An in-depth biography of the famed Japanese American restaurateur, his rags to riches story, his determination in business, and his zest for life. “Traveling the world with my father, watching him interact with people, famous and ordinary, observing up close his balls-out sense of adventure, and having a larger-than-life personality to live up to had a profound effect on me and the formation of my character.” —From the foreword by Steve Aoki, Grammy–nominated producer and Billboard Award–winning DJ Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki was a man who succeeded in everything he pursued—from world-class wrestling, ballooning, underwater exploration, and car and boat racing to founding Benihana. Rocky’s passion for life infected all around him and accelerated the exchange of Japanese culture and cuisine with America. His rags to riches story, from dishwasher and busboy to owner of a multi-million-dollar restaurant empire, is a wild American dream realized unlike any other. Running and expanding the business would be all-consuming for most people—not to mention battling the perception of otherness—but Rocky would not be deterred. His determination for the business rivaled the drive he demonstrated in his other interests, some of which almost killed him. American Hiro by Jack McCallum, who had full access to Rocky Aoki and those in his enterprises, provides the only full inside account of one of the most famous symbols of cultural assimilation and capitalistic zeal in modern US history—a champion in business, sports, and life.

This three-book bindup of Tim Shoemaker’s Code of Silence novels takes readers on a series of realistic, nail-biting adventures. In Code of Silence, friends Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy witness a robbery … but when it appears several cops are behind the crime, they aren’t sure who they can trust. Telling the truth could be deadly. But remaining silent could mean an innocent man’s life. In Back Before Dark, the three friends find themselves caught in a trap that leads to Gordy’s abduction. As time goes by without any clues or messages from the kidnapper, Cooper takes things into his own hands. But his choices could place him in even greater danger. Finally, in Below the Surface, what was meant as a peaceful summer vacation turns frightening when Hiro is convinced she witnessed a murder on the lake. Though her instincts are rarely wrong, it appears Hiro may be mistaken this time. Unless the strange accidents happening to Cooper and Gordy are signs of something deeper and more frightening than any of them could imagine.

June, 1565: Master ninja Hiro Hattori receives a pre-dawn visit from Kazu, a fellow shinobi working undercover at the shogunate. Hours before, the shogun's cousin, Saburo, was stabbed to death in the shogun's palace. The murder weapon: Kazu's personal dagger. Kazu says he's innocent, and begs for Hiro's help, but his story gives Hiro reason to doubt the young shinobi's claims. When the shogun summons Hiro and Father Mateo, the Portuguese Jesuit priest under Hiro's protection, to find the killer, Hiro finds himself forced to choose between friendship and personal honor. The investigation reveals a plot to assassinate the shogun and overthrow the ruling Ashikaga clan. With Lord Oda's enemy forces approaching Kyoto, and the murderer poised to strike again, Hiro must use his assassin's skills to reveal the killer's identity and protect the shogun at any cost. Kazu, now trapped in the city, still refuses to explain his whereabouts at the time of the murder. But a suspicious shogunate maid, Saburo's wife, and the shogun's stable master also had reasons to want Saburo dead. With the shogun demanding the murderer's head before Lord Oda reaches the city, Hiro and Father Mateo must produce the killer in time . . . or die in his place. Susan Spann's Blade of the Samurai is a complex mystery that will transport readers to a thrilling and unforgettable adventure in sixteenth-century Japan.

Stanley loves to help, but sometimes he gets so excited he makes mistakes. While running errands for his mom—CRASH—Stanley bounces his ball right on top of Mouse’s house, smashing it to smithereens. Stanley wants to make up for what he’s done, but how? In Elisa Kleven’s expressive, detailed pictures, Stanley finds his inspiration all around him, from here and there, and this and that. Soon he is ready to surprise his friend with a new house, and what a wonderful place it is!

COME ONE, COME ALL! Hop in for an amazing tour of Hiro Mashima’s imagination–with eight exciting rides to choose from! You can read the story that birthed Fairy Tail, go on a fun journey with Plue, and meet all-new friends and foes! * MAGICIAN: In order to save the Magician’s Club at his school, Aoi, the club president, must put his small-time illusions aside and rescue the principal’s dog! But when a mysterious group appears, Aoi taps into his true magical powers! * FAIRY TALE: A national treasure’s been stolen and the magical world of faeries is in an uproar! The Fire Prince Silva may not get along with the Water girl, El, but they’ll have to overcome their differences to confront an evil witch! * COCONA: Taking her pet cat along for the journey, Cocona’s about to give up being the Princess of Devils for one shot at love…with a human! * PLUE’S ADVENTURE II: Plue’s beloved candy has gone missing! (To Plue, it’s a big deal.) Choose your path to solve this mystery! * BAD BOY’S SONG: With high school graduation only three months away, four best friends reflect on their boring school life and vow to leave an awesome legacy behind! * MP: Elena is learning magic, and needs one very special book to become a pro. Too bad she’s not the only one after it, and her clumsy buddy Bomb isn’t much help! * XMAS HEARTS: Santa Strat is a Christmas hater, and he plans to skip the holidays and feast on cake yet again. Or he did…until someone stole all the cakes! Now he’s looking for payback! * COMBO SQUAD: Despite his job as a hero, Mafuyu Mitsurugi is more of a zero. In a last ditch effort, his boss teams him up with a beautiful girl and a surly brute. And they just might save the day!<

Contemporary Los Angeles. A trucker and his wife, a nine-year-old saxophonist, an ice cream vendor, a sex worker, and a corpse, among others--are borderless selves in a borderless city, a city impossible to contain.

The story is about a couple who are childhood sweethearts growing up in Boyle Heights. After an accident separates them, they find each other while serving in the military service in Japan. They suffer a few problems while in service but with the strength of their love, they are able to overcome these obstacles. They solidify their relationship by getting married and help to unite a community.