Sister Lucy Hennessy, a member of the Servants of the Mother of God, became interested in her family history after her parents died. With both of them gone, she wanted to connect with the relatives that walked the roads she walked, prayed in the church she prayed in, and who, in some cases, went to the school she attended. What were their names? Where were they born? What were their hopes and dreams? She explores those questions and more in this family history, revealing a hardworking, Irish-Catholic family who lovingly and courageously passed on the deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. They toiled and labored in difficult times and lived out their lives doing routine tasks. They were men and women like us who lived ordinary lives and struggled with ordinary problems – and in some cases, very difficult problems. This book presents a history, including documents and photos, of the author’s parents (Patrick Reardon Hennessy and Annie Murphy Donovan), their parents and grandparents, and sketches of other family members. Pause and reflect on your own family and its wonderful history as the author delves into the past to reveal the glory of God.

A simple retelling of the birth of Jesus with emphasis on the quiet time before the arrival of the shepherds, angels, and kings.

With gentle, joyful illustrations, this celebration of the potential in each person illuminates the simple ways the world can be a better place — because of you. Each time a child is born, the world changes. Each child brings to the world one more person to love and care for — and one more person who can love and care for others. As children grow and learn, they can teach others and share feelings, ideas, and things. Just as each of us sometimes needs help, we can also find ways to help others. The author and illustrator of MY BOOK OF THANKS reunite to show, through everyday examples, how acts of kindness, understanding, and generosity — no matter how small — can make all the difference in the world.

Looks at the life and work of the provocative Catholic social reformer from the personal point of view of someone who knew her well, her granddaughter.

Ever wonder how a road is built? Come along with Caldecott Medalist Simms Taback and find out! First you’ll meet the crew. Then you’ll see all the trucks up close—cement mixers, bulldozers, dump trucks, graders, pavers—and learn what each one does. And finally, you’ll watch a bustling new road come to life! “A splendid introduction to a world that many children find riveting.”—Publishers Weekly

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an exquisite love story about Queenie Hennessy, the remarkable friend who inspired Harold’s cross-country journey. “This lovely book is full of joy. Much more than the story of a woman’s enduring love for an ordinary, flawed man, it’s an ode to messy, imperfect, glorious, unsung humanity.”—The Washington Post A runaway international bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed its unassuming hero on an incredible journey as he traveled the length of England on foot—a journey spurred by a simple letter from his old friend Queenie Hennessy, writing from a hospice to say goodbye. Harold believed that as long as he kept walking, Queenie would live. What he didn’t know was that his decision to walk had caused her both alarm and fear. How could she wait? What would she say? Forced to confront the past, Queenie realizes she must write again. In this poignant parallel story to Harold’s saga, acclaimed author Rachel Joyce brings Queenie Hennessy’s voice into sharp focus. Setting pen to paper, Queenie makes a journey of her own, a journey that is even bigger than Harold’s; one word after another, she promises to confess long-buried truths—about her modest childhood, her studies at Oxford, the heartbreak that brought her to Kingsbridge and to loving Harold, her friendship with his son, the solace she has found in a garden by the sea. And, finally, the devastating secret she has kept from Harold for all these years. A wise, tender, layered novel that gathers tremendous emotional force, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that can change a person’s life.

White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing is the story of Gail Lukasik’s mother’s “passing,” Gail’s struggle with the shame of her mother’s choice, and her subsequent journey of self-discovery and redemption. In the historical context of the Jim Crow South, Gail explores her mother’s decision to pass, how she hid her secret even from her own husband, and the price she paid for choosing whiteness. Haunted by her mother’s fear and shame, Gail embarks on a quest to uncover her mother’s racial lineage, tracing her family back to eighteenth-century colonial Louisiana. In coming to terms with her decision to publicly out her mother, Gail changed how she looks at race and heritage. With a foreword written by Kenyatta Berry, host of PBS's Genealogy Roadshow, this unique and fascinating story of coming to terms with oneself breaks down barriers.