Winner of the 2016 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People "It's easy to empathize with [Lily]....Throughout, first-time author Scofield creates striking images that will stay with readers." --Publishers Weekly "This is a painful and poignant story that is not for every reader; but for those ready to deal with complex realistic fiction, it has much to offer." --Booklist "Dynamic...[Protagonist Lily Asher] comes to glorious, heartbreaking, embraceable, vibrant life courtesy of the experiences, heart and immense imagination and talent of Eugene author Chris Scofield." --The Register-Guard "Chris Scofield has written a young adult novel that doesn't compromise integrity for trendiness....It's complex and quirky...there can be no doubt as to its uniqueness." --LitReactor "The Shark Curtain is worth a read by teens and adults alike." --Eugene Weekly "Absolutely bewitching....Scofield has crafted a dense, poignant book, filled with extraordinarily beautiful language....In exploring themes such as art, sex, and self-acceptance, Scofield examines the trade-offs we all make to be included in the tribe." --KLCC "Those who prefer edgy period fiction with truly original characters will be fascinated by this glimpse into the mind of an unmedicated non-neurotypical teen struggling to come of age in the '60s." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "The Shark Curtain...is believable and real." --What Is Much "Brilliant, engaging, engulfing, fulfilling, beautiful. The Shark Curtain will turn you inside out and make you see the world differently. As well you should. As well we all should. Because life isn't about having the answers, it's about grappling with the questions. Chris Scofield's fantastically fantastic novel pins the tail on the donkey with a pneumatic nail gun--I absolutely insist that you read this book!" --Garth Stein, New York Times best-selling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain Set against the changing terrain of middle-class values and the siren calls of art and puberty, The Shark Curtain invites us into Lily Asher's wonderful, terrible world. The older of two girls growing up in suburban Portland, Oregon, in the mid-1960s, her inner life stands in quirky contrast to the loving but dysfunctional world around her. Often misunderstood by her flawed but well-intentioned parents, teenage Lily orbits their tumultuous love affair, embracing what embraces her back: the ghost of her drowned dog, a lost aunt, numbers, shoe boxes, werewolves, rituals, and stories she pens herself (including one about a miscarried sibling she dubs "Frog Boy"). With "regular" visits from a wisecracking Jesus, an affectionate but combative friendship is born--a friendship that strains Lily's grasp of reality as much as her patience. From the violence of a Peeping Tom and catching Mom in flagrante delicto with the neighbor, to jungles in her closet, butlers under her bed, and barking in public, Lily struggles to balance her family's expectations with the visions that continue to isolate her.

The story is told in well-arranged pieces. The book approaches two people who approach crime like theater. All the human characters in Greenstreet are strangers to one another. What they do not do is judge one another. For these two special people, their social function is to become millionaires. The book is about an illusory world a writer can create. Writing can be thought of as heroic. There is a barrier to success and a hurdle on the way to becoming a hero. Several people in the book take leaps in a change in their bearing. It is possible at times to lose oneself in the written world. The best reporter in this book is the reader. This is made possible by its emotional trickery. This alternative lets the reader speak critically about its comedy and tragedy. You may be able to observe your own change within. The idea is not to leave you narrow-minded. If you have ideas, do it. The book’s characters are telling you what to do. All within reason. There is opportunity here for people with ideas.

Eclectic and impassioned, a collection that affirms the power of the written word.' – Observer The Boy Behind the Curtain is a portrait of a life, a place and a man. In this deeply personal collection of true stories and essays Tim Winton shows how moments from his childhood and life growing up have shaped his views on class, faith, fundamentalism, the environment, and – most pressingly – how all his experiences have made him a writer. From unexpected links between car crashes and faith, surfing and writing, to the story of his upbringing in the changing Australian landscape, The Boy Behind the Curtain is an impassioned, funny, joyous, astonishing collection of memories, and Winton's most personal book to date.

A look at the way frightening but fragile sharks skates and rays live their lives Z99 a species-by-species account of the worlds principal shark types

Shark VS. Train! WHO WILL WIN?! If you think Superman vs. Batman would be an exciting matchup, wait until you see Shark vs. Train. In this hilarious and wacky picture book, Shark and Train egg each other on for one competition after another, including burping, bowling, Ping Pong, piano playing, pie eating, and many more! Who do YOU think will win, Shark or Train? [star] "This is a genius concept." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review [star] "Lichtenheld's snarling shark and grimacing train are definitely ready for a fight, and his scenarios gleefully play up the absurdity. The combatants' expressions are priceless when they lose. A glum train in smoky dejection, or a bewildered, crestfallen shark? It's hard to choose; both are winners." -- Kirkus, starred review

In Scofield's powerful debut, teenager Lily Asher takes her first steps toward a strange, loving journey to self-acceptance and belonging.