Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

TARASKONAS TARTARENS

Alfonss Dodē

LATVIJAS VALSTS IZDEVNIECĪBA

R Ī G Ā  19 6 0

Alphonse Daudet TARTARIN DE TARASCON

Ernest Flammarion, Editeur

No franču valodas tulkojusi ELZA STĒRSTE

MANAM DRAUGAM CONZACAM PRIVA

Francijā visi mazdrusciņ taraskonieši

Stefauns Jounsons

TEIKSMA PAR MAZO HJALTI

Stāsts

IZDEVNIECĪBA « LIESMA» RĪGĀ 1965

«. . . mēs atkal pārvācamies,» — šie deviņus gadus vecā stāsta varoņa Hjalti vārdi ir Islandes mūslaiku progresīvā rakstnieka Stefauna Jounsona grāmatas vadmotīvs; Islandes lauku dzīve gadsimta sākumā, poētiskas dabas gleznas, labi un ne visai labi ļaudis, kas izgājuši bargo dzīves skolu, — un tas viss kā gara gara un ļoti saviļņojoša dziesma . . .

No krievu valodas tulkojusi A. Sprīvuje Mākslinieks O. Vereiskis

Autora priekšvārds

Mani jaunie, dārgie draugi!

Atlantijas okeāna vidū, pie paša Polārā loka, atrodas sala, kas jau no seniem laikiem visai pasaulei pazīstama ar vulkāniem, bet vēl vairāk — ar ledājiem. Uz šīs salas, kuru sauc par Islandi, tas ir, par ledus zemi, dzīvo mazais Hjalti.

Islandiešu tauta nav liela — tikai simt astoņdesmit tūkstoši iedzīvo­tāju, — taču islandieši kvēli mīl savu zemi un tās bargo skaistumu. Dau­dzus drūmus gadsimtus islandieši tika cietuši nežēlīgu trūkumu. Zemē plo­sījās bads un epidēmijas, kas nereti nopļāva turpat trešo daļu no visiem iedzīvotājiem. Taču vislielākā nelaime Islandei bija nacionālais jūgs. Vai­rāk nekā sešus ar pusi gadsimtu Dānijas karaļi un feodāļi aplaupīja un apspieda islandiešu tautu, bet to salauzt viņiem neizdevās. Par spīti pavaldoņiem dāņiem islandieši pratuši saglabāt gan savas paražas, gan savu seno valodu, to valodu, kādā senatnē runājuši visi Skandināvijas iedzīvotāji. Islandieši ilgi, ļoti ilgi varonīgi cīnījās par savu brīvību, līdz guva uzvaru. Šī uzvara bija ne tikai mazās islandiešu tautas, bet gan visas pasaules mieru mīlošo tautu panākums.

Notikumi, kas aprakstīti grāmatā, risinājušies pagājušā gadsimta pirmajos gadu desmitos. Šajā laikā Islandes laukos jau bija jūtamas lielas pārmai­ņas, taču zemnieku saimniecībās, viņu dzīves veidā un paražās vēl aizvien valdīja senais patriarhālisms, kas mūsu dienās pilnīgi izzudis. Rakstot grāmatu par mazo puisēnu Hjalti, man gribējās pastāstīt mazajiem islandiešu lasītājiem par to lauku dzīvi, kādu pazina viņu vectēvu un tēvu paaudze.

Es centos radīt grāmatu, kas ieaudzinātu bērnos labu literāro gaumi, jo par nožēlošanu jāsaka, ka daudzas bērnu grāmatas, ko izplata Islandē, var tikai nomākt katru vēlēšanos lasīt daiļliteratūras sacerējumus. Stāsti bērniem jāraksta tā, lai tie būtu interesanti arī jauniešiem. Tādu biju iecerējis grāmatu par mazo Hjalti.

Grāmata par Hjalti ir ļoti populāra Islandē. Tajā jums būs daudz jauna un neparasta, taču darba tēma ir internacionāla: cilvēka dzīve nav iedomāj ama bez darba.

Grāmatā aprakstītie cilvēki ir vienkāršie islandieši, tie nodod jums draudzīgu sveicienu no mazās tautas, kas dzīvo uz lielās salas Atlantijas okeānā. Jūs, jaunie draugi, kuriem es rakstu šīs rindas, tāpat kā jūsu vecuma bērni visā pasaulē, sapņojat par nākotni. Nepaies ilgs laiks, un, jūs būsiet savas tautas vēsturisko pa­sākumu aktīvi dalībnieki un īstenotāji. Lai mani labu panākumu novēlē­jumi ienāk jūsu mājā reizē ar stāstu par islandiešu puisēnu Hjalti.

Trollīša Mumina draugiem piedāvājam vēl vienu Tūves Jānsones grāmatu par trollīšiem — "Tētis un jūra". Šoreiz stāstīts par dzīvi uz kādas nemīlīgas salas, nevis Muminielejā.

Tālu jūrā gulēja sala. Tā bija tikpat kā pamesta. Uz salas atradās bāka, bet tā nebija iedegta. Uz zemesraga dzīvoja zvejnieks, bet viņš klusēja. Uz šo salu tētis aizveda savu ģimeni, vēlēdamies to pasargāt un aizstāvēt.

Šī sala bija citāda. Tā nebija gluži tāda kā Muminieleja, kur viss ir kā nākas. Patiesību sakot, dzīve uz salas bija diezgan briesmīga. Dažreiz arī jūrai bija nejauks raksturs, bet tas bija ienaidnieks, ar kuru vērts cīnīties…

A hundred years ago, in the Himalayan peaks of Nanvi Dar, the daughter of an English earl is kidnapped by a huge hairy monster. In a secret valley Agatha Farlingham is introduced to a family of motherless yetis and devotes her life to their upbringing. She teaches them to speak, tells them stories and insists on polite manners. But as the decades pass, tourists come to the mountains, a hotel is built and yeti-hunters arrive. Agatha knows that there is one place in the world where they would be protected — her ancestral home at Farley Towers. When a boy and his sister stumble upon her hidden valley, she knows she has found the courageous people who will carry out her plan. The excited yetis are smuggled into the bridal suite at the hotel. A freezer lorry is waiting to put them into semi-hibernation on the long trip home. But the baby yak that has fallen in love with the youngest yeti foils the refrigeration plan and they set off on a hugely entertaining road trip half way…

A hundred years ago, in the Himalayan peaks of Nanvi Dar, the daughter of an English earl is kidnapped by a huge hairy monster. In a secret valley Agatha Farlingham is introduced to a family of motherless yetis and devotes her life to their upbringing. She teaches them to speak, tells them stories and insists on polite manners. But as the decades pass, tourists come to the mountains, a hotel is built and yeti-hunters arrive. Agatha knows that there is one place in the world where they would be protected — her ancestral home at Farley Towers. When a boy and his sister stumble upon her hidden valley, she knows she has found the courageous people who will carry out her plan. The excited yetis are smuggled into the bridal suite at the hotel. A freezer lorry is waiting to put them into semi-hibernation on the long trip home. But the baby yak that has fallen in love with the youngest yeti foils the refrigeration plan and they set off on a hugely entertaining road trip half way…

Book Description Hilariously picaresque, epic in scope, alive with the poetry and vigor of the American people, Mark Twain's story about a young boy and his journey down the Mississippi was the first great novel to speak in a truly American voice. Influencing subsequent generations of writers — from Sherwood Anderson to Twain's fellow Missourian, T.S. Eliot, from Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner to J.D. Salinger — Huckleberry Finn, like the river which flows through its pages, is one of the great sources which nourished and still nourishes the literature of America.

She doesn't want her turn on the catwalk-she'd rather be behind the scenes creating fabulous outfits! So when a famous fashionista discovers Emma's designs and offers her the opportunity of a lifetime-a feature in Madison magazine (squeal!)-Emma sort of, well, panics. She has only one option: to create a secret identity.

And so Allegra Biscotti is born.

Allegra is worldly, sophisticated, and bold-everything Emma is not. But the pressure is on. And Emma quickly discovers juggling school, a new crush, friends, and a secret identity might not be as glamorous as she thought.

For many moons, the warrior cats have lived in peace in their territories around the lake. But a dark shadow looms on the horizon, and the time has come for Alderpaw—son of the ThunderClan leader, Bramblestar, and his deputy, Squirrelflight—to shape his destiny… and the fate of all the warrior Clans.

Valancy lives a drab life with her overbearing mother and prying aunt. Then a shocking diagnosis from Dr. Trent prompts her to make a fresh start. For the first time, she does and says exactly what she feels. As she expands her limited horizons, Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a new world of love and happiness. One of Lucy Maud Montgomery's only novels intended for an adult audience, The Blue Castle is filled with humor and romance.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany.

The country is holding its breath.

Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger finds her life changed when she unearths a single object from the snow. It is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, left there by accident at her brother’s funeral, and it is her first act of book thievery.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement, Liesel’s world is both opened up and closed down.

In superbly crafted prose that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

in which our narrator introduces:

himself—the colors—and the book thief

featuring:

himmel street—the art of saumensching—an ironfisted

woman—a kiss attempt—jesse owens—

sandpaper—the smell of friendship—a heavyweight

champion—and the mother of all watschens

featuring:

a girl made of darkness—the joy of cigarettes

—a town walker—some dead letters—hitler’s birthday—

100 percent pure german sweat—the gates of thievery—

and a book of fire

featuring:

the way home—a broken woman—a struggler—

a juggler—the attributes of summer—

an aryan shopkeeper—a snorer—two tricksters—

and revenge in the shape of mixed candy

featuring:

the accordionist—a promise keeper—a good girl—

a jewish fist fighter—the wrath of rosa—a lecture—

a sleeper—the swapping of nightmares—

and some pages from the basement

featuring:

a floating book—the gamblers—a small ghost—

two haircuts—rudy’s youth—losers and sketches—

a whistler and some shoes—three acts of stupidity—

and a frightened boy with frozen legs

featuring:

death’s diary—the snowman—thirteen

presents—the next book—the nightmare of

a jewish corpse—a newspaper sky—a visitor—

a schmunzeler—and a final kiss on poisoned cheeks

featuring:

champagne and accordions—

a trilogy—some sirens—a sky

stealer—an offer—the long

walk to dachau—peace—

an idiot and some coat men

featuring:

dominoes and darkness—the thought of

rudy naked—punishment—a promise keeper’s

wife—a collector—the bread eaters—

a candle in the trees—a hidden sketchbook—

and the anarchist’s suit collection

featuring:

the next temptation—a cardplayer—

the snows of stalingrad—an ageless

brother—an accident—the bitter taste

of questions—a toolbox, a bleeder,

a bear—a broken plane—

and a homecoming

featuring:

the end of a world—the ninety-eighth day—

a war maker—way of the words—a catatonic girl—

confessions—ilsa hermann’s little black book—

some rib-cage planes—and a mountain range of rubble

featuring:

death and liesel—some

wooden tears—max—

and the handover man

Fashion-crazy Sicilee is a poster child for over-consumption. Her archrival, Maya, wears arty vintage clothes but hasn't a clue what's in the food she eats. So when drop-dead gorgeous new student Cody Lightfoot sets out to spread his eco-ways--and spur the Environmental Club toward an all-out Earth Day bash--Sicilee and Maya have their work cut out to attract his attention. What if Sicilee trades her fur boots for walking shoes (even if she can't find the school when she's not inside a car)? What if Maya dresses in plastic bottles and bags to preach in front of the supermarket (until security is called)? Or could it be that Cody isn't all he' s cracked up to be, and that saving the planet really is more important than impressing a boy? With her trademark quick-fire wit, Dyan Sheldon shows just what girls will do for love--and what earth-changing realizations they might have along the way.

Inspired by the artwork of Edward Gorey, Windblowne author Stephen Messer delivers a mock-Gothic tale about poor Yorick (alas!), son of the Gamekeeper at venerable Ravenby Manor, who meets an untimely demise—in chapter one! Worry not, dear reader, for Yorick returns in ghostly form, intent on revenge. In the course of his hauntings, however, ghostly Yorick discovers that all manner of otherworldy creatures inhabit the manor grounds, and that he has a part to play in saving not only his still-living orphan sister but also the manor and everyone in it.

For every young reader who enjoyed the dour dalliance of A Series of Unfortunate Events, here is Stephen Messer's playful homage to the poor orphans of Charles Dickens, the bleak poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, and the exaggerated characters of Roald Dahl.

When the Russians come, where do you go?

It is the end of April, 1945 in a small village in eastern Germany. The front is coming closer and ten-year-old Fritz knows that the Soviet Army’s invasion of his family’s home can be only a few days away. Grandpa Karl, a Nazi sympathizer, takes Fritz into the forest that surrounds the family farm to show him a secret. Under a tall pine tree, Grandpa Karl has dug a pit and covered it with branches. The hole is to hide Fritz’s sister, mother, and grandmother when the Russians invade their village. Grandpa Karl is convinced that he and Fritz will defend to the death the Friedrich family.

But when the Russian soldiers arrive, Fritz, his sister, and his mother find themselves alone. They look to Lech, a Polish farmhand, for help, but new communist policies force them off their farm and into the role of refugees. Separated from his home and eventually his family, Fritz has to find his own way in a crumbling world. The Dog in the Wood tells a dramatic story of loss and survival in a changing Germany at the end of World War II.

A beloved New York Times bestselling author returns to paper!

At first Tally doesn’t want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But soon she discovers that it’s a wonderful place, where freedom and selfexpression are valued. Enamored of Bergania, a erene and peaceful country led by a noble king, Tally organizes a dance troupe to attend the international folk dancing festival there. There she meets Karil, the crown prince, who wants nothing more than ordinary friends. But when Karil’s father is assassinated, it’s up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he’s inherited.