We can all laugh at life lessons we learned as children. With humor thru short stories with Randy the Rooster and Bubble Gum Lies and together we can walk thru challenges with encouraging words.

Diplomacy has never been Alex’s strong suit… When the vampire council puts Alex and James on trial for exposing the species’ existence to the world, Alex's freedom and James's life hang in the balance, though Alex suspects James’s new daywalking ability is the real aim of their inquisition. Any hope of talking their way out of hot water evaporates when one of the council members is found murdered…with James standing over the smoldering corpse. With every vampire looking to claim Alex’s power for themselves, she will have to team up with an unlikely ally, push her magic to its limits, and match wits against a powerful new foe if she hopes to come out unscathed. Praise for L. R. Braden: “Magic, Murder and Romance, oh my! This is an amazing fantasy in which every character is more than they appear.‗Winchester Public Library on A Drop of Magic “A riveting world filled with amazing characters and a tightly woven plot.‗Richelle Rodarte, Netgalley reviewer on Chaos Song “This is one of my favorite fictional worlds to visit. . . . I devoured this like a reader starved for every word, gulping yet somehow managing to savor the delightful taste of the story.‗Lucretia, Goodreads reviewer on Of Mettle & Magic About the Author: L.R. Braden is the bestselling author of the Magicsmith urban fantasy series, the spin-off Rifter Series (Book One Demon Riding Shotgun), and several works of short fiction. Her writing has won the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Sci-fi/Fantasy, the First Horizon Award for debut authors, the Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy, and the CAL Award in both the Fantasy and Paranormal categories. She was also honored to be a finalist for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Writer of the Year award. She and her family live in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies.

Jeremy Scott, was born an underdog, always trying to overcome. Jeremy, was raised in a single family home, barley a pot to pee in and a hand to pour it out. While surrounded with Drugs, Sex, Violence, and abuse, still walking with a smile on his face. While his family would always pray GOD would grant him favor over his struggle and be somebody. Will Jeremy Len Scott fall victim of the Struggle, or will he overcome and become something better of his Mother, who always instilled in him at his tender young age.

From bestselling author Chelsea Sedoti comes a comedic young adult mystery with "one of the most relatable characters in recent young adult literature" (Book Page), perfect for fans of John Green and Jandy Nelson. Hawthorn Creely's not one to get involved in other people's business. But a missing person's investigation? That's another matter... Hawthorn wasn't trying to insert herself into a missing person's investigation. Or maybe she was. But that's only because Lizzie Lovett's disappearance is the one fascinating mystery their sleepy town has ever had. Bad things don't happen to popular girls like Lizzie Lovett, and Hawthorn is convinced she'll turn up at any moment—which means the time for speculation is now. So Hawthorn comes up with her own theory for Lizzie's disappearance. A theory way too absurd to take seriously...at first. The more Hawthorn talks, the more she believes. And what better way to collect evidence than to immerse herself in Lizzie's life? Like getting a job at the diner where Lizzie worked and hanging out with Lizzie's boyfriend. After all, it's not as if he killed her—or did he? Told with a unique voice that is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Hawthorn's quest for proof may uncover the greatest truth is within herself. Perfect for buyers looking for: funny books for teens character-driven coming-of-age stories the young adult books best sellers 2017 Also by Chelsea Sedoti: It Came from the Sky As You Wish Praise for The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett: "A dark, comedic mystery about a girl's quest for proof that ultimately helps her discover some truths about herself. We officially love Hawthorn. [O]ffbeat, smart and awesome."—Justine Magazine "Sedoti's debut offers an enlightening look at the dangers of relying on outward appearances to judge someone's character, and Hawthorn's first-person narrative, filled with obsessive thoughts and, eventually, meaningful reflection, is a lively, engaging vehicle for the story... Fans of character-driven novels will appreciate this."—Booklist "Hawthorn and Lizzie both emerge as surprising, intricate characters whose stories are resonant and memorable."—Publishers Weekly "Hawthorn is an engaging young woman with a vivid imagination...With an interesting and diverse supporting cast, this novel is full of topics that are relevant to teens: bullying, self-esteem, family dynamics, and suicide. Highly recommended."—Shelf Awarenes

"Readers will be focused on the mystery, pulled on by the gripping suspense."—Kirkus A Legendary Ghost, An Ancient Treasure, A Mystery Only Samantha Sutton Can Solve There's nothing Samantha Sutton wants more than to become an adventure-seeking archaeologist like her brilliant Uncle Jay. Samantha's big dreams are finally coming true when Jay invites her along on a summer excavation of an ancient temple in the Peruvian Andes. But this adventure isn't exactly what she thought it would be with her nosy older brother, Evan, and Jay's colleagues monitoring her every move. And she has to deal with the local legend, EI Loco: a ghostly madman who supposedly haunts the ruins. But when the project's most important finds go missing, it's up to Samantha to solve the mystery before the treasures of the temple are lost forever.

The debut novel from the “Munro-esque” (Houston Post) author of Disasters in the First World, Here Lies is Olivia Clare Friedman’s visceral and portentous look at mourning, memory, and motherhood in an alternate Louisiana ravaged by climate change. Louisiana, 2042. Spurred by the effects of climate change, states have closed graveyards and banned burials, making cremation mandatory and the ashes of loved ones state-owned unless otherwise claimed. In the small town of St. Genevieve, Alma lives alone and struggles to grieve in the wake of her young mother Naomi’s death, during which Alma failed to honor Naomi’s final wishes. Now, Alma decides to fight to reclaim Naomi’s ashes, a journey of unburial that will bring into her life a mysterious and fiercely loyal stranger, Bordelon, who appears in St. Genevieve after a storm, as well as a group of strong, rebellious local women who, together, teach Alma anew the meaning of family and strength. With poignance, poeticism, and deep insight in Here Lies, Olivia Clare Friedman gives us a stunning portrait of motherhood, friendship, and humanity in an alternate American South torn asunder by global warming. This is a stunning first novel from a unique and inventive writer.

Roy Freeman, a suburban Jewish teenager, is troubled by the injustices of apartheid South Africa in the 1960s. Prejudice is not, however, confined to the oppression of 'non-whites'; it permeates the diverse ethnic and religious groups in a nation founded on the ideology of racial superiority. Perplexed, often angry, he is a witness to the bigotry of his own family and friends. This captivating novel traces Roy's rite of passage from schoolboy to army conscript, from sexual ingenue to politicized university student. A succession of uproarious episodes and an assortment of unforgettable characters highlight the absurdities of everyday South African life. By turns comic and poignant, White Lies is an enthralling portrait of life in the 1960s in a country that still strives to overcome its iniquitous past, and achieve justice and equality.