When someone grows up with a unique quality, he or she reasonably assumes that everyone else does, too. Persephone Smith, the self-confident, fifth grade, narrating protagonist of "Wicked Normal," innocently views herself as "wicked normal," believing that everyone has the natural powers to have psychic visions, precognitive dreams, see ghosts, and make actions occur by speaking them. "Wicked Normal" chronicles the year when Persephone discovers power in her natural abilities and realizes that not everyone has run-ins with fairies or communicates with ghosts.In many ways, Persephone's life is perfectly ordinary. She is the only child of Wally and Demi Smith, who provide her with a strong moral fiber, a very clear sense of right and wrong, and safety from the world. Although Persephone describes her life as the "happily ever after," this year is full of complicated situations. It becomes very clear that Persephone's "happily ever after" exists solely because Wally and Demi love her, and each other, unconditionally.Despite Persephone's vocabulary and advanced maturity, she is not perfect, making impulsive, innocently naive choices that have consequences for her and remind readers that she truly is just a kid. The other children woven throughout the story are each endearing in his/her own way: Gabby, the whiny tattle-tale at day camp; Coral, Persephone's "best friend" who throws temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way; Charles, the quintessential sci-fi/fantasy pre-teen geek; Joey, Persephone's blue-eyed, dimpled, crush; along with Seth, Jade, Freddie, Skye, Danielle, and many more cabinmates, classmates, and kids."Wicked Normal" is the first book in a middle-grade and up, coming-of-age, realistic, paranormal, fantasy series by debut author, former elementary school teacher, Lauren Courcelle. It is intended for ages 9 and up, as the series will follow Persephone Smith to middle school, high school, and college. The real-life Vermont setting, lovable characters, and realistic fifth grade predicaments blend with the fantasy element of extraordinary powers to create an escape from reality for any "wicked normal" readers.
Persephone Smith is back... only this time, she's in middle school. Although she believes that the biggest change in the year chronicled in "Wicked Weird" will be that she gets to choose what she wears to school, she is severely mistaken. In middle school, the stakes are bigger, the consequences are more extreme, and her classmates are usually not her familiar Saint Bart's friends. What she doesn't realize is that she fits into middle school perfectly, as feeling weird is actually wicked normal during those years.Due to the events in the first book of the series, "Wicked Normal," Persephone often hesitates to use her natural powers in this second installment. Her trust in others and confidence in herself have been seriously shaken, but over time, she regains her inner strength and begins relying on others outside of her immediate family again. Her parents are still a constant positive force in her life, although she has a streak of independence that tests them more than she ever has before. She trusts in their unconditional love, even in her brattiest moments, and this year, she opens up enough to understand the added value in loving friends unconditionally, too.When Persephone isn't in school, she searches for unicorns, hangs out with her friends, sets out to prove that Santa Claus is real, and is involved in the school play. Her vocabulary changes a bit, with clear influence from her new-found friends. Her boy dramas, moments of poor decision-making, frequent sobfests, and overuse of the response, "Whatever," remind readers that she is very much a ten-year-old. Familiar peers Gabby, Coral, Charles, Seth, Jade, Freddie, Skye, Misty, and Katie return in this book with the new faces of: Harley, the textbook bad boy; Katrina, Persephone's dissection-obsessed lab partner; Jesse, the beautiful theatre guy; Lily, the fight-prone tough girl; and many more classmates, to form quite a selection of contemporaries for Persephone in middle school."Wicked Weird" is the second book in a middle-grade and up, coming-of-age, realistic, paranormal, fantasy series by author Lauren Courcelle. Like "Wicked Normal," it also is intended for ages 9 and up, as the series follows Persephone Smith to middle school, high school, and college. The real-life Vermont setting, lovable characters, personal relationship dramas, and realistic sixth grade predicaments blend with the fantasy elements of unicorns, extraordinary powers, and magic to create an escape from reality for any readers who have, at one time or another, felt "wicked weird."
Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. She's just not the 'survival' type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant. Once in the game, it's clear that Abby's in over her head. The game itself is full of competitive, aggressive people, and no one's more aggressive than sexy, delicious - and arrogant - Dean Woodall. Sure he's clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. That's fine with her; she'll just ignore the jerk. But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up - alone - on the beach. It's either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one else's company but their own, they learn they do make a good team after all. And that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion. This book features enemies, lovers, enemies who become lovers, and lots and lots of tropical heat...
The action and adventure of Highlander meets the passion and epic romance of Outlander in this thrilling Scottish historical from beloved author Mary Wine.Brenda Grant's abusive first marriage taught her that she's better off on her own. But when her family threatens her freedom and demands that she remarry—to a man they've chosen—she makes a deal with a brawny Highland chief to escape.Bothan Gunn is smitten by the woman who won't be tamed. He's helped her before—but can he do so now, when Brenda's complicated past threatens their lives? With danger closing in, their only chance at love and survival is to escape to the heart of the Highlands…
