A lonely doll without a name endures a series of terrible misfortunes before she finally finds someone to love her.

A sad beginning for a little girl who had nothing but poverty in her life and a friendly relationship with her school teacher... "e;She pressed her little face so tight to the window of the shop"e;. "e;They even found an old Porcelain Doll down these mines dating back to maybe the 1800's"e;.

For Anne Olsen, new and improved is the only way to live. So how'd she fall for a secondhand man? Charlotte had the Malibu Barbie with a full wardrobe, Emily inherited a slightly used Barbie with two outfits and Anne was left with a one-armed, bald Barbie who enjoyed nudist colonies. It's little wonder that at twenty-nine, Anne drives a new car, eats only from freshly opened packages and thinks antique is a euphemism for moldy. After growing up in the shadows of her older sisters—one a swimsuit model, the other a pop-feminist—Anne's personality is one part sibling rivalry and two parts VD (stands for Vague Dissatisfaction, and yes, it itches). Now she's the self-professed underachiever in the family, determined to find happiness on her own terms. But when her sister's ex-boyfriend—seemingly perfect, potentially interested—reenters her life, Anne's got to ask: Could she possibly fall in love with a hand-me-down man?

There’s a mystery brewing in Abuelita’s shop in the fourth and final Hand-Me-Down Magic book. The complete series is perfect for fans of Ivy and Bean and Dory Fantasmagory, with adorable illustrations and short, easy-to-read chapters. Del finds a very beautiful tea set hidden deep in the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe—but something about it doesn’t add up. It’s missing some teacups, and the hand-painted design on it looks very familiar. The tea set must be connected to their family. Alma and Del are excited to solve the case of the mysterious tea set, but their questions (“Who painted it?” “Is it magical?”) only get an Abuelita shrug and a confusing answer. Still, with determination, neighborhood magic, and a little help from Evie, the best-friend-cousins will learn the story behind the tea set as they work to make it whole once more. Corey Ann Haydu’s writing is filled with tender moments, wholesome humor, and magical detail—reminiscent of literary icons like Beverly Clearly, Marla Frazee, and Katherine Applegate. This chapter book series is pitch perfect for kids reading at this young level. And Luisa Uribe's stunning black-and-white illustrations capture the warmth and unique personality of each character. Enjoy the whole series: Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: Stoop Sale Treasure Hand-Me-Down Magic #2: Crystal Ball Fortunes Hand-Me-Down Magic #3: Perfect Patchwork Purse Hand-Me-Down Magic #4: Mysterious Tea Set

This sequel to the captivating novel, Tommytown, will rip through the hearts of all mothers. In the 1950's Helen, the 35-year-old mother, living in sheer poverty with nine children, is compelled to overcome another hurdle as she maintains a balancing act from one day to the next in order to provide food, and a loving home for her children. In Helen's Song, the author does an extraordinary job of painting an accurate picture of what it's like and what it means for a mother living in poverty with no public assistance. He'll educate you to the challenges that Helen faced each day, and you'll get some understanding of how different her world is from yours. He tears down the misunderstood and influencing social definition that 'poor folks won't amount to anything ' The intellectuals of the academic world write tons of books on poverty that appeal to theory or meaningless data. However, their answers or remedies are minimal, and when it comes to understanding what it's really like to live in sheer poverty; they haven't the foggiest conception. This is not a 'Beaver Cleaver meets Opie' story, but it is a story that makes you care. It's a novel about a mother. . .Helen, living in a world that most people never experience.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of 2012 “Hand Me Down, which recalls the gritty power of Dorothy Allison's Bastard Out of Carolina, is fiction with the ring of truth.” –San Jose Mercury News Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Reid has spent her life protecting her sister, Jaime, from their parents’ cruel mistakes and broken promises. When their mother chooses her second husband and their new family over raising her firstborn girls, Elizabeth and Jaime are separated and risk losing the shelter of each other. Hand Me Down indelibly captures a contemporary family journey--how two young people, against incredible odds, forge lives of their own in the face of an uncertain future.

"Spend an evening getting intimate with Amanda Lepore, the internationally renowned walking work of art and New York City's reigning queen of nightlife for three decades. Paving the way for today's "trans revolution," Amanda is one of the world's most famous transsexuals. In this poignant and revealing memoir, Amanda takes off the makeup, peels back the silicone, and reveals to the world the woman she truly is, all with a sense of divine certainty, humor, and charm."--Amazon.com.