New Releases by Gloria Whelan

It is perilous to be a Catholic in the Ireland of 1735, and almost more than can be borne for fifteen-year-old Padraic Fitzbrian. Nearly 100 years before, Lord Protector Cromwell of England had put down the Irish rebellion—confiscating lands, killing priests, outlawing the Mass and prohibiting education of any kind for Irish Catholics. Padraic and his two friends, Liam and Rose, are in their last year as scholars in the forbidden and risky “all-weathers” classroom under the hedgerow. Fiery Padraic, whose family lands had been seized so long before, chafes under the injustice as though it were yesterday, making trouble for himself and those around him. Liam, as determined a patriot, holds the hope of being able to fight for his people’s freedom in an entirely different way. And warm-hearted Rose, gifted with pluck, is also—thankfully—rich in good sense. Behind the scenes, a mysterious figure called the “Kestrel” stirs the fires of Irish identity, and Padraic longs to do as much. Harmless adventures mount into dangerous trouble as the three young people strive, in each new difficulty, to take hold of the faith and patience that brings freedom amidst the worst tyranny. Gloria Whelan is a National Book Award winner for Young People’s Literature and author of many books, including The Miracle of St. Nicholas. Living History Library Quality Softcover, $14.95 Ireland 1730''s AD, Ages 12-up, RL 5

To save his family, a logger goes down the river—and brings along his wife and daughter When Annabel’s father sells their house in Detroit, she is thrilled by the idea of life on a farm. But when they reach their little plot of land, she sees that her daddy has been swindled. The rocky ground is hard and unforgiving, and nothing will grow there. Ruined, her father has no choice but to take the only job he can find: chopping down trees in the lush Michigan forest. For Annabel, life in the camp is dreary—but it is about to get a whole lot worse. When her father is chosen to accompany the year’s load of logs as it floats down the river, Annabel and her mother take up residence in the wanigan, the floating cookshack that follows the men. This rough-hewn one-room cabin will house them for three months. As uncomfortable as it is, Annabel learns that sometimes, a river can be a home.

After her father’s death, a girl adjusts to life away from the river she loves The river is where Lily’s father taught her to fish; it is where she played all summer; it is what sang her to sleep at night in their cabin. But when her father dies while fishing, it is the river that Lily blames. Unable to make ends meet, she and her mother sell their cabin and move into town to live above the family hardware store. Even though she’s angry, the river keeps calling her home. With a pair of wire cutters she borrowed from the store, Lily snips the fence that’s keeping her out of their old property. Living in their cabin is a mysterious man named T. R. Tracy, a veteran who lost his legs in the war. Together they bond over the river, and together they will learn to forgive.

In the depths of the Depression, a young girl goes to live in the country Although the Depression has destroyed Detroit’s economy, Elsa cannot imagine living anywhere else. She loves her friends, her family, and the hustle and bustle of the great industrial city. But when a mysterious illness forces her to miss half of fifth grade, her parents take drastic action and send her to stay with her grandmama to heal. Not just for a week. Not just for a month. For the entire summer. Elsa is frightened of her stern German grandmother and doesn’t think she could ever feel at home in the peaceful Michigan countryside. The nights are too quiet and the days are too boring, and she has nothing to amuse herself with except her journal. But as the Lake Huron summer wears on, Elsa learns to take joy in empty places and live for the beauty of nature.

As the Soviet Union crumbles, one ballerina dreams of Paris It is 1991, and revolution is coming to the Soviet Union, but in Leningrad, life goes on as it always has. Food is scarce and luxuries are few, but for a young dancer named Tanya, life is a beautiful dream. She dances all day and all night, performing on the stage of the greatest theater in Russia. Her family has sacrificed everything for her dream, and their efforts are finally paying off. Soon the company will tour Europe, and Tanya will see Paris—a city so beautiful that she has begun to contemplate the unthinkable: leaving the Soviet Union forever. Paris offers a chance for defection, which would mean saying good-bye to her family. But as the group prepares for the trip, politics and romance tempt her to stay in Leningrad. Soon Tanya must choose her path. Does her future lie in Paris—or in a new Russia?

Prince Albert comes up with a royally creative solution to Queen Victoria’s modesty concerns in this true story that reveals an overlooked splash of history. Poor Queen Victoria! She loves to swim, but can’t quite figure out how to get to the water without her devoted subjects glimpsing her swimming suit. (Because, of course, such a sight would compromise her regal dignity.) Fortunately for the water-loving monarch, it’s Prince Albert to the rescue with an invention fit for a queen! This quirky tale about the longest reigning monarch in British history is as fun as it is authentic, and the book includes a picture of the actual bathing machine Prince Albert created.

Originally built in 1921 to race in the ocean, a sailboat named Bernida captures the attention and heart of a Michigan sailor. He buys the boat and brings her to the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit. In 1925 the sailor enters Bernida in the very first Port Huron to Mackinac Island Race.

As Rosalind continues to straddle the proper English world of her family and the culture of 1920s India where they live, her support of Gandhi and his followers in opposing British rule grows and she considers trying to carry the rebels'' message to Edward, Prince of Wales, during his visit.

Holly''s family lives a simple life in northern Michigan, enjoying the bounty of the earth and very much in step with the rhythm of the changing seasons. But times are hard and a cold winter is coming. Without a warm coat, Holly might not be able to start school. Readers will delight in Mama''s solution to Holly''s predicament. National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan''s lyrical prose is beautifully matched by detailed paintings from Michigan artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen.

Voices for Freedom contains three stories focusing on the Underground Railroad and the 1963 Freedom March on Washington. Stories are Friend on Freedom River, Riding to Washington, and The Listeners.In Friend on Freedom River, written by Gloria Whelan, runaway slaves ask Louis to ferry them across the Detroit River to freedom in Canada. He’s not sure what to do. If they are caught, it means prison for Louis. Written by Gwenyth Swain, Riding to Washington tells of one girl’s journey to attend the 1963 “Great March on Washington.” Janie and her father ride a bus to Washington, D.C. to hear a man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. During the trip, Janie sees firsthand the injustices that many others endure. In The Listeners, another offering from Gloria Whelan, each night Ella May and her friends secretly listen outside the windows of their master’s house. They listen to learn their fates and those of the other slaves.

As a young boy in Gujarat, India, Kumar sometimes feels like he lives in two worlds. First there is the old world where people and their choices are determined by prejudice and bigotry. But then there is the second, modern world: in this world Kumar can be friends with whomever he chooses and his future looks bright. As part of the annual Diwali celebration, Kumar is invited to the house of his classmate Andal to watch fireworks. Andal is from a high-caste Brahmin family so Kumar is especially pleased to be included. But there in Andal''s house, Kumar''s two worlds collide in a very unpleasant way. Instead of being welcomed as a guest, Kumar is sent away, forbidden to join the festivities. Angry and hurt, Kumar is left questioning his place in Indian society. Where does he fit in? To which world does he really belong?

Set in the late 1950s, this is the moving story of a young boy whose father operates a ferryboat between Michigan''s Upper and Lower peninsulas. As young Mark witnesses the building of the new Mackinac Bridge, he is torn between family loyalty and eager anticipation. He can''t help being awestruck by the majesty of the five-mile-long bridge that will connect the two peninsulas and change the lives of so many. But the Mighty Mac will also put Mark''s father out of business. As his father struggles with the flow of progress, Mark dreams of future bridges he will build. Details of the complex construction of the bridge will fascinate children as they learn an important part of America''s history and come to understand the meaning of change. The Mackinac Bridge Authority provides history notes at the back of the book.

In 1850 the Detroit River was a major track along the Underground Railroad -- the last step to freedom. The journey across the river was dangerous, especially in winter and especially for a 12-year-old boy. When Louis''s father left him in charge of the farm he offered his son this advice, "If you don''t know what to do, just do what you think I would have done." Louis relies upon his father''s words of wisdom when a runaway slave and her two children come looking for safe passage. In the second title in our Tales of Young Americans series Gloria Whelan -- author of National Book Award winning Homeless Bird -- beautifully creates a suspenseful coming-of-age story while illuminating a difficult time in America''s past. Ms. Whelan''s narrative again shows the human spirit will forever shine brightly in dark times. Freedom River - part of our Young Americans series - will quickly become a favorite for its important message and look at history from a youngster''s eye. Artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen - a Sleeping Bear Press favorite - treats the material as only he can. Each illustrated page demonstrates the same mastery and devotion to his craft as the young heroes he brings to life.

Through the voice of a young girl, the life of the people known as Irish Travelers is explored. Megan spends her summers traveling around the Irish countryside with her family. They move from place to place, hauling their camper behind their old car. But they aren''t on vacation. This is their way of life. Megan and her family are Travelers. As part of their summer life, Megan''s father works odd jobs, from fieldwork to roofing houses. Despite the rough living, Megan loves her life and the freedom that comes from traveling the open road. But at summer''s end, when there''s no more work to be had, the family moves to the city of Dublin. The camper is parked and they move into a cramped house. Megan and her siblings attend the local school as their parents struggle to make ends meet. And as the seasons pass, Megan counts down the days until she can return to her summer life. Gloria Whelan''s other books in the Tales of the World series are Waiting for the Owl''s Call, Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (2008 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner), and Yatandou (a Junior Library Guild selection). Ms. Whelan lives in Michigan. Beth Peck earned a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated many books for children, including A Christmas Memory, Just Like Josh Gibson, and Music for the End of Time. Ms. Peck lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Kindness has incredible consequences in this compelling novel set in colonial India from a “master storyteller” (Publishers Weekly) and National Book Award-winning author. It is India, 1918, six months after the end of World War I, and Rosalind awaits the return of her father from the war. Rosalind is kept from boarding school in England at her mother’s insistence. While her father has been at war, Rosalind sees the country slowly change. A man named Ghandi is coming to power, talking about nonviolence and independence from Britain. Rosalind longs to live the life that her heart tells her, not what her parents prescribe for her, but no one seems to listen. This penetrating story, told with lush and vivid detail, contrasts Rosalind’s privilege and daily experiences in India with the hardship of the people around her. As she comes of age during this volatile period of history, will she find the courage to claim her own identity and become her own person? National Book Award–winning author Gloria Whelan’s “insight into history and her characters’ minds make every moment of this saga believable” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). This paperback edition includes an excerpt of All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens, the standalone companion to Small Acts of Amazing Courage.

Ella May lives on a plantation but she doesn''t live in the great house. She is a slave. It''s dark in the morning when Ella May heads to the fields to pick cotton. And it''s sunset when she comes home. But her day isn''t done, not yet. Ella May still has important work to do. She''s got to listen. Each night Ella May and her friends secretly listen outside the windows of their master''s house. The children listen in the hopes of gleaning information about their fates and those of their loved ones. Who will be sold? Who will stay? The lives of slaves depended on the inclinations of their owners. They had no control over their daily lives or futures. But they could dream. And when the promise of freedom appears on the horizon, the children are the first to hear it. Gloria Whelan''s other titles in the Tales of Young Americans series include Friend on Freedom River (Jefferson Cup honor book) and Mackinac Bridge: The Story of the Five-Mile Poem (2007 Michigan Notable Book). Ms. Whelan lives in Michigan. Mike Benny''s illustrations have appeared in Time, GQ, and The New Yorker magazines. His awards include three gold and two silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. He also illustrated America''s White Table. Mike lives in Austin, Texas.

A pioneer adventure perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series! On Libby Mitchell’s tenth birthday, she and her parents climb into a covered wagon and set off on a journey that takes them two months and a thousand miles. Their trip from Virginia to the deep woods of Michigan is hard, but it is exciting, too. And at its end lies their new home—a place that is rugged, wild, and full of promise. History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

Eight-year-old Zulviya, her sister and her cousin, her mother and her grandmother... they all belong to the loom. For generations the women of Zulviya''s family have earned their living by weaving rugs by hand. The rugs are valuable and the women are proud of their beautiful handiwork. But the work is hard. It takes months to weave a rug; each one contains hundreds of thousands of knots. Before one work day has passed, Zulviya will tie thousands of knots. As she sits at her work, Zulviya weaves not one but two patterns. The pattern on the loom will become a fine rug. She weaves a second pattern in her mind. There she sees the green of the Afghani hills, the bright blue of the nearby lake, and the vivid orange of the setting sun. And Zulviya takes comfort in the landscape in her mind. Gloria Whelan''s other picture books in the Tales of the World series are Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (2008 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner) and Yatandou (a Junior Library Guild selection). Ms. Whelan lives in Michigan. Pascal Milelli''s illustration clients include Harper''s, The Atlantic, and Scribner Books. His picture book, The Art Room, by Susan Vande Griek, received the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator''s Award from the Canadian Library Association in 2003. Pascal lives in Vancouver, Canada.

The National Book Award-winning novel about one remarkable young woman who dares to defy fate, perfect for readers who enjoyed A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park or Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly''s story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she''s been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition? Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.

One girl too many . . . When a girl is born to Chu Ju''s family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go. Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing not to return. With luminescent detail, National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to China, where law conspires with tradition, tearing a young woman from her family, sending her on a remarkable journey to find a home of her own.

Silvia tries to save her brother, Eduardo, after he is captured by the military government in 1970s Argentina.

The community of Starvation Lake helps fourth-grader Dawn Zonder clean and repair an old house, hoping that her family will find the money to be able to move in.

In 1913 Russia, twelve-year-old Katya eagerly anticipates leaving her St. Petersburg home, though not her older cousin Misha, to join her mother, a lady in waiting in the household of Tsar Nicholas II, but the ensuing years bring world war, revolution, and undreamed of changes to her life.

The kids from Starvation Lake are all excited about their trip to the ecology center . . . all of them, that is, except Baylor. Just the thought of being outdoors makes Baylor sick. The cold and the germs are bad enough, but no one said anything about the bears!

During a long, snowy winter, the fourth grade boys and girls at Starvation Lake Elementary School have a contest to see who can raise the most money to help pay for a class trip.

When a tire fire causes a punk rock band to take a detour to Starvation Lake, the fourth-grade students talk them into playing at the school fund raiser.

Because the Sioux had killed her Papa at the Battle of Little Bighorn, eleven-year-old Miranda struggles with her mama''s prejudice and her own experiences with Indians in the Wild West Show.

His family''s quest for the truth takes them from the political inferno of Central America to the snowy woodlands of northern Michigan.

When Alexi learns from his babuskha that a Russian village church has been closed for sixty years, the resourceful young boy decides to prepare it for a Christmas miracle.