Laura comes from a world similar to our own except for one difference: it is next to the Place, an unfathomable land that fosters dreams of every kind and is inaccessible to all but a select few, the Dreamhunters. These are individuals with special gifts: the ability to catch larger-than-life dreams and relay them to audiences in the magnificent dream palace, the Rainbow Opera. People travel from all around to experience the benefits of the hunters' unique visions. Now fifteen-year-old Laura and her cousin Rose, daughters of Dreamhunters, are eligible to test themselves at the Place and find out whether they qualify for the passage. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to discover. For within the Place lies a horrific secret kept hidden by corrupt members of the government. And when Laura's father, the man who discovered the Place, disappears, she realizes that this secret has the power to destroy everyone she loves . . . In the midst of a fascinating landscape, Laura's dreamy childhood is ending and a nightmare beginning. This rich novel, filled with beauty, danger, politics, and intrigue, comes to a powerful crescendo, leaving readers clamoring for Book Two. Dreamhunter is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. "It is like nothing else I've ever read." -- Stephenie Meyer, The Twilight Saga

When the opera diva Madame SoSo gets laryngitis, her singing cat Alma fills in for her.

R. A. Streatfeild's classic novel "The Opera" provides readers with an enthralling insight into the realm of the performing arts. Some stories are gruesome and bizarre, while others softly creep up on you and pull you in. The story unfolds against the backdrop of London's opera scene in the beginning of the twentieth century, providing a rich tapestry of individuals and action. The book follows different significant people, including aspiring singers, musicians, and actors, as they traverse the ups and downs of the opera industry. The work's core themes involve ambition, love, rivalry, and the quest of artistic perfection. The linked journeys of the characters create a dynamic story which keeps readers fascinated from beginning to end. Streatfeild's writing style is distinguished by vivid descriptions and complex character development. Readers are immersed into the glamorous and challenging world of opera production through the pages of "The Opera," experiencing the joys and heartaches of its heroes.

March to the beat of your own drum, just like Grug! This classic Aussie hero is back from the bush to enchant a new generation of youngsters!

Musical drama of Judy Garland's "come-back" concerts Christmas 1968: with a six week booking at London's Talk of the Town, it looks like Judy Garland is set firmly on the comeback trail. The failed marriages, the suicide attempts and the addictions are all behind her. At forty-six and with new flame Mickey Deans at her side, she seems determined to carry it off and recapture her magic. But lasting happiness always eludes some people, and there was never any answer to the question with which Judy ended every show: "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why, can't I?" End of the Rainbow is a savagely funny drama featuring a glorious ensemble of Judy Garland hits and infused with the glamour and the melancholy of stardom. "Every note she sings, every racket she makes, every tear she sheds, every joke she cracks, every pill she pops - is conveyed with alarming honesty. This knockout portrait of a living catastrophe should not be missed." What's On Published to tie-in with the premiere at the Sydney Opera House in July 2005