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 —

Do You Trust God? Meg Apperson grew up having a relationship with Jesus, and she always trusted God. But it wasn’t until her daughter Avery—a miracle in so many ways—was born with a litany of life-threatening birth defects that she began to fully understand what it means to trust Jesus with everything. In this heartbreakingly beautiful memoir, you’ll learn how a mother fought for her child, her family, and even herself as she grappled with the weight of failure—of letting down everyone around her and feeling let down by God. But in the midst of the fight, through heavy grief, she not only discovered her own voice—she discovered that God is both good and faithful. If you have ever experienced grief, suffering, or pain … If God has ever asked you to surrender more than you thought possible … If you’ve ever questioned how God is at work in the darkness … Sky Full of Stars is for you. This book will show you that when everything around you is dark, peace can be found in the suffering. You’ll discover new ways to rely on God’s trustworthiness.

Dr. Owen Shaughnessy can tell you everything you need to know about the cosmos and the world of astrophysics, but when it comes to actually interacting with other people, he’s at a complete loss. When he's tasked with leading a team of scientists to study a famous meteor shower, he knows he’s going to need some help. He just didn’t expect it to come in the form of a beautiful artist. Free-spirited artist Brooke Matthews is used to people not taking her seriously, but when Owen turns down her offer for help, she’s more than a little hurt. Convincing the brilliant astrophysicist that there’s more to her than her looks is definitely a challenge but she’s determined to surprise him in ways the stars never could. They’re polar opposites in every possible way and the attraction between them threatens to derail the project. But under a sky full of stars, they'll discover the magic that can happen between them when they push their differences aside.

"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.

Starseer, pilot, and animal lover Jelena Marchenko wants to prove to her parents that she's ready to captain her own freighter and help run the family business. When she finally talks them into getting a second ship and letting her fly it, it doesn't faze her that the craft is decades old and looks like a turtle. This is the chance she's craved for years. But it's not long before the opportunity to rescue mistreated lab animals lures her from her parentally approved cargo run and embroils her in a battle between warring corporations. To further complicate matters, her childhood friend Thorian, prince of the now defunct Sarellian Empire, is in trouble with Alliance law and needs her help. Torn between her duty to her family and doing what she believes is honorable, Jelena is about to learn that right and wrong are never as simple as they appear and that following your heart can get you killed.

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

In the magical time between night and day, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky, a child is born in a little blue house on a hill. And Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can't decide what to be: A boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star? At school, though, they must endure inquisitive looks and difficult questions from the other children, and they have trouble finding friends who will accept them for who they are. But they find comfort in the loving arms of their mother, who always offers them the same loving refrain: "whatever you dream of / i believe you can be / from the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea." In this captivating, beautifully imagined picture book about gender, identity, and the acceptance of the differences between us, Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be. But one thing's for sure: no matter what this child becomes, their mother will love them just the same. Kai Cheng Thom is a writer, performance artist, and psychotherapist in Toronto. Her first poetry book, a Place Called No Homeland, was published in 2017. Kai Yun Ching is a community-based organizer, educator, and illustrator in Montreal. Wai-Yant Li is a ceramics artist and illustrator in Montreal.