My Girls

A revelatory and touching tribute to the lives of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds written by the person who knew them best, Todd Fisher’s poignant memoir is filled with moving stories of growing up among Hollywood royalty and illustrated with never-before-seen photos and memorabilia. In December 2016, the world was shaken by the sudden deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, two unspeakable losses that occurred in less than twenty-four hours. The stunned public turned for solace to Debbie’s only remaining child, Todd Fisher, who somehow retained his grace and composure under the glare of the media spotlight as he struggled with his own overwhelming grief. The son of "America’s Sweethearts" Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Todd grew up amid the glamorous wealth and pretense of Hollywood. Thanks to his funny, loving, no-nonsense mother, Todd remained down to earth, his own man, but always close to his cherished mom, and to his sister through her meteoric rise to stardom and her struggle with demons that never diminished her humor, talent, or spirit. Now, Todd shares his heart and his memories of Debbie and Carrie with deeply personal stories from his earliest years to those last unfathomable days. His book, part memoir, part homage, celebrates their legacies through a more intimate, poignant, and often hilarious portrait of these two remarkable women than has ever been revealed before. With thirty-two pages of never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from his family’s private archives, Todd’s book is a love letter to a sister and a mother, and a gift to countless fans who are mourning the deaths of these two unforgettable stars.

Meet Rose and Ruby: sisters, best friends, confidantes, and conjoined twins. Since their birth, Rose and Ruby Darlen have been known simply as "the girls." They make friends, fall in love, have jobs, love their parents, and follow their dreams. But the Darlens are special. Now nearing their 30th birthday, they are history's oldest craniopagus twins, joined at the head by as pot the size of a bread plate. When Rose, the bookish sister, sets out to write her autobiography, it inevitably becomes the story of her short but extraordinary life with Ruby, the beautiful one. From their awkward first steps -- Ruby's arm curled around Rose's neck, her foreshortened legs wrapped around Rose's hips -- to the friendships they gradually build for themselves in the small town of Leaford, this is the profoundly affecting chronicle of an incomparable life journey. As Rose and Ruby's story builds to an unforgettable conclusion, Lansens aims at the heart of human experience -- the hardship of loss and struggles for independence, and the fundamental joy of simply living a life. This is a breathtaking novel, one that no reader will soon forget, a heartrending story of love between sisters.

Have you ever wished that someone had told you ahead of time how a problem could be avoided? Do you feel like no one understands where you're coming from? Now there's a blueprint that can offer you comfort, motivation, and real solutions. When Yasmin Shiraz launched Mad Rhythms, a hip-hop magazine aimed at college students, she visited youth organizations and colleges across the country to teach young people how to effectively pursue their dreams. Drawn to Yasmin's confidence and determination, young women in particular sought her opinion on topics such as body image, popularity, dating, sexuality, child-parent relationships, and social and academic pressures. Yasmin could easily speak to those issues. She struggled with many of the same concerns when she was younger. Inspired by the common threads connecting each generation, Yasmin developed The Blueprint for My Girls to help young women discover who they are, develop a sense of self, and stay positive. In the book, Yasmin pairs her personal stories with 99 "expressions" designed to help readers deal with situations they may not feel comfortable discussing with friends and family. Each expression is accompanied by exercises to help readers progress on their journey. Staying real without being preachy, The Blueprint for My Girls will be a solution giver, a problem solver, and a friend in need for generations to come.

An "elegant and inspiring memoir" by the human rights activist who changed the minds of her elders, reformed traditions from the inside, and is creating a better future for girls and women throughout Africa (Sonia Faleiro, New York Times). Nice Leng`ete was raised in a Maasai village in Kenya. In 1998, when Nice was six, her parents fell sick and died, and Nice and her sister Soila were taken in by their father’s brother, who had little interest in the girls beyond what their dowries might fetch. Fearing “the cut” (female genital mutilation, a painful and sometimes deadly ritualistic surgery), which was the fate of all Maasai women, Nice and Soila climbed a tree to hide. Nice hoped to find a way to avoid the cut forever, but Soila understood it would be impossible. But maybe if one of the sisters submitted, the other would be spared. After Soila chose to undergo the surgery, sacrificing herself to save Nice, their lives diverged. Soila married, dropped out of school, and had children–all in her teenage years–while Nice postponed receiving the cut, continued her education, and became the first in her family to attend college. Supported by Amref, Nice used visits home to set an example for what an uncut Maasai woman can achieve. Other women listened, and the elders finally saw the value of intact, educated girls as the way of the future. The village has since ended FGM entirely, and Nice continues the fight to end FGM throughout Africa, and the world. Nice’s journey from “heartbroken child and community outcast, to leader of the Maasai” is an inspiration and a reminder that one person can change the world–and every girl is worth saving.

'Wise and kind' - Sali Hughes 'Every young teen needs this book' - Nadia Sawalha 'Brilliant, accessible, sensitive and funny' - Emily Maitlis 'Funny, kind and wise' - Daisy Buchanan Going through puberty? Thinking about puberty? Worried about growing up? This book is for you! Puberty isn't just about what's going on in your body, but also your brain, your emotions and the world around you. Knowledge is power! All the information you need is here, plus advice, wisdom and lots of questions from girls like you: - Body-basics (like breasts, spots and periods) - Life's big mysteries. Is how you look important? Is a crush ever wrong? Is it bad to be jealous of your friends? - Clear, empowering info on emotions, sex, sexuality and gender - Staying safe and having fun online - Plenty of space for your own notes and doodles

How can three women living three totally different lifestyles have so much in common? Alexis is a single mother of two, with an abusive baby daddy her girls keep pressing her to leave. Between her difficult man and her girls' constant nagging, Alexis is forced to live a double life. Watch as she tries to hold on to a secret that would definitely tear apart any friendship. Keaundra is constantly haunted by a troubled past and lives by the motto "Trust No Man!" This has left her lonely and with plenty of time on her hands. But what happens when she crosses paths with Mr. Right? Will Keaundra let him in, or will her past experiences force her to let him slip away? India is classy, intelligent, loyal, and used to having her way. Between her rich father and her boyfriend, Martell, she wants for nothing. But when her loyalty to her girls starts to affect her relationship, will India have to choose between her best friends and her man, or will he make the choice for her? When life and love get complicated, these three unlikely friends will have some very difficult choices to make.

When one falls Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie sense of connection. The others will break Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime scene awash with arcane clues—and without a trace of DNA from the killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer...or messages for Mari? Unless she plays the game... Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets, and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle together before someone else dies—even if it destroys her career. But there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for you...

A fun day at the pool turns into a day at the hair salon as three young girls, Lila, Sarah, and Ashley, navigate the world of Black hair and help Ashley figure out how to style her curls. My Girls & Curls is all about friendships and learning to love what makes you naturally you. It's Lila's birthday, and what better way to celebrate than spending the day with her best friends, Ashley and Sarah, at the pool? Before going to the pool, Ashley gets a silk press, but that doesn't stop her from jumping in the pool with her friends. Ashley's curls come alive the moment she rises from the pool and she runs to the bathroom. Realizing her hair is no longer straight, she cries to her friends that she doesn't know what to do with her hair when it's curly. Lila and Sarah take it upon themselves to help Ashley. However, Lila and Sarah don't know how to style natural hair either! What's going to happen to Ashley's hair? The story of My Girls & Curls celebrates the natural hair journey of three young girls finding beauty in friendship and their coils.