This book presents the story of Gladys January Willisfrom early childhood to retirement as a university professor and administrator. It chronicles her experiences as a Black girl born and reared in Jackson, Mississippi, as well as her educational sojourn in college and graduate schools, and a career in higher education and entrance into Christian ministry as an ordained chaplain. In Chapter IX of the book, Willis writes: It is no secret that in my racist and segregated community the majorityWhite system promoted its message loudly and clearlyon the public buses, in the segregated school system, in employment practices, in segregated eateries, in housing developments, in business transactions, and in the political arena. One of the most impacting experiences in my life, after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, was that of exercising my right to vote. Because of the cherished right to vote as an American citizen, whenever there is an election, exercising my right to vote is a top priority. I am sure that my Black home environment played a vital role in the way I came to think about life in general and my own life in particular. She credits her maternal grandmother, Henrietta Young Hedrick, as her primary role model. Mama, as she was called, was a proud Black woman who demanded that she be respected. Her boldness was undaunted and communicated her respect for herself and her demand for the same from others, regardless of who they were or their station in life.

Two Weeks Every Summer, which is based on extensive oral history interviews with former guests, hosts, and administrators in Fresh Air programs, opens a new chapter in the history of race in the United States by showing how the actions of hundreds of thousands of rural and suburban residents who hosted children from the city perpetuated racial inequity rather than overturned it. Since 1877 and to this day, Fresh Air programs from Maine to Montana have brought inner-city children to rural and suburban homes for two-week summer vacations. Tobin Miller Shearer brings to the forefront of his history of the Fresh Air program the voices of the children themselves through letters that they wrote, pictures that they took, and their testimonials. Shearer offers a careful social and cultural history of the Fresh Air programs, giving readers a good sense of the summer experiences for both hosts and the visiting children. By covering the racially transformative years between 1939 and 1979, Shearer shows how the rhetoric of innocence employed by Fresh Air boosters largely served the interests of religiously minded white hosts and did little to offer more than a vacation for African American and Latino urban youth. In what could have been a new arena for the civil rights movement, white adults often overpowered the courageous actions of children of color. By giving white suburbanites and rural residents a safe race relations project that did not require adjustments to their investment portfolios, real estate holdings, or political affiliations, the programs perpetuated an economic order that marginalized African Americans and Latinos by suggesting that solutions to poverty lay in one-on-one acts of charity.

For the first time, the remarkable couple depicted in The Blind Side tells their own deeply inspiring story First came the bestselling book, then the Oscar-nominated movie—the story of Michael Oher and the family who adopted him has become one of the most talked-about true stories of our time. But until now, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy have never told this astonishing tale in their own way and with their own words. For Leigh Anne and Sean, it all begins with family. Leigh Anne, the daughter of a tough-as-nails U.S. Marshal, decided early on that her mission was to raise children who would become "cheerful givers." Sean, who grew up poor, believed that one day he could provide a home that would be "a place of miracles." Together, they raised two remarkable children—Collins and Sean Jr.—who shared their deep Christian faith and their commitment to making a difference. And then one day Leigh Anne met a homeless African-American boy named Michael and decided that her family could be his. She and her husband taught Michael what this book teaches all of us: Everyone has a blind side, but a loving heart always sees a path toward true charity. Michael Oher's improbable transformation could never have happened if Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy had not opened their hearts to him. In this compelling, funny, and profoundly inspiring book, In a Heartbeat, the Tuohys take us on an extraordinary journey of faith and love—and teach us unforgettable lessons about the power of giving.

Ann Dávila Cardinal's Five Midnights is a “wickedly thrilling” (William Alexander) and “flat-out unputdownable” (Paul Tremblay) novel based on the el Cuco myth set against the backdrop of modern day Puerto Rico. 2019 Digital Book World Award Winner for best Suspense/Horror Book Five friends cursed. Five deadly fates. Five nights of retribución. If Lupe Dávila and Javier Utierre can survive each other’s company, together they can solve a series of grisly murders sweeping though Puerto Rico. But the clues lead them out of the real world and into the realm of myths and legends. And if they want to catch the killer, they'll have to step into the shadows to see what's lurking there—murderer, or monster? “A frightening, fast-paced thriller.” —Julianna Baggott, Alex Award-winning author of Pure At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Raising Ivy is an amazing true story of faith, hope, and love that chronicles one family's journey from the cruelty of slavery, poverty, and segregation in the fields of rural Alabama to prosperity and triumph on the football fields and in vaunted halls of the Ivy League. Raising Ivy examines the power of education, faith, family, and football to lift and transform the family from illiteracy to a fifth generation descendent becoming an Ivy League graduate and only the fifth black man to be captain of the Yale Football Team. The journey is filled with murder, intrigue, secret societies, and tales of glory on the grid iron. Raising Ivy combines simple faith-based lessons with humorous anecdotes, powerful true events, and poignant revelations that take the reader along on this the incredible journey to Yale and back.

Shattered Faith? This book is for anyone searching for spiritual, mental, emotional, social, and financial healing. My book stands out above all writers in the macrocosm, in that it is written from a faith perspective of a person who made it and overcame hardships with God's help. Here is what you can expect from this book: *A faith-filled brief introduction*Compelling personal stories*Noteworthy moment* The truth revealed from the Bible to help build his or her faith by gaining more wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and insight. I want this book to be a message of hope, healing, restoration, and fullness in your spirit as you journey with the Lord, as it has mine.

*New York Times Bestseller* Get ready to defy the odds when everyones counting you out. When the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback went down with a torn ACL in week 14 of the 2017 NFL season, many fansand commentatorsassumed the Eagles season was over. Instead, Nick Foles came off the bench and, against all odds, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in history. How did Nick get it donewinning MVP honors, silencing the critics, and shocking the world? How did the man who was on the verge of retiring just two seasons earlier stay optimistic and rally the team to an astounding win? How did he stay ready despite numerous trades and discouraging injuries, able to step up in the moment and perform at the top of his game? Believe It offers a behind-the-scenes look at Nicks unlikely path to the Super Bowl, the obstacles that threatened to hold him back, his rediscovery of his love for the game, and the faith that grounded him through it all. Learn from the way Nick handled the trials and tribulations that made him into the man he is todayand discover a path to your own success.