New Releases by Joan Clark

Joan Clark''s ''Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key'' is a captivating blend of mystery and adventure, following the young protagonist Penny as she unravels the secrets behind a lost key. Clark''s writing style is engaging and accessible, making this novel a perfect introduction to the mystery genre for young readers. The book is set in a charming small town that adds to the cozy atmosphere of the story, which is reminiscent of classic children''s mystery novels. With its intriguing plot and well-developed characters, ''Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key'' is sure to keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.Joan Clark, a prolific Canadian author with a talent for writing novels that resonate with readers of all ages, brings her expertise to ''Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key''. With a background in education and a passion for inspiring young minds, Clark''s writing is both entertaining and educational, making her books a favorite among parents and teachers alike. Her dedication to crafting engaging stories shines through in this charming mystery novel.Readers looking for a delightful mystery novel that will keep them guessing until the very end will find ''Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key'' to be a delightful read. Joan Clark''s skillful storytelling and compelling characters make this book a must-read for fans of the genre, both young and old.

Christopher Nichols travels to Knob Hill for a much-needed vacation. Penny unenthusiastically accompanies him, expecting a boring vacation in their secluded destination. The vacation proves to be far from boring.First, there is the strange man who asks for a ride and then suddenly disappears. Next, old Herman Crocker appears to be imprisoning and abusing his grandson. The housekeeper, Mrs. Masterbrook, is caught snooping in Mr. Nichols'' belongings, and a young man arrives at Knob Hill claiming to be looking for old Mr. Crocker, yet is unwilling to go see him.

Joan Clark’s An Audience of Chairs opens with Moranna MacKenzie living alone in her ancestral Cape Breton farmhouse, waging a war with the symptoms of bipolar disorder and grieving the loss of her two daughters, taken from her over thirty years previously. There are few people remaining in her life, as Moranna cannot help but tax the patience of nearly everyone she encounters. Her long-suffering brother Murdoch has her best interests at heart, though he is fatigued by her enormous needs and pressured by his ambitious wife to invest less time in her. Pastor Andy politely sloughs off the peculiarly intelligent yet unpalatable sermons Moranna pens for him. Her neighbour Lottie knows what it is to be an eccentric and can be counted on to come through in a pinch. The local RCMP constabulary smooths over her legal scrapes. And her lover Bun, who lives with her when not working on the ferries between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, knows how to give her a wide berth on her “foul weather” days. Thanks to the assistance of these sometimes reluctant guardian angels, as well as to the carefully planned inheritance left by her father (not to mention her own sheer ingenuity), Moranna has managed to get by all these years despite small-town gossips and tormenting youths. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn more about the devastating effects of Moranna’ s mental illness on her life and that of her family. But An Audience of Chairs also gives us a glimpse into the mind of a true iconoclast and wild spirit, who has managed despite overwhelming odds to keep hope alive. Of An Audience of Chairs, Quill and Quire said: “Elegantly written and deeply grounded in place, this moving, compassionate novel is far more than a story of mental illness. Moranna’s quest is for peace, joy, and connection–the same yearnings that drive us all.”

A fully updated and expanded edition of a weight loss program that readers can count on. This fully updated and expanded edition clearly explains just how and why a glycemic index diet works by showing readers how to eat the right kind of foods: more complex carbohydrates, fibre, grains, and fruit. The glycemic index diet is a solution for many people at of Type II diabetes or those with insulin-sensitivity or resistance. - Includes information on supplements, easy recipes, food lists, and sample meal plans. - Includes an appendix with glycemic index counts and loads for all sorts of food. - Features a new study on how eating certain foods cold can make a big difference.

Provides recipes for every meal and occasion, based on the glycemic index, so you can eat to your heart''s content while keeping your insulin levels in balance and your weight in check.--

Jackson Thomas, a fifth-grade boy with Asperger Syndrome is assigned to complete a science project with spunky Hillary Branson, a fiercely independent student with a tendency to tell lies. It therefore comes as no surprise that when assigned to work with Jackson, Hillary rebels in any way she can. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to see Hillary''s troubled background and delight in how she and Jackson discover they have a lot more in common than they ever realized.

A boy imagines what lies beneath the high piles of snow.

Moranna learns that one of the daughters taken from her years earlier is about to be married and determines to attend the event.

Fifth-grader Tyler has been chosen to present a going away present to Jackson, but Tyler is worried about being associated with Jackson. The other students think Jackson is strange--but he just has Asperger''s syndrome.

Diabetic-friendly recipes the whole family will love! From appetizers to desserts and everything in between, here are three-hundred easy-to-prepare recipes for diabetics that can be made from everyday household ingredients; and the entire family can enjoy. Food categories include Mexican, Italian, Pan-Asian, fish, poultry, lean-beef and pork entrees; appetizers, snacks, side dishes, breads and desserts; and fruits, vegetables, soups, salads, pastats, and breads. First diabetic cookbook to use the new glycemic index for all recipes; three-hundred recipes, far more than others on the market; 6.5% of the U.S. population has diabetes; the World Health Organization is predicting the number of people with diabetes to double from 140 million to 300 million by 2025.

Set in the 19th century and inspired by Edith Whartons women who were not passive victims of their lives, Fredericks Heir is the story of two girls who defy the conventions of convent school and parties, the social system of Paris. Fredrica Navarreau, known as Rica, tries to live up to her grandfathers expectations. Preparing to inherit his shipping company she tries to learn about the ships and cargo ledgers, activities far outside the constrictions of her French familys position. Unable to understand her desire to use her mind her grandfather diverts her attention with the celebration of the opening of the Suez Canal and a trip to the Far East. Celine Rabut, inchanted by the theatre and theatre people, begins studying acting in Paris. She lives in the Navarreau home while Rica is away and tries to help the family during the Prussian War. On her return Rica is dispatched to London to marry the son of family friends. The young women fee to New York where Celines career slowly grows as her parts become more important. Rica, fearing she has alienated her family, returns to Paris to find her grandfather has died and someone has snatched her inheritance.

"From a High Thin Wire" introduced a powerful new voice into Canadian fiction. The ten frank yet subtle stories in Joan Clark's debut collection explore how childhood experiences shape adult choices. A woman rages against the "eye of God" that has seen the miner's son she once loved reduced to a mute old man; sisters come home to bury their mother, whose sudden death plunges them into confusion; a minister's daughter deals summarily with marauding dogs. In every story, Clark peels away the skin, exposing the network of influences that make people act as they do.

Since early times in Ireland and nearby Celtic lands, the Irish harp and its music have captivated musicians and audiences alike. Numerous historical aspects, such as the function of the harper at Tara, the seat of ancient Irish kings, is explored in this comprehensive history of the harp of Ireland. Through the ages, the harp has been a symbol of the lyrical nature of Ireland and the Irish people. This book explores the reawakening of this beautiful instrument in Ireland and around the world in the mid-twentieth century and beyond, touching on the quite recent development of the popular Folk and Celtic harps of today.

Madeleine is eager to visit her cousin Selena in Calgary, but when she arrives, she finds a Selena self-assured, aloof and unfriendly. One moonlit night Madeleine dons a mysterious moon mask and is transported to the Moon World. Her activities there and in the real world allow her to come to terms with her cousin and herself.

Knowing only that the Trout Tree is a work of art, a young city girl visits several different artists in her search for it.