From New York Times bestselling author Alex Tresniowski comes a “compelling” (The Guardian) and “riveting” (The New York Times Book Review) true-crime thriller recounting the 1910 murder of ten-year-old Marie Smith, the dawn of modern criminal detection, and the launch of the NAACP. In the tranquil seaside town of Asbury Park, New Jersey, ten-year-old schoolgirl Marie Smith is brutally murdered. Small town officials, unable to find the culprit, call upon the young manager of a New York detective agency for help. It is the detective’s first murder case, and now, the specifics of the investigation and daring sting operation that caught the killer is captured in all its rich detail for the first time. Occurring exactly halfway between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the formal beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in 1954, the brutal murder and its highly-covered investigation sits at the historic intersection of sweeping national forces—religious extremism, class struggle, the infancy of criminal forensics, and America’s Jim Crow racial violence. History and true crime collide in this “compelling and timely” (Vanity Fair) murder mystery featuring characters as complex and colorful as those found in the best psychological thrillers—the unconventional truth-seeking detective Ray Schindler; the sinister pedophile Frank Heidemann; the ambitious Asbury Park Sheriff Clarence Hetrick; the mysterious “sting artist,” Carl Neumeister; the indomitable crusader Ida Wells; and the victim, Marie Smith, who represented all the innocent and vulnerable children living in turn-of-the-century America. “Brisk and cinematic” (The Wall Street Journal), The Rope is an important piece of history that gives a voice to the voiceless and resurrects a long-forgotten true crime story that speaks to the very divisions tearing at the nation’s fabric today.

Jacqueline Woodson--New York Times Bestselling, National Book Award and Newbery Honor winning author--writes a rich story of a family adapting to change as they hold on to the past and embrace the future. With Coretta Scott King Award–winning illustrator James Ransome. During the time of the Great Migration, millions of African American families relocated from the South, seeking better opportunities. The story of one family’s journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family’s history. But for three generations, that rope is passed down, used for everything from jump rope games to tying suitcases onto a car for the big move north to New York City, and even for a family reunion where that first little girl is now a grandmother.

From the best-selling author of Republic of Fear, here is a gritty and unflinching novel about Iraqi failure in the wake of the 2003 American invasion, as seen through the eyes of a Shi‘ite militiaman whose participation in the execution of Saddam Hussein changes his life in ways he could never have anticipated. When the nameless narrator stumbles upon a corpse on April 10, 2003, the day of the fall of Saddam Hussein, he finds himself swept up in the tumultuous politics of the American occupation and is taken on a journey that concludes with the discovery of what happened to his father, who disappeared into the Tyrant’s gulag in 1991. When he was a child, his questions about his father were ignored by his mother and his uncle, in whose house he was raised. Older now, he is fighting in his uncle’s Army of the Awaited One, which is leading an insurrection against the Occupier. He slowly begins to piece together clues about his father’s fate, which turns out to be intertwined with that of the mysterious corpse. But not until the last hour before the Tyrant’s execution is the narrator given the final piece of the puzzle—from Saddam Hussein himself. The Rope is both a powerful examination of the birth of sectarian politics out of a legacy of betrayal, victimhood, secrecy, and loss, and an enduring story about the haste with which identity is cobbled together and then undone. Told with fearless honesty and searing intensity, The Rope will haunt its readers long after they finish the final page.

A once-booming West Virginia rail town no longer has a working train. The residents left behind in this tiny hamlet look to the mountains that surround them on all sides: The outside world encroaches, and the buildings of the gilded past seem to crumble more every day. These are the stories of outsiders--the down and out. What happens to the young boy whose burgeoning sexuality pushes him to the edge of the forest to explore what might be love with another boy? What happens when one lost soul finally makes it to New York City, yet the reminders of his past life are omnipresent? What happens when an old woman struggles to find a purpose and reinvent herself after decades of living in the shadow of her platonic life partner? What happens to those who dare to live their lives outside of the strict confines of the town's traditional and regimented ways? The characters in The Rope Swing--gay and straight alike--yearn for that which seems so close but impossibly far, the world over the jagged peaks of the mountains.

A grandfather and his blind grandson reminisce about the young boy's birth, his first horse and an exiciting horse race.

Embark on a fascinating journey through the evolution of rope-making with "The Story of Rope" by the Plymouth Cordage Company, a definitive exploration of the ancient craft and modern innovations that have shaped this essential tool throughout history. Join the Plymouth Cordage Company as they unravel the intricate history and technological advancements that have propelled rope-making from ancient times to the present day. From the use of natural fibers in ancient civilizations to the advent of synthetic materials and modern manufacturing techniques, this book offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of ropes. Explore the pivotal role of ropes in maritime exploration, industry, agriculture, and everyday life. Through detailed accounts and archival photographs, the Plymouth Cordage Company traces the development of rope-making technologies and their impact on global trade, transportation, and construction. Themes of innovation, craftsmanship, and industrial progress resonate throughout the narrative, inviting readers to appreciate the ingenuity and resilience of this essential tool. The book also highlights the environmental and economic factors that continue to influence the evolution of rope-making techniques and materials. The tone of "The Story of Rope" is informative yet engaging, blending historical narrative with technical insights that appeal to historians, engineers, and enthusiasts alike. The Plymouth Cordage Company's dedication to preserving the legacy of rope-making ensures that this book serves as a valuable resource for understanding the enduring significance of ropes in human civilization. Highly regarded for its authoritative research and rich storytelling, "The Story of Rope" is a testament to the Plymouth Cordage Company's commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Whether you're intrigued by maritime history, industrial development, or the ingenuity of manufacturing processes, this book offers a captivating exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of human progress. Whether you're a historian, sailor, craftsman, or simply curious about the evolution of everyday objects, "The Story of Rope" promises an enlightening journey through centuries of innovation and craftsmanship. Discover why ropes are not just tools but essential threads in the fabric of human civilization. Don't miss your chance to unravel "The Story of Rope." Pick up a copy today and explore the fascinating history, technology, and cultural significance of this indispensable tool that connects past to present.

Their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind.