This is a tale of passion, intrigue, and becoming a witness to history of Clare, who forsakes her life of privilege, eloping with a man she hardly knew, following him to Panama in the midst of the tensions over the Canal in Panama and the civil war in Nicaragua. Flaunting her money, and her beauty, while insisting that she be taken seriously as a woman of means, and brilliance, Clare's flamboyant behavior endangered her husband, charismatic and mysterious Kurt Retten, who was playing a dangerous—and secret—part in the events that led to the overthrow of Somoza, and the near war in Panama.

A chance meeting with Jenny at an Oxford party leaves seventeen-year-old Chris with hope for a summer romance—and no premonition of trouble. Busy with his job and soon in love with Jenny, whose cheerful surface belies the dark uncertainty of her past, Chris misses all the signs of danger. Before he knows it, he's caught in the sinister web of a criminal whose desire for revenge crushes all those who stand in his way. "The story line will hook readers and hold them . . . a pageturner that raises some unsettling questions about trust and betrayal and the nature of good and evil."—School Library Journal "An engrossing, tragic story with rare depth of feeling. . . . Readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough."—Kirkus Reviews "Fans of Robert Cormier should appreciate this tense thriller."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Veteran journalist Louise Williams shatters the myth of the submissive Asian woman of Western lore with her vivid portraits of politicians, call girls and mistresses, revolutionary heroines, laborers, and business magnates. Williams skillfully draws out the stories of extraordinary individuals ranging from Benazir Bhutto, Corazon Aquino, and Aung San Suu Kyi to the one-time Viet Cong commando and the Jakarta factory girl.

A chance meeting with Jenny at an Oxford party leaves seventeen-year-old Chris with hope for a summer romance—and no premonition of trouble. Busy with his job and soon in love with Jenny, whose cheerful surface belies the dark uncertainty of her past, Chris misses all the signs of danger. Before he knows it, he's caught in the sinister web of a criminal whose desire for revenge crushes all those who stand in his way. "The story line will hook readers and hold them . . . a pageturner that raises some unsettling questions about trust and betrayal and the nature of good and evil."—School Library Journal "An engrossing, tragic story with rare depth of feeling. . . . Readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough."—Kirkus Reviews "Fans of Robert Cormier should appreciate this tense thriller."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy that Dropped from the Sky. Life was grim in 1948 West Berlin, Germany. Josef Stalin blockaded all ground routes coming in and out of Berlin to cut off West Berliners from all food and essential supplies. Without outside help, over 2.2 million people would die. Thus began the Berlin Airlift, a humanitarian rescue mission that utilized British and American airplanes and pilots to fly in needed supplies. As one of the American pilots participating in the Airlift mission, Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen helped to provide not only nourishment to the children but also gave them a reason to hope for a better world. From one thoughtful, generous act came a lifelong relationship between Lt. Gail and the children of Berlin. This is the true story of a seven-year-old girl named Mercedes who lived in West Berlin during the Airlift and of the American who came to be known as the Chocolate Pilot. Artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen's evocative paintings illuminate Margot Theis Raven's powerful story of hope, friendship and remembrance. About the Author: Margot Theis Raven has been a professional writer working in the fields of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and children's books for thirty years. She has won five national awards, including an IRA Teacher's Choice award. Ms. Raven earned her degree in English from Rosemont College and attended Villanova University for theater study, and Kent State University for German language. Ms. Raven splits her time living in Concord, MA, Charleston, SC and West Chesterfield, NH. About the Illustrator: Born in the Netherlands, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Holland. He immigrated to the United States in 1976, and years later he became a children's book illustrator. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is Nick's ninth children's book with Sleeping Bear Press.

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time-the kind Mercedes never had herself. Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy - so far. Her mother isn't home nearly enough to know about Mercedes' extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won't even say the word "sex" until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn't bank on Angela's boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn - or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed. When Mercedes' perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her own reputation -and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's Firsts is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.