A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea - by Melissa Fleming (Paperback)
Number of Pages: 304Genre: Biography + AutobiographySub-Genre: Cultural, Ethnic & RegionalFormat: PaperbackPublisher: Flatiron BooksAge Range: AdultBook theme: GeneralAuthor: Melissa FlemingLanguage: English About the Book "Includes an author interview with Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York"--Cover. Book Synopsis Urgently required reading. --PeopleDeeply affecting... Fleming brings a moral urgency to the narrative. --The New YorkerFleming deftly illustrates the pain of those who choose to leave Syria...and her book is ultimately a story of hope. --Newsweek The stunning story of a young woman, an international crisis, and the triumph of the human spirit. Adrift in a frigid sea, no land in sight--just debris from the ship's wreckage and floating corpses all around--nineteen-year-old Doaa Al Zamel floats with a small inflatable water ring around her waist and clutches two children, barely toddlers, to her body. The children had been thrust into Doaa's arms by their drowning relatives, all refugees who boarded a dangerously overcrowded ship bound for Sweden and a new life. For days, Doaa floats, prays, and sings to the babies in her arms. She must stay alive for these children. She must not lose hope. Doaa Al Zamel was once an average Syrian girl growing up in a crowded house in a bustling city near the Jordanian border. But in 2011, her life was upended. Inspired by the events of the Arab Spring, Syrians began to stand up against their own oppressive regime. When the army was sent to take control of Doaa's hometown, strict curfews, power outages, water shortages, air raids, and violence disrupted everyday life. After Doaa's father's barbershop was destroyed and rumors of women being abducted spread through the community, her family decided to leave Syria for Egypt, where they hoped to stay in peace until they could return home. Only months after their arrival, the Egyptian government was overthrown and the environment turned hostile for refugees. In the midst of this chaos, Doaa falls in love with a young opposition fighter who proposes marriage and convinces her to flee to the promise of safety and a better future in Europe. Terrified and unable to swim, Doaa and her young fiance hand their life savings to smugglers and board a dilapidated fishing vessel with five hundred other refugees, including a hundred children. After four horrifying days at sea, another ship, filled with angry men shouting insults, rams into Doaa's boat, sinking it and leaving the passengers to drown. That is where Doaa's struggle for survival really begins. A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea is an emotionally charged, eye-opening true story that represents the millions of unheard voices of refugees who risk everything in a desperate search for the promise of a safe future. Melissa Fleming sheds light on the most pressing humanitarian crisis of our time and paints a vivid, unforgettable portrait of the triumph of the human spirit. Review Quotes [Doaa's] inspiring story is urgently required reading. --People "Some books should be required reading. A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea is one of those books. Not simply because the tale of a Syrian refugee is so timely, or the topic so important. But because of its lessons about persistence, selflessness, and hope, which are the heartbeat of this true story."--Christian Science Monitor"Written by an official in the U.N.'s refugee agency, this deeply affecting book recounts the story of a young Syrian, Doaa al Zamel... Fleming brings a moral urgency to the narrative. Doaa is now safe in Sweden, but Fleming pointedly asks, 'Why is there no massive resettlement program for Syrians--the victims of the worst war of our times?'" --The New Yorker "Fleming deftly illustrates the pain of those who choose to leave Syria... [She] recounts their narrative with compassion and without melodrama, and her book is ultimately a story of hope... The message is to try to humanize one young woman, to tell her tale so that the migrant crisis does not become a bunch of nameless, faceless people fleeing a war but human beings with families, with needs, and with desires." --NewsweekPoignantly illuminates some of the reasons why our fellow humans embark on such perilous journeys to reach Europe. --The Times (UK) A moving story of survival...required reading. --Tribune magazine (UK) Melissa Fleming's tale of a young Syrian woman's search for peace and safety is a book written for our times. On every page, loss and hope tangle. On every page, the human toll of the worst humanitarian crisis of our time is painfully, heartbreakingly brought home. This is an emotional read, at times painful, but it is above all a poignant tribute to hope, to resilience, and to the capacity for grace and generosity that dwells deep in the human heart. --Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and And the Mountains Echoed An astonishing and important story. --Neil Gaiman I think Melissa Fleming is one of the most important people in the world. As the world's foremost advocate for refugees, she has worked tirelessly to put a human face on the greatest crisis of our time. There is no more important calling than this. Millions have been displaced by the wars in Iraq and Syria, and their situation is desperate. Yet everyone who has worked with refugees is amazed by their resilience and spirit. There is no better way to demonstrate this spirit than with the power of a single story. Melissa has found that story. The story of Doaa is dramatic, riveting, and ultimately hopeful. A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea provides a portrait of the refugee crisis that cannot be matched by any amount of cable news coverage. --Brandon Stanton, Humans of New York"We need hopeful stories more than ever, and this incredible real-life story about Doaa, a Syrian refugee, is one that will open hearts." --BustleDoaa's incredible fight to live, one of only a few refugees to survive four days in a sea of corpses, is recounted by Melissa Fleming in her moving new book." --New York Daily News Fleming's account is as gripping as it is moving; yet as Doaa herself points out in an afterword, 'it is only a small glimpse of the hardship and pain that refugees around the world endure. --Financial Times While it is the story of so many Syrians, so many refugees, it is also the story of one woman, and as such it should enable us to see beyond the cold weight of the numbers, and into an individual's own warm and vivid story... If A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea does push more people into action and solidarity, then it will have done vital work; the most important work, perhaps, that a book can do right now. --The GuardianStories like Doaa's, presented in the form of excellent storytelling, thrilling surprises, and powerful characters, do have an impact. This is a must-read book for everyone who is debating the refugee crisis, because it boils the entire war in Syria down to one family, one young woman: Doaa. --New York Journal of Books This poignant tale of survival and loss gives immediacy to the plight of Syrian refugees. Fleming's skillful writing brings new vividness to Doaa Al Zamel's dramatic story. This book amply demonstrates why Al Zamel has since become a symbol of hope for other refugees. Fleming should be congratulated for bringing [this] inspiring and illuminating story to the page. --Publishers Weekly "In the hands of the right readers, it will change the minds of some Westerners about the intent and character of the foreign people who are streaming their way... More than anything else, this is a testimonial to the very definition of heroism--when, that is, an ordinary person responds in extraordinary ways to extraordinary events." --Kirkus Reviews In a few years, when people will look back at our current time of conflicts, dislocation, and displacement, the story of Doaa al-Zamel--and of those she saw die, and of the new life she saved--will stand out as one of its defining narratives. --Bruno Giussani, European director, TED "What makes Fleming's book so riveting is the care with which she handles Al Zamel's unforgettable, exceedingly painful and ultimately uplifting story. Fleming pulls aside the curtain on the chaotic and complicated news headlines from the conflict and instead focuses in on this one Syrian woman... The realities that unfold are often painful to read, but the narrative is unmatched as a powerful illustration to the world of the need for a global solution to the increasing refugee crisis." --Summit Daily News "Doaa's story takes place in the same world I live in, and it shook me to my core. No person fleeing persecution should have to die trying to reach safety. This is surely a book to be read to better understand what drives people to risk their lives crossing the sea to Europe, pushing them even farther from their homeland after having already escaped the horrors of war." --Steamboat Today About the Author MELISSA FLEMING is chief spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She travels to war zones and refugee camps to give voice to the millions of people forcibly displaced from their homes. She is frequently quoted in international media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR. Her talks are featured on TED.com. She first told Doaa's story on the TED stage, which went on to be viewed over a million times.
An Unkindness of Magicians - by Kat Howard (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 368Genre: Fiction + Literature GenresSub-Genre: FantasyFormat: HardcoverPublisher: Gallery / Saga PressAge Range: AdultBook theme: Dark FantasyAuthor: Kat HowardLanguage: English About the Book "In New York City, magic controls everything. But the power of magic is fading. No one knows what is happening, except for Sydney--a new, rare magician with incredible power that has been unmatched in decades, and she may be the only person who is able to stop the darkness that is weakening the magic. But Sydney doesn't want to help the system --she wants to destroy it. Sydney comes from the House of Shadows, which controls the magic with the help of sacrifices from magicians"-- Book Synopsis "A remarkable writer." --Neil Gaiman, bestselling author of American Gods An Alex Award Winner There is a dark secret that is hiding at the heart of New York City and diminishing the city's magicians' power in this fantasy thriller by acclaimed author Kat Howard. In New York City, magic controls everything. But the power of magic is fading. No one knows what is happening, except for Sydney--a new, rare magician with incredible power that has been unmatched in decades, and she may be the only person who is able to stop the darkness that is weakening the magic. But Sydney doesn't want to help the system, she wants to destroy it. Sydney comes from the House of Shadows, which controls the magic with the help of sacrifices from magicians. Review Quotes NPR Best Book of 2017 An Alex Award Winner "A remarkable writer."--Neil Gaiman, bestselling author of American Gods "This is an amazing book filled with magic, consequences, and what happens when you fight rather than turning away. This is Omelas, for magic. This is the price that must be paid. This is the story the others forgot to tell."--Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft and Horizon. "Strong characters and a captivating revenge plot make this a fun, absorbing read for those who like their magic, and their magicians, dark and twisty."--Kirkus "The characters and the Unseen World flourish in her gorgeous prose."--Publishers Weekly "Howard's vengeance-fueled urban fantasy is stylish, macabre, and spellbinding."--Booklist "Imagine the dueling club in Harry Potter all grown up and out for blood."--Shelf Awareness "Howard's magical world is wonderfully vivid; the magic itself engages all the senses, making each spell feel tangible. The disturbing, thrilling, and lovely moments pulse with striking language, and the fast-paced story is polished with a bit of humor that helps keep the novel light and fun. This riveting book is perfect for readers who want to escape."--San Francisco Book Review "A really good book. Its characters come vividly alive, its prose is precisely observed, and it's both tense and incredibly compelling."--Locus Magazine "Fun and fast-paced read, and is impossible to look away from."--Tor.com
Things We Have in Common - by Tasha Kavanagh (Paperback)
Number of Pages: 288Genre: Fiction + Literature GenresSub-Genre: LiteraryFormat: PaperbackPublisher: Park RowAge Range: AdultAuthor: Tasha KavanaghLanguage: English About the Book "When fifteen-year-old Yasmin--obese, obsessive, and deemed a freak by her peers--sees a sinister man watching Alice Taylor from the school fence, she becomes convinced he's planning to take her. After all, who wouldn't want the popular and perfect Alice? Then Yasmin realizes if she can find out who he is before he acts, she'll be the only one who can tell the police, save Alice, and become Alice's heroine. But as Yasmin discovers more about this man, her affections begin to shift. Perhaps she was wrong about him. Perhaps she doesn't need Alice after all--and then Alice vanishes"--Amazon.com. Book Synopsis "[A] perfectly orchestrated girl-who-cried-wolf thriller."--The New York Times Book Review A dark, utterly compulsive novel about what happens when the warped imagination of a teenage girl turns into reality... When fifteen-year-old Yasmin--obese, obsessive and deemed a freak by her peers--sees a sinister man watching Alice Taylor from the school fence, she becomes convinced he's planning to take her. After all, who wouldn't want the popular and perfect Alice? Then Yasmin realizes if she can find out who he is before he acts, she'll be the only one who can tell the police, save Alice and become Alice's heroine. But as Yasmin discovers more about this man, her affections begin to shift. Perhaps she was wrong about him. Perhaps she doesn't need Alice after all... And then Alice vanishes. Review Quotes [A] perfectly orchestrated girl-who cried-wolf thriller.... Kavanagh's second-person narration ... reveals the very thin line that separates garden-variety teenage agita from dangerous delusion.... [T]he artfulness with which [Kavanagh] deceives and manipulates is so downright creepy that one periodically finds oneself in the discomfiting posture of cheering on the bullies and the mean girls.-The New York Times Book Review [W]ildly clever...spectacular...The conclusion underscore[s] the author's searing insight into teenage behavior and the desperation for connection.-Publishers Weekly An unreliable narrator in the most intriguing way.... A quick, thoroughly enjoyable read.-Booklist A tale of loneliness and teenage obsession which could be the next Gone Girl success story.-Independent (UK) A brilliantly twisted coming-of-age tale... The story chillingly, compulsively unravels.-Sunday Express A striking and highly enjoyable debut.-Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author Tasha Kavanagh's Yasmin is as complex and believable a narrator as you will find. Her honesty drives the novel to its unflinching, brilliant conclusion and is why Things We Have in Common is so disturbing...so impossible to set aside. -Travis Mulhauser, author of Sweetgirl With a dark and suspenseful plot that keeps the reader guessing until the final pages, Things We Have in Common is an assured debut narrated by an alarming and original voice. -The Irish Times Kavanagh does orchestrate some successful plot twists that are reminiscent of other psychological thrillers-classics by Ruth Rendell, for example, or more recent hits like Gone Girl.-Kirkus Reviews A pitch-black comedy thriller.-The Guardian
Down Among the Sticks and Bones - (Wayward Children) by Seanan McGuire (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 192Genre: Fiction + Literature GenresSub-Genre: FantasySeries Title: Wayward ChildrenFormat: HardcoverPublisher: TordotcomAge Range: AdultBook theme: ContemporaryAuthor: Seanan McGuireLanguage: English About the Book A stand-alone dark fantasy tale from the world of Every Heart a Doorway: what happened to Jack and Jill before they tumbled into Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children? Book Synopsis Winner: 2018 Alex AwardWinner: 2018 ALA RUSA Fantasy AwardSeanan McGuire returns to her popular Wayward Children series with Down Among the Sticks and Bones--a truly standalone story suitable for adult and young adult readers of urban fantasy, and the follow-up to the Alex, Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning, World Fantasy Award finalist, Tiptree Honor List book Every Heart a Doorway Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. This is the story of what happened first... Jacqueline was her mother's perfect daughter--polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it's because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline. Jillian was her father's perfect daughter--adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got. They were five when they learned that grown-ups can't be trusted. They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices. The Wayward Children SeriesBook 1: Every Heart a DoorwayBook 2: Down Among the Sticks and BonesBook 3: Beneath the Sugar SkyBook 4: In an Absent Dream Review Quotes McGuire has a miraculous talent for examining adolescent discontent, wedding the strange with the poignant, the fearsome with the fascinating. --RT Book Reviews Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars "Beautifully crafted and smartly written, this fairy-tale novella is everything that speculative fiction readers look for: fantastical worlds, diverse characters, and prose that hits home with its emotional truths. --Library Journal starred review Exquisitely crafted, this is the rare companion novel that can stand alone. --Booklist starred review. Down Among the Sticks and Bones has the voice and rhythm of a fairy tale... It is vividly characterised, as so much of Seanan McGuire's work is, and has the kind of prose that carries you along to find out what happens next. --Locus McGuire's exquisitely written fairy tale is about the choices that can alter the course of a life forever, lost innocence, and what it is to love and be loved. --Publishers Weekly starred review PRAISE FOR EVERY HEART A DOORWAY: A mini-masterpiece of portal fantasy that deserves to be shelved with Lewis Carroll's and C. S. Lewis' classics. --NPR Seanan McGuire has long been one of the smartest writers around, and with this novella we can easily see that her heart is as big as her brain. We know this story isn't true, but it is truth. --Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series (TV's True Blood) This is a gorgeous story: sometimes mean, sometimes angry, and always exciting. --Cory Doctorow for BoingBoing McGuire's lyrical prose makes this novella a rich experience. --Library Journal, starred review So mindblowingly good, it hurts. --io9 This gothic charmer is a love letter to anyone who's ever felt out of place. -- Publishers Weekly This gothic novel is ideal for fantasy fans who have longed for a world of their own, as well as readers looking for books with diverse casts. --Bookish "Girl Interrupted meets Grimm's Fairy Tales. Let it in and it will touch your heart and open your mind." --Geek Syndicate About the Author SEANAN McGUIRE is the author of the October Daye urban fantasy series, the InCryptid series, the Wayward Children series, and other works. She also writes darker fiction as Mira Grant. Seanan lives in Seattle with her cats, a vast collection of creepy dolls, and horror movies, and sufficient books to qualify her as a fire hazard. She was the winner of the 2010 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and in 2013 she became the first person ever to appear five times on the same Hugo ballot.
