A Sky Full Of Stars

Barry can punch anyone hard enough to make them see a whole sky full of stars, though that's not really his style. Barry and Alby have been friends since the first grade. They've always protected one another. When Barry's pop dies, times are tough and the only thing Barry has of value is his dad's 1964 Ford Galaxie. Meanwhile Alby's got himself into big trouble with a cardshark. So he hatches a plan to make money. To help out Barry, but also to help himself. The problem is, Barry could get hurt, and it just might cost Alby their friendship. How much can you ask of a friend?

"Filled with teachable moments that are perfect for modern-day discussions of race and justice, this is also a story about the complexities of family and choices." –Kirkus "There is also much inspiration to be found in Rosa’s resilience and her determination to make something good of her life and not leave her beloved South for a “safer” part of the country. Jackson presents a raw and frank look at what growing up in the deep South during Jim Crow was really like. A powerful and well-crafted novel that will spark deep discussion of this era in U.S. history— and its contemporary repercussions." –School Library Journal "Readers will be left with much to consider and discuss."-Publishers Weekly "This de facto sequel to Jackson’s first novel, Midnight without a Moon (2017), is equally successful at dramatizing the lives of black people in the pre–civil rights South and capturing the sensibility of its setting, which together ensure the book will be a valuable classroom resource."--Booklist "With captivating characterization, the author has again credibly woven real historical events into a poignant story of hope, friendship, and aspiration, resulting in an insightful historical novel that could serve as a resourceful complement to contemporary discussions about social justice."--Horn Book Praise for Midnight Without a Moon: "This nuanced coming-of-age story by a debut author is deftly delivered, with engaging characters set against a richly contextualized backdrop of life for African Americans during the Jim Crow era. It’s also an authentic work of historical fiction (supported by Southern vernacular in both dialogue and vocabulary that accurately reflects the era) about a pivotal incident in the civil rights movement."—Horn Book "Jackson pulls no punches in the characters’ heated discussions and keeps dialogue raw and real..." —Bulletin "Jackson’s debut does an excellent job dramatizing the injustice that was epidemic in the pre–civil rights South and capturing the sounds and sensibilities of that time and place. Her sympathetic characters and their stories will make this thoughtful book especially good for classroom use."—Booklist "A powerful story."—Kirkus “Midnight Without a Moon offers readers an unflinching bird's eye view of 1955 Mississippi. Young Rose Lee has one foot steeped in the segregated South and the other in the new world where Negroes and girls are expecting more, doing more, and willing to risk all to live lives of their own choosing. Bravo to Jackson, for a magnificent piece of writing!” —Sharon G. Flake, Coretta Scott King Award winning author of Unstoppable Octobia May and The Skin I'm In “Rose shines bright in the darkness -- brave, beautiful, and full of hard-won hope. She'll be an inspiration to every reader who meets her, as she has been to me.” –Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B and Blue Birds —

A lyrical reminiscence for the time before electrical illumination made the natural beauty of the night sky so hard to see.

"A Sky Full of Stars must be an obligatory reference material for religion teachers and seminarians. Presenting the faith in its original clarity, it helps the reader to see the Virgin Mary within the perspective of sound biblical theology and solid Catholic tradition... [and is] also easy to understand..." - Archbishop Socrates VillegasThe Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka the Litany of Loreto) is a prayer usually said after the rosary, which invokes many of Mary's titles. The meanings of some titles, like "Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, House of Gold, and Morning Star," are lost to us because language and culture evolved. Since these titles were meant to help us get to know her, our unfamiliarity with the titles becomes a missed opportunity to know Mary and emulate her virtues.This book goes deep in understanding the titles that burst with meaning when seen through Old Testament context. It combines Marian devotion, scriptural exegesis, Catholic doctrine, and Old Testament typology. Each title is thoroughly explained and summarized by suggesting how we might appreciate Mary. It may be read in one sitting to gain more insight about Mary, or each title may be used for meditation on each Saturday - as was the practice in Loreto. Get to know Our Lady through her titles and prepare to fall in love with her all over again.

Shortlisted for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award Red kites were once Britain's most common bird of prey. By the early 1900s they'd been wiped out in Scotland and England following centuries of ruthless persecution. When some reintroduced kites began roosting on their 1,400-acre farm at Argaty in Perthshire, Tom Bowser's parents, Lynn and Niall, decided to turn their estate into a safe haven. They began feeding the birds and invited the world to come and see them, learn about them and fall in love with them. A Sky Full of Kites is the story of the Argaty Red Kite project, and the re-establishing of these magnificent raptors to Scotland, but it is also much more than that. Ill at ease with the traditional rural values of livestock farming, Lynn and Niall's son Tom, who returned to work on the farm after a career in journalism, reveals his passion for nature and his desire to dedicate his family's land to conservation.

Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little universe. But then Lisa dies in a train crash, and their universe is destroyed. Alex is shattered by loss, and overwhelmed by the difficulties of being a single father to a six-year-old boy. How can he and Connor carry on without Lisa lighting up their lives? Then Alex meets four strangers. Two men and two women, who never met Lisa, but whose lives changed profoundly because she died. As Alex hears their stories, he begins to realise the world may not be as cruel and senseless as it seems. Perhaps, after all, the future is written in the stars.

Washington Post 2017 KidsPost Summer Book Club selection! New York Public Library Best Books for Kids! "Jackson pulls no punches in the characters’ heated discussions and keeps dialogue raw and real..." —Bulletin "Jackson’s debut does an excellent job dramatizing the injustice that was epidemic in the pre–civil rights South and capturing the sounds and sensibilities of that time and place. Her sympathetic characters and their stories will make this thoughtful book especially good for classroom use." —Booklist "A powerful story." —Kirkus "This nuanced coming-of-age story by a debut author is deftly delivered, with engaging characters set against a richly contextualized backdrop of life for African Americans during the Jim Crow era. It’s also an authentic work of historical fiction...about a pivotal incident in the civil rights movement." —Horn Book "An unflinching and sensitively-told coming-of-age story from the perspective of a smart and thoughtful young girl in 1950s Mississippi." —SLJ “Midnight Without a Moon offers readers an unflinching bird's eye view of 1955 Mississippi. Young Rose Lee has one foot steeped in the segregated South and the other in the new world where Negroes and girls are expecting more, doing more, and willing to risk all to live lives of their own choosing. Bravo to Jackson, for a magnificent piece of writing!” —Sharon G. Flake, Coretta Scott King Award winning author of Unstoppable Octobia May and The Skin I'm In “Rose shines bright in the darkness -- brave, beautiful, and full of hard-won hope. She'll be an inspiration to every reader who meets her, as she has been to me.” –Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B and Blue Birds —

Chosen to lead a team of scientists to view an annual meteor shower, astrophysicist Owen Shaughnessy desperately wants out until his mentor suggests hiring Brooke Shelton, a perfect assistant who surprises him in ways the stars never could.