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Billy is an average-looking sixteen-year-old who lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary neighborhood on the north side of Dublin. Jesus, on the other hand, is a beautiful boy with continental manners, from the most sophisticated part of Barcelona. As an exchange student, Jesus comes to live with Billy's family for three weeks during the summer. At the end of his stay - according to The Plan - Billy will go back with Jesus on a return visit to Spain. And then, the best laid plans go awry. A riveting look at growing up in two cultures by the author of nine critically acclaimed novels. The Open Door Series: Originally designed to promote adult literacy in Ireland, these original stories from best-loved authors and new voices showcase some of our best writing in short fiction.

A story of false friendship and following one's heart - Melissa and Sophie have been friends all of their lives. Or that's what Sophie likes to think. Sophie is a giver; Melissa is a taker. Their friendship is put to the test on vacation in Spain. When the gorgeous Paulo appears on the scene, Melissa drops Sophie like a hot potato. Hurt and furious, Sophie thinks the trip is a disaster. But things change for Sophie when she lends a little help to an old man and a small girl. Melissa can only watch in a jealous rage as her quiet friend finally comes into her own. Part of successful Open Door series, originally designed to help adult literacy in Ireland. Original stories from best-selling authors and important new voices, never published in the States before now.

A family tale for new readers, from a New York Times Notable author in her stride. A young girl leaves Tokyo with her mother in 1979, carrying her pink suitcase to a new home, a new father and sister, on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Thirty-three years later, her mother's belongings are found packed into boxes, her furniture draped in white sheets. Without so much as a note, she has left the two sisters connected by history, by some idea of family, to look for her. What happens when people lose their way home? Like a little barn cat, they grab onto a second family. . . and start again.

Sam Peterson is your average high school student?until he falls through a portal in time and space and lands in the studio of Leonardo da Vinci. This is worse than algebra! Da Vinci was a futurist. He imagined the airplane, the helicopter, submarine, and more-long before anyone else. Who better to design a time machine to get Sam home? Our time-traveler gets hooked on art and science as he gets to know Leonardo. Meanwhile, da Vinci is fascinated by the common items of 21st century life. Yellow highlighters are a revelation! There's plenty of intrigue along the way. Leonardo da Vinci's patron wants to keep the boy from the future, with all his knowledge, right in his court. And since time travel depends on being at the right place at the right moment, a breathless dash ensues with soldiers in hot pursuit.Sam would like to stay with his new friend, and Leonardo would like to see the future. But the artist and man of science knows that each of us must make our world our own.

Modern travelers on foot follow wisdom along the Ulster Way. Storytellers, said Walter Benjamin, are descended from one of two tribes: the mariners or the peasants. We revel in the stories of the sailors, with their lure of exotic places and the treasures a mariner brings home. We hearken to the stories of the peasants for a glimmer of the past, best revealed to natives and landed people. Brian Bouldrey, professional vagabond, and his very organized friend Garth, two unlikely mariners, hit dry land with backpacks and point their hiking boots down the Ulster Way. Along the more than 600 miles of Northern Irish mountains, moors, and monuments, they pursue a quest. Among the causeways and caves and publicans' cups, they seek faraway places revealed by the wisdom that only the peasant can offer.

Louis's sister, Emily, is blind. She's also in the marching band, sculpts, and has the biggest bedroom in the house to accommodate her Braille machine. Everyone thinks her accomplishments are extraordinary, and most think that she can do no wrong. The single person who doesn't feel awe--or pity--for her is Louis, who wishes people would just stop comparing them. He wants his own life. Only a family tragedy can begin to bridge the widening gap between brother and sister. Part of the Gemma Open Door Series, originally designed for new readers, these books confirm the truth that a story doesn't have to be big to change ?the world. The Transcriber is specifically created for young adult readers.

What do you do when something magical happens...in your own backyard? Linda and Earl are a happy couple. Although married for many years, they have never had children. Still, they are content being together, and watching reruns of "e;I Love Lucy"e; keeps them close. That, and a magical garden that never seems to grow what they plant. One day Earl finds a set of infant toes in the loam. He and Linda plant them and watch in amazement as the garden produces an enormous baby. Now Earl and Linda have to figure out how to be parents-if they are parents-and what to do about the giant baby who eats everything and cries for his mama.

When Mark Buehrle threw his perfect game against Tampa Bay, it was DeWayne Wise, the ninth inning White Sox defensive sub who made the leaping, back against the wall catch of a fly ball, robbing Gabe Kapler of a home run and preserving Buehrle's achievement. Until that moment, Wise was virtually anonymous. Yet for that one moment in July, Wise moved into the spotlight and The Los Angeles Times called his one of the top ten moments in sports for 2009. But when the season ended, Wise was a free agent, able to sign only a minor league deal. He went to Toronto. The history of baseball is filled with players like Wise-players who are good enough to reach the top of the sport but who, for any number of reasons, hang at the edges of the game. Some manage to spend only a week or two in the major leagues and then disappear back into the minors. Many leave the sport. These are the tales of one-season wonders. Here are stories of the brief moments when, for an afternoon, a week, a couple of months, they stood on the field with the best of the best in the game

A woman in trouble turns to ice cream, and just might find love in its pursuit. Emelda is 46 years old. Her husband, Charlie, has just left her for a 23-year-old dancer. Her five difficult sons worship their father and blame Emelda for his departure. On top of everything else, she has to struggle with a new job at the local supermarket. For comfort she turns to her only true friend ? ice-cream. But lately there's a handsome man driving the ice-cream van. Could romance be about to blossom? Part of successful Open Door series, originally designed to help adult literacy in Ireland. Original stories from best-selling authors and important new voices, never published in the States before now.

The Charles River divides Boston and Cambridge, and the Red Line ties the citiestogether, traveling through an expanseof class and cultures along its route. When an unlikely combination of riders share an afternoon train, they are surprised todiscover what'scommon in their American experience.Part of the prestigious Open Door Series, originally designed for adult literacy in Ireland, these books confirm the truth that a story doesn't have to be big to change our world. Yankee Doodle is part of the US launch of Open Door books written by North American authors.

On any given day, in any given city, countless people are arriving and departing...to visit grandma, to close a business deal, to hook up with a lover, toclimb a mountain. Intrepid traveler Luis is trapped in flight delay and has many hours to see and hear and sense his fellow passengers. As he grows more invisible, the kinetic world around him takes on a life of its own. Where can all these people be going? Where in the world do we belong?Part of the prestigious Open Door Series, originally designed for adult literacy in Ireland, these books confirm the truth that a story doesn't have to be big to change our world.Airport is part of the US launch of Open Door books written by North American authors.

Lizzie is dead - she just doesnt know it. Why does everyone ignore her when she needs a little sympathy? She has been in an accident, after all. The next day, Lizzie goes to work as usual and meets two unusual people, spirits who have been sent to break the bad news. But our Lizzie is not ready to go anywhere. She has yet to say her goodbyes. Help is at hand with Jan and Jim, messengers who have seen it all before. Before Lizzie crosses to the other side, she'll get her chance to stage the closing scene of a lifetime.

While organizing a community interfaith Thanksgiving event, a pastor discovers that people of all religious traditions laugh in the same language.He explores the connections between faith and laughter, examining his own holy heritage in dialogue with followers of other faiths.The story culminates with Interfaith Laughter Night, with an open mike that encourages participants of all the faiths gathered to laugh with each other and at themselves.Come along on a journey of ecumenical silliness! "