Search results for ""Pearson""

A divine exploration. A deadly secret. A desire she can't escape.'Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance' STEPHANIE GARBERThe Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in 19th century Egypt, filled with adventure, laugh-out-loud banter, a slow-burn rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race. In the glittering society of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, Inez Olivera has everything, except the one thing she really wants: her parents, who frequently leave her behind on their globetrotting adventures. Then she receives a terrible letter: her parents have passed away in mysterious circumstances. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets sails for their last port-of-call, Cairo, bringing only her sketch pads and an ancient ring that her father sent to her for safekeeping.But upon her arrival in Egypt, the ring flares with ancient magic, and Inez is thrust into a treacherous game that could threaten her life - and into the path of her new guardian's infuriatingly handsome assistant, who seems determined to thwart her at every turn . . .Authors LOVE for What the River Knows'Take a plucky heroine, a historically grounded Indiana Jones-esque adventure through Ancient Egypt, and add a surprising dollop of magic - it's a recipe for a delightful read' JODI PICOULT'What the River Knows has it all: page-turning mystery, adventure, intrigue and betrayal, laugh-out-loud banter, and slow-burn romance' MARY E. PEARSON'A truly enchanting work of storytelling. All the stars' HEATHER FAWCETT'Ibanez's worldbuilding is masterful, and the chemistry between her characters is swoon worthy' ELIZABETH LIM'A thrilling adventure the whole way through' RACHEL GRIFFIN'Luminous and enchanting . . . A romantic, spellbinding adventure' REBECCA ROSSReaders LOVE for What the River Knows'Absolutely charming' NetGalley - five star review'Excuse me, but archaeology? Cleopatra? Speculative touches? This book is made for me!' NetGalley - five star review'This book was everything!! Literally, everything about it was purely magical' NetGalley - five star review'THAT ENDING. I NEED ANSWERS AND I NEED THEM NOW' NetGalley - five star review

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Discover a world of magical storytelling from a twice Costa-shortlisted author“One of our finest children’s writers.” Phil Earle“A master storyteller.” Aisling Fowler“Another absolute triumph from one of my favourite children’s authors.” Catherine DoyleThe greatest magic is hidden in plain sight...Evie is used to not being noticed. But when she meets the mysterious Wainwright, she discovers that going unnoticed might just be what makes her unique. Recruited into a secret magical organization, Evie finds herself at the heart of an ancient and magical battle. Evil is returning to the land, and Evie is the only person who can stop it. But how can she defeat the most dangerous magician in the world, when she doesn’t even know her own powers? Don't miss Ross's other fantasy novels for young readers: The Midnight GuardiansThe Chime SeekersPRAISE FOR SPELLSTONE"Vividly atmospheric with delightful characters... [A] spellbinding story.” Daily Mail “The very definition of a page-turner: riveting, punchy, with surprises around every bend. Ross is a flawless storyteller.” Carlie Sorosiak“Another absolute triumph from one of my favourite children’s authors. Spellstone is both heartfelt and humorous, while fizzing with magic and fun.” Catherine Doyle“A cinematic roller-coaster ride of a book, magical through to its shining core.” Katharine Orton“Infused with magic, adventure and imagination. This is Ross Montgomery on top form, and the result is spectacular.” Katya Balen“A magical book that is both clever and gripping. A joy!” Lisa Thompson“Montgomery's playful imagination floods every page, creating a magical adventure full of high stakes, charming characters and unexpected twists.” Joseph Elliott“A spellbinding adventure, brimming with original magic and the most charming cast of characters.”Jenny Pearson “Sparkling with magic, danger and that wonderful Montgomery wit, Spellstone is one to jump into, full throttle. A fabulous, crackling adventure.” Amy Wilson“Ross Montgomery just gets better and better! Crackling with magic and swirling with mystery, Spellstone had me enchanted from the first page.” Jennifer Bell“Magical storytelling – bold and brilliant.” Sophie Anderson“A brilliantly inventive tale of good versus evil that weaves magic and mystery with a cast of loveable characters. I loved every page of it.” Struan Murray"From the extraordinarily vivid opening scene to the heart-stopping climax, every page proves you're in the hands of a master storyteller. I couldn't put it down!" Aisling Fowler“Ross is one of our finest children’s writers, and this is a magnificent piece of fantasy storytelling. Gripping, quirky and with characters you won’t forget.” Phil EarlePRAISE FOR THE CHIME SEEKERS“Cracking adventure from the wildly imaginative Montgomery.” Daily Mail"Funny, terrifying, full of folkloric strangeness hiding in everyday corner, this sparkling homage to David Bowie's Labyrinth is just as satisfying as last year's The Midnight Guardians." Guardian"[A] whirlwind adventure." Daily Telegraph"Richly imaginative." The Week Junior“A quest like no other: Ross Montgomery is on spectacular form in this brilliant, edge-of-your seat story.” Emma Carroll"Fast-paced and hilarious." Ross Welford"Deliciously creepy, wonderfully imaginative." Sophie Anderson“Very page-turny, with enough funny bits to stop it being too scary.” Philip Reeve“All the hallmarks of an instant classic.” Carlie Sorosiak“A fantastic adventure with shades of Jan Mark, Susanna Clarke and Neil Gaiman ... A brilliant example of the best children's fiction.” Christopher Edge"Ross Montgomery is a true master of storytelling." Jenny Pearson“FLAWLESS. Witty, emotional, beautifully written, pacey, punchy, and a story that just keeps delivering.” Nicola Skinner"A modern classic." Phil Earle“Rich in detail, humour and feeling. Ross Montgomery is a singular talent in writing brave and magical adventures." Katya Balen“Fantastic! A brilliant cast of characters ... a whirlwind adventure and a fae world brimming with darkness, wonder and faerie tricks.” Aisling Fowler“[An] enchanting masterpiece ... Charming, hilarious and brimming with magic." Catherine Doyle“A tricksy, whirlwind of an adventure from start to finish with twists and turns I didn’t expect!” Aisha BusbyPRAISE FOR THE MIDNIGHT GUARDIANSShortlisted for the 2021 Costa Children's Book AwardWaterstones Children's Book of the Month for Christmas 2020Hive Children's Book of the Month for November 2020A Toppsta Children's Book of the Month for November 2020"An enthralling, Narnia-flavoured novel with the folkloric feels of a Christmas classic." Children's Books of the Year, Guardian"Beautifully drawn fantasy characters ... a story of hope and love underpinned by witty humour.” Daily Mail"A magical slice of historical fantasy fiction.” i Newspaper"This lovely adventure story has the feel of a classic children's book." Book of the Week, The Week Junior“Beautiful writing and epic storytelling.” WRD Magazine"A real triumph of the imagination." Editor's Choice, The Bookseller

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OLD books get NEW doodles – it's the classics as you've never seen them before! A hilarious new series that brings the classics to life with illustrations by Jack Noel. Perfect for 7-9 year olds and fans of Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid and Dav Pilkey. And PIRATES. Get your HOOKS into the one and only original pirate adventure! Jim Hawkins spends his life helping out at his mum’s boring old inn by the sea, wishing he could sail away and have adventures. But when an old sea captain turns up with a secret, it’s the start of a bigger adventure than Jim could ever have imagined – soon he’s on a ship on the trail of buried treasure, accompanied by a suspicious sailor named Long John Silver … Will Jim escape the pirates? Or will he walk the plank? Climb aboard with Jim, a chatty parrot and a bunch of crazy pirates for a hilarious adventure across the seven seas. Look out for more COMIC CLASSICS: GREAT EXPECTATIONS:Join Pip in a rip-roaring story of family secrets, scary grannies and a REALLY annoying big sister. Get on the trail of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLESSolve the case with Holmes and Watson in a thrilling tale of mystery, murder and things that go woof in the night. Praise for GREAT EXPECTATIONS:A funny, thought-provoking treat, it’s the ideal way into [Dickens] (Imogen Russell Williams Guardian) Buy a copy of Jack Noel’s retelling of Great Expectations before I set the dogs on you. Now, begone! (Philip Ardagh, Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author) It is BRILLIANT! (Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates) Jack Noel’s brilliantly witty art perfectly complements Dickens’ Great Expectations, making this a fab KS2 text to sit alongside the classic. Brilliant for dyslexic kids who may struggle with Dickens' prose … this book could bring a generation of kids to the classics (Abi Elphinstone, author of Rumblestar, Sky Song and the Dreamsnatcher trilogy) Jack Noel is a Jack of three trades: author, illustrator, designer, who works mainly on children's books and is a co-host on the Down the Rabbit Hole children's books podcast. Once upon a time Jack sent this tweet, and rest is history (history with doodles): https://twitter.com/jackdraws/status/965492074157166592https://jacknoelillustration.tumblr.com

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A Web of Prevention provides a timely contribution to the current debate about life science research and its implications for security. It is an informative guide for both experts and the public. It is a forward-looking contribution covering both ends of the equation and creates momentum for the current discussion on effective preventive measures and effective control measures. While there are no guarantees for preventing misuse, there are nonetheless crucial steps the world community can take towards the overarching goal of a global network for the life sciences. This book sheds light on concrete steps toward the achievement of this worthy goal. From the Foreword by Dr Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack, Chief, Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch, Office for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations. This book with its collection of essays provides an in-depth analysis of the various mutually reinforcing elements that together create and strengthen a web of prevention - or of assurance - that is vital to ensure that the advances in the life sciences are not misused to cause harm. All those engaged in the life sciences and in policy making in governments around the world should read this book so they can take steps to strengthen the web preventing biological weapons. Dr Graham S. Pearson, Visiting Professor of International Security, University of Bradford, UK and previously Director-General, Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, UK Since September 11, 2001 in many countries renewed attention has been given to how research in the life sciences might inadvertently or intentionally facilitate the development of biological or chemical weapons. This state-of-the-art volume examines the full extent of the issues and debates. Coverage includes an overview of recent scientific achievements in virology, microbiology, immunology and genetic engineering with a view to asking how they might facilitate the production of weapons of mass destruction by state, sub-state or terrorist organizations. Consideration is given to what we have and haven't learned from the past. Employing both academic analysis and reflections by practitioners, the book examines the security-inspired governance regimes for the life sciences that are under development. Ultimately the authors examine what is required to form a comprehensive and workable web of prevention and highlight the importance of encouraging discussions between scientists, policy makers and others regarding the governance of vital but potentially dangerous research.

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OLD books get NEW doodles – it's the classics as you've never seen them before! A hilarious new series that brings the classics to life with illustrations by Jack Noel. Perfect for 7-9 year olds and fans of Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid and Dav Pilkey. And PIRATES. Get your HOOKS into the one and only original pirate adventure! Jim Hawkins spends his life helping out at his mum’s boring old inn by the sea, wishing he could sail away and have adventures. But when an old sea captain turns up with a secret, it’s the start of a bigger adventure than Jim could ever have imagined – soon he’s on a ship on the trail of buried treasure, accompanied by a suspicious sailor named Long John Silver … Will Jim escape the pirates? Or will he walk the plank? Climb aboard with Jim, a chatty parrot and a bunch of crazy pirates for a hilarious adventure across the seven seas. Look out for more COMIC CLASSICS: GREAT EXPECTATIONS:Join Pip in a rip-roaring story of family secrets, scary grannies and a REALLY annoying big sister. Get on the trail of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLESSolve the case with Holmes and Watson in a thrilling tale of mystery, murder and things that go woof in the night. Praise for GREAT EXPECTATIONS:A funny, thought-provoking treat, it’s the ideal way into [Dickens] (Imogen Russell Williams Guardian) Buy a copy of Jack Noel’s retelling of Great Expectations before I set the dogs on you. Now, begone! (Philip Ardagh, Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author) It is BRILLIANT! (Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates) Jack Noel’s brilliantly witty art perfectly complements Dickens’ Great Expectations, making this a fab KS2 text to sit alongside the classic. Brilliant for dyslexic kids who may struggle with Dickens' prose … this book could bring a generation of kids to the classics (Abi Elphinstone, author of Rumblestar, Sky Song and the Dreamsnatcher trilogy) Jack Noel is a Jack of three trades: author, illustrator, designer, who works mainly on children's books and is a co-host on the Down the Rabbit Hole children's books podcast. Once upon a time Jack sent this tweet, and rest is history (history with doodles): https://twitter.com/jackdraws/status/965492074157166592https://jacknoelillustration.tumblr.com

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There's a thief in Aves Wood! M.G. Leonard, internationally bestselling author of Twitch, Beetleboy and Adventures on Trains, returns with the third gripping wildlife mystery for birdwatching detectives The Twitchers! >> Twitch won the Sainsburys' Children's Book Award for Fiction 2021 >> Twitch won the CRIMEFEST Award for Best Crime Novel for Children 2021 >> "A twist-laden, thriller-like tale" Observer on Twitch >> "A clarion call for environmentalists everywhere" Rob Biddulph on SparkWhen the peregrine falcon nest is raided, Twitch realizes a thief is at work. Horrified, he and the Twitchers set out to catch the dangerous criminal, only to be ensnared in a deadly trap. Can they save themselves and stop the villain before anyone gets hurt?Clutch is a thrilling spring mystery adventure about friendship, bravery and protecting nature, perfect for readers 9+ and for fans of Robin Stevens, Lauren St John and Jenny Pearson. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone adventure or read as part of The Twitchers series.Praise for The Twitchers:“Leonard knows her audience and the jeopardy comes in flocks ... Find your nest, curl up and enjoy.” The Times, Children's Book of the Week on Twitch"A twist-laden, thriller-like tale of a bird-mad boy, some bullies and an escaped convict hiding in the nearby woods." Observer on Twitch"A skilfully crafted mystery adventure. A clarion call for environmentalists everywhere." Rob Biddulph, LoveReading4Kids on Spark"A twisty crime drama as well as a persuasive story about friendship and nature." The Sunday Times on Twitch"Simply genius." BBC Wildlife Magazine on Twitch"Another pacy wonderful adventure steeped in the magic of nature and friendship.” Jasbinder Bilan on Spark“Leonard has crafted an intelligent mystery from unlikely material, with bonus bird facts.” Irish Times on Twitch“A winged masterpiece.” Maz Evans on Twitch“Enthralling from beginning to end, it really touched my young bird-loving heart! Just wonderful!” Dara McAnulty on Twitch“Twitch is an absolute triumph. The perfect blend of mystery and adventure, a winning hero with an eye for ornithological facts and a heart as big as the countryside, plus a cracking whipsmart plot, I think this is M. G. Leonard's best book yet.” Christopher Edge on Twitch“Cracking characters, beyond pacy plotting and an ending that is almost Bugsy Malone-esque!” Phil Earle on Twitch

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"This book will be of great benefit to student nurses. Following the clear, step by step guides and worked examples will enable you to quickly develop the confidence to master more complex processes. It will also be an invaluable resource for mentors supporting students." Dorothy Adam, Lecturer, The Robert Gordon University, UK"This book is a fundamental companion for all nurses wanting to become more proficient at medication calculations. The book is designed to find areas for improvements through a series of tests that start with a basic calculation review. Working through the book will help you to build confidence in the clinical environment."James Pearson-Jenkins, Senior Lecturer of Adult Acute Nursing, University of Wolverhampton, UK"This book is a useful tool for all nurses. I would recommend it for nursing staff undertaking intravenous or other medication management courses/ modules. It would also benefit nurses who have to undertake calculations tests as part of their new post or ongoing development."Amy Hutchinson, Student Nurse, University of Ulster, UK"Through simple examples, exercises and gradual progression, this book will help to remove the anxiety often associated with the arithmetic involved in drug calculations commonly encountered in clinical practice. The book will be of use to pre-registration and registered nurses alike. It provides an opportunity for both self assessment and practice, as such it will be a useful tool for improving confidence, competence and patient safety in a critical skill."Jim Jolly, Head of Academic Unit for Long Term Conditions, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, UKLooking for a quick and effective way to revise key points and test your knowledge?Calculation exams can intimidate many nurses. This handy book is designed to help you conquer your fears and strengthen your calculation skills.With more than 500 test questions in total, the book includes: 4 diagnostic tests so you can assess strengths and weaknesses 11 chapters on basic calculation skills 4 chapters on applied clinical calculations including injections, intravenous and paediatric drugs Quick reference tables of common units, formulae and times tables There are also chapters on the most common drug administrations used in nursing including: intravenous infusions, oral medication, injections, parenteral nutrition and paediatric drugs and the book shows you how to use calculations in clinical settings. Written by lecturers at one of the UK's top nursing schools, this test book is sure to help you improve your results - and tackle calculations with confidence!

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'Fun, unstuffy and wise' Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week 'It will have your children in stitches!' BBC Radio Manchester The laugh-out-loud, against-all-odds triumph of a sequel to one of the bestselling children's debuts of 2021. Billy Plimpton took to the stage and captivated the crowd at the triumphant ending to The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, and in the sequel, he's going to go viral. Celebrity comedian Leo Leggett takes Billy under his wing, as his new sidekick: when Leo tweets a clip of his stand-up act, Billy suddenly becomes the most famous boy in the country. At first, this is GREAT - all the kids at school think he's cool and he gets to appear on his favourite morning TV show. But Leo's motives turn out to be shady and Billy must turn the tables in a very public way... The idea for this story came from Helen Rutter's son, who has a stammer: she wanted to write the book that he would love to read, starring a child like him. packed with brilliant jokes and one-liners to make kids roar with laughter a book to encourage empathy and kindness in young readers Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson and Jenny Pearson. Praise for The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh Winner of the Lollies Children's Book Prize 2023 Shortlisted for the 2022 Blue Peter Book Award Shortlisted for the 2022 Costa Children's Book Award Selected for the 2022 Read For Empathy Collection 'Very funny, very touching, very truthful - a total delight to read.'Jacqueline Wilson 'Amazing' Noel Fielding 'This incredible debut tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh out loud in equal measure. I guarantee you'll be cheering along in the final pages!' Lisa Thompson 'It's Wonder with one-liners.' Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher 'As warm and wise as it is funny.' Shappi Khorsandi 'A laugh out loud story, the like of which I've never read before.' Kerry Godliman 'This book is a great way of showing children how to be confident and winners by having a sense of humour and making others laugh.' Baroness Floella Benjamin 'This book is brilliant. It is funny, wise, kind and exciting.' Marcus Brigstocke 'So funny and joyful.'Rachel Parris

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Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is defined as heart failure independent of the coronary artery, valve disease and hypertension. It has multifactorial aetiology but the pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and inflammation with high oxidative stress lead to structural and functional alterations of the left ventricle (LV) and promote diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diastolic dysfunction is an early sign of diabetic cardiomyopathy. It has a long asymptomatic period, but with time leads to loss of contractile function. Hence, the identification of subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy and correction of potentially modified risk factors are very important to delay the onset of heart failure. The aim: We aimed to assess the LV function in asymptomatic diabetic patients and its correlation with clinical and biochemical parameters. Study design: Cross-sectional study that includes a total number of 137 subjects. The target group consists of 72 asymptomatic normotensive patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, without coronary artery and valve disease. The control group is composed of 65 healthy subjects. Methods: All patients were subject to echocardiography (conventional 2D, M-mode, PW Doppler analysis and contemporary techniques-TDI and 2D-Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography). We evaluate LV diastolic and systolic function and its correlation with basic clinical characteristics (age, gender, BMI, BSA, waist to hip ratio, duration of diabetes) and biochemical analyses (glucose profile, lipid profile, CRP). The correlation between clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters was assessed by the Pearson Product Moment of Correlation. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered to indicate significance. Results: Analysis of deformation identify the greatest number of subjects with abnormal myocardial mechanics (n=45, 62%). Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test showed a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction, in each imaging modality-PWD and TDI (Z=2.3, p=0.01; Z=2.9, p=0.003). There were strong negative correlations between clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters of PW Doppler and 2D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography and strong positive correlation with TDI. Conclusion: Doppler echocardiography is a valuable imaging technique for identifying LV dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with diabetes, and is an important part of the diagnostic algorithm in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Novel Doppler-echocardiographic techniques as are Tissue Doppler Imaging and Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography show superiority over other echocardiographic methods, regarding the early detection of LV functional abnormalities in the asymptomatic diabetic population. Its introduction in daily routine will contribute to the timely initiation of treatment of risk factors, to prevent the development of heart failure

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The Twitchers have one last mystery to solve – and this time it's a heist! The final unputdownable adventure in the bestselling birdwatching detective series from the internationally acclaimed author of Beetle Boy and Adventures on Trains, wildlife queen M.G. Leonard.On a school trip to the Royal Swan Natural History Museum, Ava finds herself at the centre of a heist: hundreds of invaluable bird of paradise skins from the Alfred Wallace Collection have been stolen! When she discovers a large jet-black feather, she's sure it's a clue, but the police won't listen to her. Slipping away, she takes the case to the Twitchers in an investigation that leads them to the bizarre and sinister world of fly-fishing, and to a mysterious girl with a pet Raven called Caliban and a dangerous ring of thieves and smugglers...Feather is an exciting winter mystery adventure about friendship, bravery and protecting nature, perfect for readers 9+ and for fans of Robin Stevens, Lauren St John and Jenny Pearson. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone adventure or read as part of The Twitchers series.Praise for The Twitchers:“Leonard knows her audience and the jeopardy comes in flocks ... Find your nest, curl up and enjoy.” The Times, Children's Book of the Week on Twitch"A twist-laden, thriller-like tale of a bird-mad boy, some bullies and an escaped convict hiding in the nearby woods." Observer on Twitch"A skilfully crafted mystery adventure. A clarion call for environmentalists everywhere." Rob Biddulph, LoveReading4Kids on Spark"A twisty crime drama as well as a persuasive story about friendship and nature." Sunday Times on Twitch"Simply genius." BBC Wildlife Magazine on Twitch"Another pacy wonderful adventure steeped in the magic of nature and friendship.” Jasbinder Bilan on Spark“Leonard has crafted an intelligent mystery from unlikely material, with bonus bird facts.” Irish Times on Twitch“A winged masterpiece.” Maz Evans on Twitch“Enthralling from beginning to end, it really touched my young bird-loving heart! Just wonderful!” Dara McAnulty on Twitch“Twitch is an absolute triumph. The perfect blend of mystery and adventure, a winning hero with an eye for ornithological facts and a heart as big as the countryside, plus a cracking whipsmart plot, I think this is M. G. Leonard's best book yet.” Christopher Edge on Twitch“Cracking characters, beyond pacy plotting and an ending that is almost Bugsy Malone-esque!” Phil Earle on Twitch

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Hop on Pop showcases the work of a new generation of scholars—from fields such as media studies, literature, cinema, and cultural studies—whose writing has been informed by their ongoing involvement with popular culture and who draw insight from their lived experiences as critics, fans, and consumers. Proceeding from their deep political commitment to a new kind of populist grassroots politics, these writers challenge old modes of studying the everyday. As they rework traditional scholarly language, they search for new ways to write about our complex and compelling engagements with the politics and pleasures of popular culture and sketch a new and lively vocabulary for the field of cultural studies.The essays cover a wide and colorful array of subjects including pro wrestling, the computer games Myst and Doom, soap operas, baseball card collecting, the Tour de France, karaoke, lesbian desire in the Wizard of Oz, Internet fandom for the series Babylon 5, and the stress-management industry. Broader themes examined include the origins of popular culture, the aesthetics and politics of performance, and the social and cultural processes by which objects and practices are deemed tasteful or tasteless. The commitment that binds the contributors is to an emergent perspective in cultural studies, one that engages with popular culture as the culture that "sticks to the skin," that becomes so much a part of us that it becomes increasingly difficult to examine it from a distance. By refusing to deny or rationalize their own often contradictory identifications with popular culture, the contributors ensure that the volume as a whole reflects the immediacy and vibrancy of its objects of study.Hop on Pop will appeal to those engaged in the study of popular culture, American studies, cultural studies, cinema and visual studies, as well as to the general educated reader.Contributors. John Bloom, Gerry Bloustein, Aniko Bodroghkozy, Diane Brooks, Peter Chvany, Elana Crane, Alexander Doty, Rob Drew, Stephen Duncombe, Nick Evans, Eric Freedman, Joy Fuqua, Tony Grajeda, Katherine Green, John Hartley, Heather Hendershot, Henry Jenkins, Eithne Johnson, Louis Kaplan, Maria Koundoura, Sharon Mazer, Anna McCarthy, Tara McPherson, Angela Ndalianis, Edward O’Neill, Catherine Palmer, Roberta Pearson, Elayne Rapping, Eric Schaefer, Jane Shattuc, Greg Smith, Ellen Strain, Matthew Tinkhom, William Uricchio, Amy Villarego, Robyn Warhol, Charles Weigl, Alan Wexelblat, Pamela Robertson Wojcik, Nabeel Zuberi

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Hop on Pop showcases the work of a new generation of scholars—from fields such as media studies, literature, cinema, and cultural studies—whose writing has been informed by their ongoing involvement with popular culture and who draw insight from their lived experiences as critics, fans, and consumers. Proceeding from their deep political commitment to a new kind of populist grassroots politics, these writers challenge old modes of studying the everyday. As they rework traditional scholarly language, they search for new ways to write about our complex and compelling engagements with the politics and pleasures of popular culture and sketch a new and lively vocabulary for the field of cultural studies.The essays cover a wide and colorful array of subjects including pro wrestling, the computer games Myst and Doom, soap operas, baseball card collecting, the Tour de France, karaoke, lesbian desire in the Wizard of Oz, Internet fandom for the series Babylon 5, and the stress-management industry. Broader themes examined include the origins of popular culture, the aesthetics and politics of performance, and the social and cultural processes by which objects and practices are deemed tasteful or tasteless. The commitment that binds the contributors is to an emergent perspective in cultural studies, one that engages with popular culture as the culture that "sticks to the skin," that becomes so much a part of us that it becomes increasingly difficult to examine it from a distance. By refusing to deny or rationalize their own often contradictory identifications with popular culture, the contributors ensure that the volume as a whole reflects the immediacy and vibrancy of its objects of study.Hop on Pop will appeal to those engaged in the study of popular culture, American studies, cultural studies, cinema and visual studies, as well as to the general educated reader.Contributors. John Bloom, Gerry Bloustein, Aniko Bodroghkozy, Diane Brooks, Peter Chvany, Elana Crane, Alexander Doty, Rob Drew, Stephen Duncombe, Nick Evans, Eric Freedman, Joy Fuqua, Tony Grajeda, Katherine Green, John Hartley, Heather Hendershot, Henry Jenkins, Eithne Johnson, Louis Kaplan, Maria Koundoura, Sharon Mazer, Anna McCarthy, Tara McPherson, Angela Ndalianis, Edward O’Neill, Catherine Palmer, Roberta Pearson, Elayne Rapping, Eric Schaefer, Jane Shattuc, Greg Smith, Ellen Strain, Matthew Tinkhom, William Uricchio, Amy Villarego, Robyn Warhol, Charles Weigl, Alan Wexelblat, Pamela Robertson Wojcik, Nabeel Zuberi

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WINNER of the inaugural Comedy Women in Print prize 2019. 'A brilliant social satire … disarmingly charming and relatable … it was hilarious. Laura Steven is an explosive talent on the page!' CWIP judges Marian Keyes, Kathy Lette, Katy Brand, Allison Pearson, Shazia Mirza and Jennifer Young 'Laura Steven simultaneously destroyed the patriarchy and made me laugh so hard I choked. I will protect Izzy O'Neill with my life.' Becky Albertalli, author of Love Simon A hilarious, groundbreaking young adult novel for anyone who's ever called themselves a feminist … and anyone who hasn't. For fans of Louise O'Neill, Holly Bourne and Amy Schumer. Izzy O'Neill here! Impoverished orphan, aspiring comedian and Slut Extraordinaire, if the gossip sites are anything to go by … Izzy never expected to be eighteen and internationally reviled. But when explicit photos involving her, a politician's son and a garden bench are published online, the trolls set out to take her apart. Armed with best friend Ajita and a metric ton of nachos, she tries to laugh it off – but as the daily slut-shaming intensifies, she soon learns the way the world treats teenage girls is not okay. It's the Exact Opposite of Okay. Bitingly funny and shockingly relevant, The Exact Opposite of Okay is a bold, brave and necessary read. For fans of Booksmart, Sex Education, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Doing It by Hannah Witton, Love Simon by Becky Albertalli and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. 'Funny, unapologetic and shameless in the best possible way, this is a YA heroine (and book) that you've never seen before' – Louise O'Neill, award-winning author of Asking for It 'This book will make you laugh out loud, nod in agreement, cringe with recognition, and stand up and cheer. I adored it' – Katherine Webber, author of Wing Jones 'I LOVED this book! A really smart, relevant and switched-on exploration of teen sexuality, gender and slut-shaming' – Katherine Woodfine, bestselling author of The Sinclair's Mysteries Laura Steven is an author, journalist and screenwriter from the northernmost town in England. She has an MA in Creative Writing and works at a non-profit organisation supporting women in the creative arts. Her TV pilot, Clickbait, was a finalist in British Comedy's 2016 Sitcom Mission. The Exact Opposite of Okay is her first book for young adults.

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This is a book about the scientific process and how you apply it to data in ecology. You will learn how to plan for data collection, how to assemble data, how to analyze data and finally how to present the results. The book uses Microsoft Excel and the powerful Open Source R program to carry out data handling as well as producing graphs. Statistical approaches covered include: data exploration; tests for difference – t-test and U-test; correlation – Spearman’s rank test and Pearson product-moment; association including Chi-squared tests and goodness of fit; multivariate testing using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test; and multiple regression. Key skills taught in this book include: how to plan ecological projects; how to record and assemble your data; how to use R and Excel for data analysis and graphs; how to carry out a wide range of statistical analyses including analysis of variance and regression; how to create professional looking graphs; and how to present your results. New in this edition: a completely revised chapter on graphics including graph types and their uses, Excel Chart Tools, R graphics commands and producing different chart types in Excel and in R; an expanded range of support material online, including; example data, exercises and additional notes & explanations; a new chapter on basic community statistics, biodiversity and similarity; chapter summaries and end-of-chapter exercises. Praise for the first edition: This book is a superb way in for all those looking at how to design investigations and collect data to support their findings. – Sue Townsend, Biodiversity Learning Manager, Field Studies Council [M]akes it easy for the reader to synthesise R and Excel and there is extra help and sample data available on the free companion webpage if needed. I recommended this text to the university library as well as to colleagues at my student workshops on R. Although I initially bought this book when I wanted to discover R I actually also learned new techniques for data manipulation and management in Excel – Mark Edwards, EcoBlogging A must for anyone getting to grips with data analysis using R and excel. – Amazon 5-star review It has been very easy to follow and will be perfect for anyone. – Amazon 5-star review A solid introduction to working with Excel and R. The writing is clear and informative, the book provides plenty of examples and figures so that each string of code in R or step in Excel is understood by the reader. – Goodreads, 4-star review

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This is a book about the scientific process and how you apply it to data in ecology. You will learn how to plan for data collection, how to assemble data, how to analyze data and finally how to present the results. The book uses Microsoft Excel and the powerful Open Source R program to carry out data handling as well as producing graphs. Statistical approaches covered include: data exploration; tests for difference – t-test and U-test; correlation – Spearman’s rank test and Pearson product-moment; association including Chi-squared tests and goodness of fit; multivariate testing using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test; and multiple regression. Key skills taught in this book include: how to plan ecological projects; how to record and assemble your data; how to use R and Excel for data analysis and graphs; how to carry out a wide range of statistical analyses including analysis of variance and regression; how to create professional looking graphs; and how to present your results. New in this edition: a completely revised chapter on graphics including graph types and their uses, Excel Chart Tools, R graphics commands and producing different chart types in Excel and in R; an expanded range of support material online, including; example data, exercises and additional notes & explanations; a new chapter on basic community statistics, biodiversity and similarity; chapter summaries and end-of-chapter exercises. Praise for the first edition: This book is a superb way in for all those looking at how to design investigations and collect data to support their findings. – Sue Townsend, Biodiversity Learning Manager, Field Studies Council [M]akes it easy for the reader to synthesise R and Excel and there is extra help and sample data available on the free companion webpage if needed. I recommended this text to the university library as well as to colleagues at my student workshops on R. Although I initially bought this book when I wanted to discover R I actually also learned new techniques for data manipulation and management in Excel – Mark Edwards, EcoBlogging A must for anyone getting to grips with data analysis using R and excel. – Amazon 5-star review It has been very easy to follow and will be perfect for anyone. – Amazon 5-star review A solid introduction to working with Excel and R. The writing is clear and informative, the book provides plenty of examples and figures so that each string of code in R or step in Excel is understood by the reader. – Goodreads, 4-star review

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**DAILY MAIL BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2019****SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CHRISTMAS BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2019**'So blissfully good that I'd give it to a reader of any age . . . deeply touching, unforgettable family memoir'ALLISON PEARSON, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'Uplifting and enlightening . . . Venning has a good eye for what makes the Walker story both unique and universal . . . Thrilling'MAIL ON SUNDAY'Superb . . . With its sweeping narrative, readable style, sense of humanity and breadth of research, the saga casts a highly personal light on some of the most significant episodes of [the Second World War]'DAILY EXPRESS'A heart-pounding narrative that feels fresh . . . this marvellous book also depicts a world that was soon to vanish'DAILY MAIL'A moving book . . . This account of one family's experience takes us to hidden crannies of the war that more official accounts might not bother with . . . Once read, never forgotten'THE TIMES'A sensationally good book . . . I see reflections of my own family, and beyond them, like those mirrors tilted slightly into infinity, I can see literally miles of others lined up, inexorably linked forever by a shared experience . . . this is an exceptional book and should be required reading in modern history classes'JOANNA LUMLEY'An extraordinary, compelling picture of a family entwined in the Second World War . . . at turns funny, sad, redemptive and tragic. Fabulous'JAMES HOLLAND'A loving tribute . . . Brimming with anecdote and rich in fascinating detail'KEGGIE CAREW~How would it feel if all your sons and daughters were caught up in war?What would it be like to spend six years fearing what a telegram might bring?That was the heart-wrenching reality faced by so many families throughout the Second World War, including the parents of the Walker children. From the Blitz to the battlefields of Europe and the Far East, this is the remarkable story of four brothers and two sisters who were swept along by the momentous events of the war. Harold was a surgeon in a London hospital alongside his sister Ruth, a nurse, when the bombs began to fall in 1940. Peter was captured in the fall of Singapore. Edward fought the Germans in Italy, and Walter the Japanese in Burma, while in London, glamorous Bee hoped for lasting happiness with an American airman. In To War With the Walkers, Annabel Venning, Walter's granddaughter, tells the enthralling and moving tales of her relatives, six ordinary young men and women, who each faced an extraordinary struggle for survival.

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M.G. Leonard, internationally bestselling author of Twitch, Beetleboy and Adventures on Trains, is back with the second thrilling wildlife mystery for birdwatching detectives The Twitchers! >> Shortlisted for the CRIMEFEST Award for Best Crime Novel for Children 2022>> Longlisted for the 2023 James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Children's Writing on Nature and Conservation>> "A clarion call for environmentalists everywhere." Rob Biddulph on SparkWhen Jack rescues a wounded cat, he quickly suspects foul play. Could there be a wildlife criminal on the loose in Briddvale?Jack rushes to investigate, determined to catch the culprit, only to stumble into a deepening mystery and a sinister criminal plot.Can Jack and The Twitchers stop the villains before it's too late?Spark is a page-turning autumn mystery adventure about courage, friendship and protecting our planet, perfect for readers 9+ and for fans of Robin Stevens, Lauren St John and Jenny Pearson. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone adventure or read as part of The Twitchers series. Praise for The Twitchers:"A skilfully crafted mystery adventure. A clarion call for environmentalists everywhere." Rob Biddulph, LoveReading4Kids on Spark"Another pacy wonderful adventure steeped in the magic of nature and friendship.” Jasbinder Bilan on Spark"Absolutely magnificent. Gripping and funny, utterly engaging, unputdownable. Cannot recommend highly enough. Perfect storytelling, loved it with all my heart!” Liz Hyder on Spark“Leonard knows her audience and the jeopardy comes in flocks ... Find your nest, curl up and enjoy.” The Times, Children's Book of the Week on Twitch "A twist-laden, thriller-like tale of a bird-mad boy, some bullies and an escaped convict hiding in the nearby woods." Observer on Twitch"A twisty crime drama as well as a persuasive story about friendship and nature." The Sunday Times on Twitch "Simply genius." BBC Wildlife Magazine on Twitch“Leonard has crafted an intelligent mystery from unlikely material, with bonus bird facts.” Irish Times on Twitch “A winged masterpiece.” Maz Evans on Twitch “Enthralling from beginning to end, it really touched my young bird-loving heart! Just wonderful!” Dara McAnulty on Twitch “Twitch is an absolute triumph. The perfect blend of mystery and adventure, a winning hero with an eye for ornithological facts and a heart as big as the countryside, plus a cracking whipsmart plot, I think this is M. G. Leonard's best book yet.” Christopher Edge on Twitch “Cracking characters, beyond pacy plotting and an ending that is almost Bugsy Malone-esque!” Phil Earle on Twitch

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Obsession. Intrigue. Revenge. Get ready for one of the most twisty thrillers this year!‘I’ve been yearning for something to give me Girl on the Train vibes. . . this is that book.’ Lisa Jewell'I’m certain this will be one of my favourite thrillers of 2024 already!’ Prima'Utterly gripping from first to last ... I guarantee you’ll be absolutely hooked.' The Guardian'Totally unpredictable. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' Claire Douglas'A thrill-ride of a novel - dark, riveting and twisty' Lucy Clarke‘Razor-sharp plotting, great writing ... a pitch-perfect legal thriller’ Harriet Tyce'A deeply satisfying read' Her Honour Judge Wendy Joseph KC___________A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace.You're arrested for her murder.You tell the police that you only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you talked her down.You've got nothing to do with this tragedy.You're clearly being framed.So why do the police keep picking holes in your story?And why doesn't your lawyer seem to believe you?It soon becomes obvious that you're keeping secrets.But who are you trying to protect? And why?Get ready for one of the most gripping psychological thrillers of the year, perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Lisa Jewell and Paula Hawkins.___________Readers are loving The Woman on the Ledge . . .***** 'It’s been awhile since I have read a good PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, and even longer since I read a great one-but this ORIGINAL gem is pretty great!'***** 'ONE OF THE BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS I HAVE READ THIS YEAR!!! WHAT A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN MASTERPIECE!!!'***** 'This has the best dynamics of a book that I have read in awhile. What a talented author!'***** 'I definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys an intense, twisted, thought-provoking and engaging Psychological Thriller.'***** 'All I can say is that this is not a book to be missed.'___________More love for The Woman on the Ledge:'A deliciously clever book. Jaw-dropping. Absolutely outstanding' Andrea Mara'A twist-a-minute thrill ride!' Lisa Gardner'Had me turning the pages through the night' Heidi Perks'A gripping thriller with a great premise and a twist I didn’t see coming' John Marrs'The best thriller I've read in ages' Laura Pearson‘Wonderfully twisty, fabulously unexpected and immensely satisfying’ Alex Marwood'The best kind of plot-twisty story ... I devoured it!' Sabine Durrant'Breathtaking storytelling ... Stunning!’ Jane Fallon'WOW! I absolutely loved it' Stu Cummins'A clever idea and an even cleverer plot.' Belfast Telegraph‘So full of twists and turns it will make your head hurt – in a good way!’ Fabulous, Sun on Sunday‘A tense novel’ Bella‘A twisty tale that will keep you on your toes’ Heat‘A dark and compelling legal thriller.’ Woman & Home

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'It is romcom at its greatest...definitely one of the best books I've read this year.' Book Nerd AnonymousWhat if you got a second chance with your first love?What happens when you meet your teenage heart-throb – when you’re both all grown up? When Cassie was fifteen, all she wanted was to marry Jesse Franklin, the bassist from her favourite band, Franko. Now she’s single, in her late twenties and wondering what happened to that teenage dream.A chance encounter on Facebook soon leads to a transatlantic hook up, and soon, Jesse and Cassie are having a long-distance love affair spanning five thousand miles. Cassie is on cloud nine – until she hears something that makes her think that Jesse might not be all that he seems. They say never meet your heroes – but what happens when you fall in love with them…?Are Cassie and Jesse star crossed lovers, destined to be together? Or should Cassie have left her crush in the box marked 'teenage memories'?Previously published as Getting Over Jesse Franklin, this brand new edition has had extensive editorial changes.'It is romcom writing at its best; dreamy with nostalgia, with a strong, funny and relatable female protagonist and a super sexy leading man. I just loved it! Lia Louis – author of Somewhere Close to Happy'Call Me, Maybe is all your teenage fantasies come true. Chapman writes with such warmth about love, family and friendship that I smiled the whole way through this delightfully charming book.' Laura Pearson, author of Nobody's WifeReaders are loving Call Me, Maybe!‘What an original idea for a romance book! Anyone who can remember their teenage fan crush (come on, I bet you can) will relate to Cassie… a really enjoyable read, full of nostalgia, hope and a little piece of every teenage crush daydream.’ (5 stars) Bee Books Beauty‘WOW!! I loved this book… Cassie is an “everywoman” in her relationships with her friends and exes. She’s real and has flaws… I think Stephie Chapman’s writing will touch so many on different levels.’ (5 stars) Reader Review‘I have loved this book, it has been such a delightful and pleasant read…This is a book which had me hooked from the very beginning.’ (5 stars) Little Miss Book Lover‘A really funny, current, relatable, well written, romantic book that all chicklit and romance fans will devour in one sitting.’ Reader Review'an entertaining and amusing read, with plenty of love and laughs to hold my interest throughout the book.' Stardust Book Reviews‘This one is as cute as its cover…delightful characters, engaging banter and a realistic view on love and friendship.’ Reader Review‘Super cute!! I loved it!...It was sweet and just angsty enough to keep you wondering how things would turn out.’ (5 stars) Reader Review

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Obsession. Intrigue. Revenge. Get ready for one of the most twisty thrillers this year!‘I’ve been yearning for something to give me Girl on the Train vibes. . . this is that book.’ Lisa Jewell'I’m certain this will be one of my favourite thrillers of 2024 already!’ Prima'Utterly gripping from first to last ... I guarantee you’ll be absolutely hooked.' The Guardian'Totally unpredictable. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' Claire Douglas'A thrill-ride of a novel - dark, riveting and twisty' Lucy Clarke‘Razor-sharp plotting, great writing ... a pitch-perfect legal thriller’ Harriet Tyce'A deeply satisfying read' Her Honour Judge Wendy Joseph KC___________A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace.You're arrested for her murder.You tell the police that you only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you talked her down.You've got nothing to do with this tragedy.You're clearly being framed.So why do the police keep picking holes in your story?And why doesn't your lawyer seem to believe you?It soon becomes obvious that you're keeping secrets.But who are you trying to protect? And why?Get ready for one of the most gripping psychological thrillers of the year, perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Lisa Jewell and Paula Hawkins.___________Readers are loving The Woman on the Ledge . . .***** 'It’s been awhile since I have read a good PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, and even longer since I read a great one-but this ORIGINAL gem is pretty great!'***** 'ONE OF THE BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS I HAVE READ THIS YEAR!!! WHAT A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN MASTERPIECE!!!'***** 'This has the best dynamics of a book that I have read in awhile. What a talented author!'***** 'I definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys an intense, twisted, thought-provoking and engaging Psychological Thriller.'***** 'All I can say is that this is not a book to be missed.'___________More love for The Woman on the Ledge:'A deliciously clever book. Jaw-dropping. Absolutely outstanding' Andrea Mara'A twist-a-minute thrill ride!' Lisa Gardner'Had me turning the pages through the night' Heidi Perks'A gripping thriller with a great premise and a twist I didn’t see coming' John Marrs'The best thriller I've read in ages' Laura Pearson‘Wonderfully twisty, fabulously unexpected and immensely satisfying’ Alex Marwood'The best kind of plot-twisty story ... I devoured it!' Sabine Durrant'Breathtaking storytelling ... Stunning!’ Jane Fallon'WOW! I absolutely loved it' Stu Cummins'A clever idea and an even cleverer plot.' Belfast Telegraph‘So full of twists and turns it will make your head hurt – in a good way!’ Fabulous, Sun on Sunday‘A tense novel’ Bella‘A twisty tale that will keep you on your toes’ Heat‘A dark and compelling legal thriller.’ Woman & Home

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A heartbreaking, breathtakingly beautiful love story with an unforgettable tragedy at its heart, from the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of Maria in the Moon and How To Be Brave. ***Shortlisted for the Sapere Books ‘Most Popular Romantic Fiction’ Award at the 2019 RNA Awards*** ***Longlisted for the Polari Prize*** ‘Beech eloquently conveys their feelings and longings and sets atmospheric, vividly drawn scenes that transport the reader from grey and damp England to the searing heat of the lion reserve …The Lion Tamer Who Lost will touch the most hardhearted of readers with its persuasive, well-drawn and memorable characters’ Daily Express 'A devastating, tender and powerful love story, beautifully and bravely told. You will lose your heart to this book. I adored it’ Miranda Dickinson ’Vivid, passionate and exquisitely told, this love story will live on in my heart for a very long time to come. A poignant, surprising and all-consuming read’ Katie Marsh _______________ Be careful what you wish for… Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he wishes he hadn’t… Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined… Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems to be guided by fate. Or is it? What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything? A dark, consuming drama that shifts from Zimbabwe to England, and then back into the past, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a devastatingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart… ‘A stirring novel, beautifully written, reminiscent of the early work of Maggie O’Farrell’ Irish Times ‘Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will love it’ Red Magazine ‘An excruciatingly passionate love story, in its surprising turns and lovely particulars … A beautiful text’ Foreword Reviews ‘This book really got under my skin as a beautiful portrait of love, loss and longing’ Irish Independent 'An incredible, poignant piece of work. Louise Beech had cemented her place as one of Britain’s finest modern storytellers’ John Marrs 'A beautiful, honest and tender love story that I won’t forget for a long time …Their love had me trapped in its spell, their tragic moments had me sobbing like a baby … A triumph’ Fionnuala Kearney ‘A beautifully crafted book’ Carol Lovekin ‘Louise Beech has totally blown me away with her storytelling’ Madeleine Black ‘I adored this beautiful and inspiring book’ Kate Furnivall ‘Already one of my favourites of 2018’ LoveReading ‘Storytelling at its finest. Louise Beech is a beguiling wordsmith. Prepare to be hooked’ Amanda Prowse ‘Digs deep emotionally, but is funny and feel-good, too’ Fiona Mitchell ‘A stunning and very brave book’ Gill Paul ‘The setting alone makes this book worth a read’ S. E. Lynes ‘Louise Beech is a natural-born storyteller with an elegance about her writing that never fails to move me’ Michael J. Malone ‘There are times when you finish reading a book and know that part of it will stay with you always. This will be one of those books’ Claire Allan ‘It put me in mind of John Irving. It’s that feeling of being in the hands of a master storyteller and just trusting him or her so completely’ Laura Pearson

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>> WINNER OF THE SAINSBURYS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS 2021>> WINNER OF THE CRIMEFEST AWARD FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR CHILDREN 2021>> "A twist-laden, thriller-like tale" Observer >> "Simply genius." BBC Wildlife From the internationally bestselling author of Beetle Boy and the Adventures on Trains series, comes the first book in The Twitchers, a thrilling mystery adventure series celebrating friendship, bravery and the incredible world of birds, starring a birdwatching detective called Twitch!Can a birdwatcher outwit an escaped convict?Twitch has three pet chickens, four pigeons, swallows nesting in his bedroom and a passion for birdwatching. On the first day of the summer holidays, he arrives at his secret hide to find police everywhere: a convicted robber has broken out of prison and is hiding in Aves Wood. Can Twitch use his talents for birdwatching to hunt for the dangerous prisoner and find the missing loot?Twitch is a thrilling summer mystery adventure perfect for readers 9+ and for fans of Robin Stevens, Lauren St John and Jenny Pearson. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone adventure or read as part of The Twitchers series.Praise for Twitch:“Leonard knows her audience and the jeopardy comes in flocks ... Find your nest, curl up and enjoy.” The Times, Children's Book of the Week"A twist-laden, thriller-like tale of a bird-mad boy, some bullies and an escaped convict hiding in the nearby woods." Observer"A twisty crime drama as well as a persuasive story about friendship and nature." The Sunday Times"Twitch is a good old-fashioned adventure story that feels like a modern-day Secret Seven." BBC Wildlife Magazine"[A] pacy mystery adventure featuring a birdwatching detective hot on the heels of a dangerous escaped prisoner." iNewspaper“Leonard has crafted an intelligent mystery from unlikely material, with bonus bird facts.” Irish Times“A winged masterpiece.” Maz Evans“Enthralling from beginning to end, it really touched my young bird-loving heart! Just wonderful!” Dara McAnulty“Birds, mystery and fowl play! What more could you want?” Gill Lewis“Glorious! Full of excitement and wonder!” Sophie Anderson“A brave and thrilling new adventure from one of my favourite writers. I honestly didn’t put the book down until the very last, exciting, page-turn and I’m twitching for the next adventure!” Jasbinder Bilan“Twitch is an absolute triumph. The perfect blend of mystery and adventure, a winning hero with an eye for ornithological facts and a heart as big as the countryside, plus a cracking whipsmart plot, I think this is M. G. Leonard's best book yet.” Christopher Edge“Cracking characters, beyond pacy plotting and an ending that is almost Bugsy Malone-esque!” Phil Earle“Twitch is a compelling read – an adventure mystery with birds – what more could any reader want?!” Stephen Moss“Adventure, friendship and the pure unassuming beauty of nature … a book that could have been a collaboration between David Attenborough and Roald Dahl.” Dr Jess French“A superb adventure of friendship, bravery and the wonderful world of birds, with a strong, but non-preachy theme of the benefits of connection with the natural world.” The Bookseller“One of those really, really good books … Recommended for readers around 8 to 12 years old, and grown-ups like me who still enjoy the delight of a great adventure story!” The Bookbag

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From the INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLING author, Rebecca Yarros, comes the eagerly anticipated sequel to TIKTOK SENSATION and RADIO TWO BOOK CLUB pick Fourth Wing . . .Author reviews for Fourth Wing'Brutal games, grumpy dragons, sizzling sexual tension . . . a fantasy like you've never read before' JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT, author of FROM BLOOD AND ASH'Readers of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo will flock to this one' BOOKLIST (starred review)'Fourth Wing hooked me on the first page and did not let go' DANIELLE L. JENSEN, author of THE BRIDGE KINGDOM'This book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD! . . . A mix of Hunger Games and Divergent vibes, with a few elements from ACOTAR thrown in for good measure' NETGALLEY READER REVIEW 'As compelling as it is deadly . . . Fourth Wing is dazzling' NALINI SINGH'A wild, sexy, rollercoaster of a ride' MARY E. PEARSON'Utterly immersive, fiercely romantic, and unforgivably addictive' LYNETTE NONI'Unputdownable thrill ride with an epic love story' TRACY WOLFF'This expertly crafted romantic fantasy is sure to launch the beginning of a brand-new insatiable fandom!' LEXI RYAN'I devoured every page and fell hopelessly, desperately in love with these characters . . . Hands down the best book hangover I've ever experienced' HELENA HUNTING'An exhilarating dragon ride of a fantasy! . . . Move this one to the top of your TBR' SAMANTHA YOUNG'Kapow, what a story! . . . Rebecca Yarros gives you gutsy young heroines and sexy bad boys' RACHEL HOWZELL HALL'House of the Dragon meets Divergent in this utterly thrilling, unputdownable new fantasy!' AMALIE HOWARD'Forbidden romance that simmers off the page; relentless, heart-stopping action; and a delicious, morally gray hero - this is the book I've been waiting for!' GENEVA LEE'An expertly woven tale in a riveting world of dragons, life-or-death competition, and betrayal, Rebecca Yarros hits all the high notes and delivers a thrilling new romantic fantasy that readers will devour' K.A. TUCKER'The epic tale of a reluctant dragon rider's coming-of-age with a sexy dark academia aesthetic in her astounding debut fantasy . . . Readers will be spellbound' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) Reader reviews for Fourth Wing'You know when you finish a book, and it leaves an ache in your chest because it was so good, and now it's over?Yeah, that's exactly how I feel after finishing Fourth Wing' Netgalley - five star review'This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read' Netgalley - five star review'This had everything I wanted in a fantasy romance - a badass female MC, contests and deadly trials, battles, intrigue, corruption, betrayal, female rage, enemies to lovers, slow(ish) burn with a very morally-grey love interest, and of course - DRAGONS' Netgalley - five star review'A MILLION STARS!!!!!!!!! Everything about this book was incredible' Netgalley - five star review'I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again' Netgalley - five star review'The ending of the book had me sitting, staring at my Kindle hoping that if I just keep swiping to go to the next page for long enough the next book would just magically appear there.' Netgalley - five star review'FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating' Netgalley - five star review'This is 100% in my top 3 books I have ever read . . . If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one' Netgalley - five star review

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The Combat Codes is set in a far future world where the fate of nations is determined by single combat at the hands of famed warriors.Perfect for fans of action-driven science fiction, martial arts stories and LitRPG novels, this debut novel, the first in a trilogy, has fans ranging from award-winning fantasy authors to trophy-winning UFC fighters! Hundreds of years ago on a planet once ravaged by war, the nations swore an armistice never to use weapons of mass destruction again. Today, battle-hardened warriors known as Grievar Knights train to represent their nations' interests in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Murray Pearson was once a famed Knight until he suffered a loss that crippled his nation - but now he's on the hunt to find and train the next champion.Below, in the Underground's brutal combat rings, an orphaned boy called Cego is making a name for himself. Murray believes he has what it takes to make it in the planet's most prestigious combat school - but he has to fight his way out of the Underground first.'A brutal and relentless science fantasy martial arts extravaganza, set in a world where the fate of nations rests on the perfect counterpunch or rear naked choke. The Combat Codes is that rare book that fully satisfies me as an action fan' Fonda Lee, author of Jade City 'The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin is a chimera blending Science Fiction and Fantasy to tell a vividly-realized tale both focused and sprawling. It's a book about warriors written by a master of the martial arts, and the mastery shows. In its pages, expect to explore power, politics, and brutal violence, but I repeat myself' Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons 'This book kicks ass--literally and literarily!' Richard Swan, author of The Justice of Kings 'If Mike Tyson wrote a sci-fi novel (and could write like he threw a right hook) it would read a little like The Combat Codes. Bare-knuckle brilliance' Jackson Ford, author of The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind 'The Combat Codes was a fantastic read that takes you along the martial arts path of self-discovery. The storyline, training, fights and philosophy in the book made it highly enjoyable. Whether you are a martial artist, fan, or just an SFF reader, this book will be a lot of fun' Kenny Florian, MMA Commentator and Ex-UFC Fighter 'The Combat Codes is combat as it was meant to be written: raw but elegant, a blend of the poet's wordsmithing and the martial art master's technical expertise. Better yet, it's a fun, heartfelt story about the underprivileged banding together to rise up. A fantastic reading experience' Moses Ose Utomi, author of The Lies of Ajungo 'The Combat Codes is a well-paced sci-fi brimming with action, brutality, thoughtfulness and heart. From ruthless underworld to storm-harried, glistening academy, every fight is clear and visceral, and I couldn't help but be ensnared by the mystery and tension woven throughout. I can't wait for the next chapter in Cego's journey!' H. M. Long, author of Hall of Smoke 'The Combat Codes is a perfectly balanced cocktail of high-octane action, enthralling mystery, and genuine heart. Fans of Geralt and Ciri or the Hound and Arya will adore the dynamic between Murray and Cego, and fans of badass fight scenes will find plenty to love in these pages. A gritty, fully-realized world sets the stage for lovable (and hateable) characters, heart-pounding action, and twists that literally had my jaw dropping. Readers won't want to miss this one!' M. J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves 'The Combat Codes is a great read for any fan of realistic martial arts fiction. The integration of a compelling sci-fi / fantasy plot and true-to-life martial arts action make for a unique story that any student of warfare is sure to enjoy' Ryan Hall, UFC Fighter

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