Amah Faraway

A delightful story of a child's visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures. Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother-her Amah-who lives SO FAR AWAY. When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah. Even though they have spent time together in video chats, those aren't the same as real life. And in Taiwan, Kylie is at first uncomfortable with the less-familiar language, customs, culture, and food. However, after she is invited by Amah-Lái kàn kàn! Come see!-to play and splash in the hot springs (which aren't that different from the pools at home), Kylie begins to see this place through her grandmother's eyes and sees a new side of the things that used to scare her. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah-Come see! Lái kàn kàn!-back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN! And when it is time to go home, the video chats will be extra special until they can visit faraway again. Backmatter includes author and illustrator notes and a guide to some of the places and foods explored in Taiwan.

A delightful story of a child's visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures. Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother-her Amah-who lives SO FAR AWAY. When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah. Even though they have spent time together in video chats, those aren't the same as real life. And in Taiwan, Kylie is at first uncomfortable with the less-familiar language, customs, culture, and food. However, after she is invited by Amah-Lái kàn kàn! Come see!-to play and splash in the hot springs (which aren't that different from the pools at home), Kylie begins to see this place through her grandmother's eyes and sees a new side of the things that used to scare her. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah-Come see! Lái kàn kàn!-back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN! And when it is time to go home, the video chats will be extra special until they can visit faraway again. Backmatter includes author and illustrator notes and a guide to some of the places and foods explored in Taiwan.

In the waning days of the last dynasty, in a quiet, beautiful corner of imperial Peking, a young girl's blissful ignorance is shattered when she learns that she is the illegitimate daughter of an English adventurer and a Chinese courtesan. What future is there for such a girl? But a mysterious figure steps forward and offers to instruct her in the highest forms of martial arts--a path to a life of strength and independence. Half a world away in England, a young boy's idyllic summer on the Sussex downs implodes with the firing of a single bullet. Torn from his family, he becomes the hostage of a urbanely sadistic uncle. He dreams of escaping to find his beloved friend--but the friend is in China, ten thousand miles away. The girl trains to be deadly. The boy flees across continents. They do not know it yet, but their lives are already inextricably bound together, and will collide one fateful night when they least expect it. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON meets DOWNTON ABBEY, this remarkable tale of friendship, danger, and coming of age will stay with you long after you have finished the last page. A prequel to MY BEAUTIFUL ENEMY.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the decade. Adam Drake and Emilia Kimberly Strong have chosen a date to solidify their love in the bonds of matrimony. Join them on their exotic destination wedding. Visit with their friends and loved ones. But hold the champagne toast. Fate has a few last tests for our couple on their way to the altar. Natural 20 or natural disaster?

'Fans of Carole Nelson Douglas’s Irene Adler series will be pleased'Publishers Weekly'Victorian atmosphere abounds in a twisty, exciting tale of danger and lost love' Kirkus'A terrific adventure'Northern ReaderThe Continent, 1864: Two bomb attacks, three deaths.Clues to an elaborate assassination plot are intercepted in Paris and the authorities believe the assassin’s lair lies in Soho, London. Heloise Chancey, courtesan and professional detective, must go undercover to spy upon the nest of suspects and end their murderous conspiracy.Meanwhile, her Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen finds herself trapped in a deadly nightmare of deceit and madness. Will she be able to escape before time runs out?Danger keeps Heloise close company as she hunts evil down to its devilish source.BOOKS BY M.J. TJIAShe Be DamnedA Necessary MurderThe Death of Me

As the twilight turned into night, the pyramids lay deserted. The Tuaregs on silent horses were flying across the desert around the pyramids and the great Sphinx, making sure that what was about to take place was unobserved. A cortege of torches was winding its way down the tall dune towards the great Sphinx. Phillipa, holding the silver Urn with the Heidrichs ashes, rode at the center of the cortege. Reaching the Sphinx, the torchbearers broke into two columns to form an honor guard of light through which Phillipa rode to meet the matriarch standing between the Sphinx’s mighty paws. Phillipa slowly handed the urn to her. A deep hole had been chiseled into the Sphinx’s chest where one would think the heart might be. The urn was pushed gently into the cool depth of the Sphinx. The opening disappeared in front of Phillipa’s eyes under the skilled hands of a stonemason. No one would suspect that the Sphinx had been tampered with. One by one the Tuareg torchbearers rode up the passage between the mighty paws of the Sphinx and dropped their torches in front of the Heidrichs secret burial chamber––a final salute to the man who had translated their tablets. That night they slept outside under the stars. The matriarch’s stallion came to greet Phillipa. She rubbed his forehead and velvety nose and then kissed it, as she had done long ago when she had been here with Udah Singh. “He likes you and wishes you well,” said the matriarch behind her. “ You have a gift with horses that I have not seen before.” She continued, “You still love both equally, and that confuses you profoundly. Give yourself permission to love and be loved. Don’t let conventions and western customs dictate your life. Live happy and free.”

This historic year is vividly pictured as a young American surgeon and Canadian wife dare to enter exotic Manchu (Ch'ing) Empire only a decade after the Empress Dowager's 'Boxers' massacred foreigners. Admired as missionaries, deeply in love, Nell - on the ocean liner - begins to doubt James' judgment. James, eager to bring modern medicine to antique China, is shocked by the shabbiness of his assigned Hospital-of-Last-Resort with only male apprentices as aides. He faces poor patients with monstrous tumors, plague, stones, does operations never observed, is opposed by unbelievable superstitions. Astonishingly, the 'foreign doctor' (true) is called to Military Headquarters where the Vice-roy of the two Kwang Provinces -- as large as Germany -- has called brilliantly robed Mandarins - Ministers of Army, Navy, Law, Treasury, Literary chancellor. Why? Unknown anarchists tried to assonate the Tartar General! Is Revolution brewing? On return, James' sedan chair is waylaid by Ming Secret Society dissidents. Different Chinese factions seek James' USA support. Pretty teacher, impetuous Stephanie, sponsors 'returned student' radicals. Medical assistants-- for Republic therefore anti-Manchu (very dangerous) -- hide a rebel in his 'neutral' Hospital. Chinese Officials in Manchu Administration expect support for their Self-Strengthening moderates. Meanwhile Nell struggles with her new house knowing no Cantonese, then with intelligent cook-helper knowing no English. Sir Gladwyn, British diplomat, takes her to ancient pagoda; she climbs inside! Shocked at primitive child-birthing in this 'medieval' village, she's chased as Blue-Eyed Witch! Visiting the British Yamên they hear a threatening rocket. Returning to Hospital, James is captured by the Manchu General, is horrified at cruel but brilliant strategy, watches Manchus win historic Battle of Seventy-Two Heroes. Mr.Colocott, Hong Kong tea exporter, Mr.Paronel, British consul, M.Zinôt, disillusioned but fluent French liaison, Mr. Fa, Hospital pharmacist, argue with the North Americans, fearful and fascinated, as this tumultuous year -1910 - will change World History.

Includes "A dozen questions for further discussion" at the end of the book.