Like any bored eleven-year-old with an imagination, Prem makes fantastic wishes. So when his father drags him to a monsoon-lashed Mumbai, Prem know it's futile to dream of home. Instead, he wishes for a genie, a dragon and some superpowers. What he certainly doesn't wish for is a quest to save some gods who are at the brink of extinction. He finds that the gods' last hope lies in the hands of those who channel the mysterious power of the Vedas. Caught in a cosmic crossfire, with a talking fish, some inventive monkeys and a few unexpected allies, Prem learns of his true identity-as a Torchbearer. Can the Torchbearers stop bloodthirsty demons from getting their hands on the Nectar of Immortality and bring the gods back to power?

"In this important, sophisticated, and original study, Chad Williams establishes the centrality of black soldiers and veterans to the struggles against racial inequality during World War I as no other book does. Torchbearers of Democracy sensitively examines the fraught connections between citizenship, obligation, and race while highlighting the diversity of black soldiers' experiences in fighting on behalf of a democracy that denied them rights and dignity. This is a major contribution to political, military, and civil rights history."--Eric Arnesen, George Washington University.

"This book left me breathless!" --R. L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street "Move over, Stranger Things. . . The Darkdeep will pull you into an irresistibly eerie world beyond your wildest dreams--and nightmares." --Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Descendants series New York Times bestselling authors Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs team up to co-author this thrilling first book in a darkly suspenseful middle grade series. Everyone in Timbers knows Still Cove is off-limits, with its creepy Beast sightings and equally terrifying legends. But when a bullying incident sends twelve-year-old Nico Holland over a cliff and into Still Cove's icy waters, friends Tyler and Emma--and even Opal Walsh, who usually runs with the popular kids--rush to his rescue . . . and discover a mysterious island hiding in the murky, swirling mists below. Though the island appears uninhabited, the kids can't shake a feeling that something about it is definitely not right. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat filled with all sorts of curiosities: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to unknown places, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable. And in its lowest depths churns a dark, deep secret. As the group delves deeper into this mysterious new clubhouse, their lives begin to intertwine in weird and dangerous ways. For something ancient has awakened . . . and it can detect not only their wishes and dreams, but also their darkest, most terrible imaginings. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy secrets lurking within their own hearts? Told from alternating points of view, this pulse-racing tale from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs is the start of a high-stakes, thrilling series about friendship and believing in yourself--and each other.

"This book left me breathless!" - R. L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street, on The Darkdeep "Everything you could want in a series." - Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil, on The Beast The blockbuster middle-grade series by New York Times bestselling authors Ally Condie and Brendan continues in this edge-of-your-seat adventure that's Stranger Things meets The Goonies. After the events of Dark Halloween, the town of Timbers is in a full-blown monster panic, making life for the Torchbearers--Opal, Nico, Tyler, Emma, and Logan--extremely difficult. Nico is investigating the Rift and the strange natural phenomena that continue to occur, all while worrying about his dad's potential work transfer. Opal has her hands full researching the founding Torchbearer, Yvette Dumont, and deciphering clues from another realm sent by the mysterious Thing In a Jar. Emma's wildly popular YouTube show has brought her new-found fame, but also earned her some enemies. Logan is trying to unlock secrets in his own family history that might shed light on how the Torchbearer Order began, while Tyler, as the self-proclaimed Beastmaster, strives to commune with--and not be eaten by--the mercurial and deadly alien sea creature living in Still Cove. But that's not all. Something cryptic has surfaced from within the Darkdeep. Questions arise, and the five friends find themselves suddenly at odds. The stakes climb even higher when an enigmatic new girl comes to town, with an agenda of her own. As the Torchbearers discover shocking secrets about their houseboat hangout, the Rift, and the Darkdeep itself, signs point to new realms beyond the ones they know, putting their friendships to the test as never before . . . Told from alternating POVs, this thrilling next book from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs will once again have readers sleeping with the lights on.

"Blair's meticulous research has produced a complex work that is both encyclopedic and lively." -- The Journal of American History "With its valuable bibliography, this book should be an essential purchase for most libraries." -- Choice "With its detailed examination of both local and national organizations, this volume is a valuable addition both to the growing literature on women's associations and to the development of nonprofit enterprise in the arts." -- ARNOVA News "... Blair's insistence on the significance of her subject and her skillfully researched treatment of it is welcome and useful." -- American Historical Review "Readers interested in women's history, American cultural hsitory, and popular culture should all enjoy this book." -- Illinois Historical Journal "An indispensible overview of women's cultural activities in promoting and popularizing a wide variety of cultural enterprises, from music to artists' colonies." -- Kathleen D. McCarthy The women's arts clubs that flourished during the Progressive Era were more than havens for artistic dilettantes. As advocacy groups they effectively promoted universal access to the fine arts, leaving a vital legacy of cultural programs and institutions.

This book, with deep reverence for its subject, takes readers along on a journey of consideration to discover the deeper meanings of the Christian life.