–a community devoted to sickness that serves as a fictional microcosm for Europe in the days before the First World War. To this hermetic and otherworldly realm comes Hans Castorp, an “ordinary young man” who arrives for a short visit and ends up staying for seven years, during which he succumbs both to the lure of eros and to the intoxication of ideas.

Somewhere on Magic Mountain there is a cottage. It is called the wishing cottage. They say it is impossible to find, but every once and a while someone will accidentally find themselves there. This is just one story about a girl who found the wishing cottage. She used her wish to give her brother a great adventure. I guess Ill start from the beginning Imagine discovering a hidden legend, an adventure of a lifetime, and a magic cottage! Come join new author Deborah Chambers on this exciting adventure where legends are discovered. Meet a family on a camping trip that leads to adventure and the discovery of legends such as the hidden magic-wishing cottage and Lady Lea. Somewhere on the Magic Mountain there is a hidden cottage. Can you imagine finding that? Jenny did! Deborah Chambers is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has had a career in cosmetology for many years. She is creative in nature and has a passion for reading for fun. Deborah Chambers also has a passion for storytelling. She hopes to use her creative nature and flair to encourage kids to read for fun.

* Cascades climbing routes -- the guidebooks relied on for more than 25 years * Northwest climbing legend Fred Beckey has summited and explored hundreds of Cascade peaks * Hand-drawn maps and photos with route overlays, as well as approach information Volume II in the classic Cascade Alpine Guide series features expert information on more than 300 climbing and high routes in the Cascades. This volume covers the middle of the Cascade Range, from the foothills east of Puget Sound to Lake Chelan. You'll find geographical, historical, and geological overviews of the majestic mid-Cascade region, plus important tips on safety and backcountry usage. Legendary author/climber Fred Beckey includes technical and grade information for each route to make clear exactly what type of climb you are embarking upon.

Specially-commissioned essays explore key dimensions of Thomas Mann's writing and life.