Kokomo Joe

The first Japanese American jockey, Kokomo Joe burst like a comet on the American horse-racing scene in the summer of 1941. As war with Japan loomed, Yoshio ?Kokomo Joe? Kobuki won race after race, stirring passions far beyond merely the envy and antagonism of other jockeys. His is a story of the American dream catapulting headlong into the nightmare of a nation gripped by wartime hysteria and xenophobia. The story that unfolds in Kokomo Joe is at once inspiring, deeply sad, and richly ironic?and remarkably relevant in our own climate of nationalist fervor and racial profiling. ø Sent to Japan from Washington State after his mother and three siblings died of the Spanish flu, Kobuki continued to nurse his dream of the American good life. Because of his small stature, his ambition steered him to a future as a star jockey. John Christgau narrates Kobuki?s rise from lowly stable boy to reigning star at California fairs and in the bush leagues. He describes how, at the height of the jockey?s fame, even his flight into the Sonora Desert could not protect him from the government?s espionage and sabotage dragnet. And finally he recounts how, after three years of internment, Kokomo Joe tried to reclaim his racing success, only to fall victim to still-rampant racism, a career-ending injury, and cancer.

Math meets sci-fi in this clever chapter book about two numbers-loving friends and their alien adventures. The first in a new series! “This playful math series is overall a valuable addition to the chapter-book shelf.” —Kirkus “LaRochelle shrewdly integrates the numerical puzzles . . . into his madcap plot, and the playful competition between the math whiz kids further energizes the story.” —Publishers Weekly Best friends Lamar and Lexie love math—and, in this first book in the Alien Math series, their skills come in handy when they’re abducted by an extraterrestrial named Fooz. Fooz, unfamiliar with Earth life, mistakes the children for chickens . . . until Lamar and Lexie prove they’re human by solving a tricky math problem. Fooz agrees to take them home, but on a side trip to a nearby planet to refuel, the two are captured by lumfurs, creatures that resemble Bigfoot. In order to escape and return to Fooz’s ship and subsequently Earth, Lamar and Lexie must solve problems that require finding patterns, making estimates, and deciphering codes. Can the children pass the test and get home again?

A gateway to the west in its own right, St. Charles County is today one of the fastest growing counties in the country and encompasses a number of communities, each with its own charming character. Abundantly rich in history, it is home to the first state capitol, numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places, the Daniel Boone home, and areas traveled by Lewis and Clark on their Expedition, including their starting point. In addition, the county boasts specialty shopping including antiquing, unique dining experiences, and beautiful parks to explore. A wide range of recreational activities, a large number of which are kid friendly, await at every corridor. St. Charles County is even home to numerous award winning majestic vineyards. This book, produced by authors familiar with the area, will guide you through neighborhoods, towns, attractions, and the countless options available to visitors and citizens alike in St. Charles County.

A memoir written by one of Edward Abbey's closest friends explores the life of the influential author and environmental activist.

The hills have scares in this haunted history of the Ozark Mountains from the paranormal investigator and author of Missouri’s Haunted Route 66. Tourists flock to the Ozarks region every year to dip their paddles in the pure waters of its wilderness, or to lose themselves in the happy bustle of its theme parks. But the serene hills and hollows often hide something darker. The Civil War and the Trail of Tears left their marks on the region, as did the James-Younger Gang and the Baldknobbers. Ghosts linger in resorts and penitentiaries, while UFO’s and buried treasure rest in uneasy graves. Those startled by seeing a hellhound run through their backyard, however, might also catch a glimpse of author Janice Tremeear and her team of researchers in hot pursuit of the mysteries of the Ozarks.