Theo is ugly. The girls whispered voice returned in the darkness, and sang the chant, Theo is ugly. Theo is ugly. Theo Martins sister waited for his reaction from the backseat of the family car. Eight-year-old Theo turned away. He looked at his faint reflection in the car window. Am I ugly? he wondered. Suddenly, there was a truck. There was a scream, an impact, bending metal, shattered glass, a tree, and blood. Moments after the crash, Theo found himself caught between two worlds. It was clear to him he was not heaven-bound with his family, but instead, returning as the sole survivor. However, when he returned, he brought a secret back with him. And like a hand in a poker game he would sometimes play, it was best for him to keep his secret from others, especially when he witnessed their cruelty and their capacity for destruction. But Theo of all people should have known not to be fooled by appearances. Everyone has secrets. There was even a secret in the mud of a local pond that if discovered, would unravel many other surprises. So, when a drought ravages the landscape of the northeast town of Copper Valley, it means the best chance for that secret to be revealed. Receding water alone will not be enough. It will remain at the bottom of a murky pond unless Theo Martin, Copper Valleys angriest recluse, forgives old sins. A soaking rain is coming from the west. Theo cant wait forever.

An uncanny and eye-opening journey into a mysterious building, adapted from a short story by Jeff VanderMeer To the west: trees. To the east: a mall. North: fast food. South: darkness. And at the centre is The Building, an office building wherein several factions vie for dominance. Inside, the walls are infiltrated with vines, a mischief of mice learn to speak English, and something eerie happens once a month on the fifth floor. In Secret Life, Theo Ellsworth uses a deep-layered style to interpret Nebula award-winning author Jeff VanderMeer’s short story. What emerges is a mind-bending narrative that defamiliarizes the mundanity of office work and makes the arcane rituals of The Building home. When his manager borrows his pen for a presentation, a man is driven to unspeakable acts as he questions the role the pen has played in his workplace success. The despised denizens of the second floor develop their own tongue, incomprehensible to everyone else in The Building. A woman plants a seed of insurgency that quickly permeates every corner of the building with its sweet, nostalgic perfume. With deft insight, Secret Life observes the sinister individualism of bureaucratic settings in contrast with an unconcerned natural world. As the narrative progresses you may begin to suspect that the world Ellsworth has brought to life with hypnotic visuals is not so secret after all; in fact, it’s uncannily similar to our own.

Silphium, like all nymphs has a job, a purpose. She is supposed to protect her plant and stay hidden. Silphium is such a rare plant that she must always be collecting her seeds and planting new fields. Hiding from people as she cares for her plants leads to a lonely existence. When Silphium comes across a curious farm boy she begins to ignore all the nymph rules. It could be dangerous for her, and all nymphs, if her secret is discovered. Silphium soon learns that she is keeping more secrets than she knows, and they are all held in a tiny seed.

Theodosia Throckmorton has her hands full at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London. Her father may be head curator, but it is Theo--and only Theo--who is able to see all the black magic and ancient curses that still cling to the artifacts in the museum. When Theo’s mother returns from her latest archaeological dig bearing the Heart of Egypt--a legendary amulet belonging to an ancient tomb--Theo learns that it comes inscribed with a curse so black and vile that it threatens to crumble the British Empire from within and start a war too terrible to imagine. Intent on returning the malevolent artifact to its rightful place, Theo devises a daring plan to put things right. But even with the help of her younger brother, a wily street urchin, and the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers, it won’t be easy . . . she quickly finds herself pursued down dark alleys, across an ocean, through the bustling crowds of Cairo, and straight into the heart of an ancient mystery. Theo will have to call upon everything she’s ever learned in order to prevent the rising chaos from destroying her country--and herself!

This is your guide to dozens of spectacular and often hidden beaches on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island between Qualicum and the Malahat. While some of them are well used by people living nearby, many are virtually impossible to find without combing through official maps and back-road guides. From tiny rocky coves to broad sandy beaches, these public-access spots are enormously diverse. Just as important as finding these spots is knowing what to expect. Thus each location is accompanied by detailed information that any beach explorer should know before setting out. Is the beach a few level steps from a vehicle or down a high, steep bank? Is the beach suitable for children? Large groups? Kayakers? All of these questions and many more are answered in this book, which includes Theo’s hand-drawn maps, photographs and artwork. Watch sea lions in the winter (Higginson Road) Paint one of the few great views of Mt. Arrowsmith—go before noon for dramatic light (Rowland Road) Head to the most child-friendly beach between Crofton and the Malahat (Cherry Point Nature Park) Splash and swim in warm water over sand (Benwalden Road) Refresh your pleasure in the shore and head out to picnic, play, launch kayaks, watch winter storms or just enjoy the waves.

Theo was twenty-five when he discovered something that would change his life -- his adoption certificate, with any information about his birthmother other than her given names, Lilliana Nichole, blacked out. His father is dead and his mother away on business, so he can't ask them why they hadn't told him he was adopted ... and why the certificate had been defaced. He decides his only recourse is to hire a private detective agency to search for Lilliana. It doesn't take long for Ric Baron of Moore Investigations to determine that locating Lilliana might be impossible. But he's more than willing to give it his all for the interesting young man who asked for the agency's help. Soon after Ric begins his search, he receives a threatening email from someone who wants him to stop looking for Lilliana. From there, things escalate as Ric and Theo deal with the aftermath of the threat and their growing interest in each other. Can they learn the man's identity before he discovers Theo is Lilliana's son and goes after him? Only time will tell.

A rabbit with the taboo ability to read and write must team with an axe-wielding bear to save their fellow animals from the human empire. A fantasy adventure about friendship, courage, and the power of the written word.