The Monsters We Defy

"[P]itch perfect, with wit, romance, and a lovable found family." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) "This smart and entertaining, magical heist novel hits all the right notes!" ―T.L. Huchu NPR Best Book of 2022! Paste Best Fantasy Book of 2022! "Never make a deal with shadows at night, especially ones that know your name.” Washington D. C., 1925: Clara Johnson can talk to spirits—a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance, no questions asked. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District. Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need the help of an unlikely team, from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody to an aging actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they race along DC’s legendary Black Broadway, conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one—an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life and change the fate of an entire city. The Monsters We Defy is a timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.

A Robb Report Best Coffee Table Book to Gift in 2020 A Sports Car News and InsideHook Best Coffee Table Book for Car Lovers Celebrate That Special Bond Between Men and Cars, and the Stories That Connect Them Discover actor and director Ed Burns talking about his 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, a model he’d been dreaming about since his days pumping gas. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, whose favorite cars are trucks—he loves the wow factor of an International CV Series 6.6. Or Jay Leno on his 1955 Buick Roadmaster, big enough for him to sleep in while trying to make it as a comic. Filled with stunning photographs of the whole cars and of the exquisite details that make car lovers’ hearts beat just a little faster, as well as more than 80 personal stories, it’s a joy for every reader who knows that a car is never just a car.

Ten creepy monsters met ’neath a gnarled pine. One blew away, And then there were nine. And so the countdown begins . . . A mummy, a witch, a ghost, a werewolf, a vampire, and others all gather, but one by one their crowd diminishes. At last there is only one creepy monster left. But what kind of monster is it? Squeals of laughter are sure to accompany the reading of this book from bestselling illustrator Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis, as 10 creepy monsters set out for fun. Praise for Ten Creepy Monsters "Armstrong-Ellis injects just the right amount of humor into her portrayals of the ghoulish bunch, keeping the tone appropriately light." —Kirkus Reviews "Generously detailed acrylics provide a touch of nefarious charm, while a tender surprise ending should gratify trick-or-treaters." —Publishers Weekly "Fun for Halloween or for counting anytime." —School Library Journal "Armstrong-Ellis’ textured images, full of spooky spirit and clever detail, add to the fun. A happy Halloween outing." —Booklist "With rich language and a delightfully dark nighttime palette, this pleasing rhyme begs to be acted out or performed with puppets. The illustrations are appropriately ghoulish." —BookPage "A perfect Halloween read-aloud but a great way to relieve malaise on any day, this picture book also helps young readers learn to count as the monsters fall by the wayside in gruesome fashion." —Reading Today Online "Author/artist Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis clearly had fun crafting this silly, lighthearted Halloween tale of monsters who disappear..." —The Seattle Times "Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis delivers a delightful rhyming lesson in subtraction." —USA Today

I’m not the princess they think I am. I fell out of the sky and into a new world only to be attacked by a monster. The people here think I’m the daughter of the Nimali dragon king. When the king assigns me a healer, I learn the truth of this place. Bloody battles rage between the Nimali and the Fai as their war advances. The healer hates me for who he thinks I am. He’s a Fai captive in this land. But a string pulls me to him whenever he’s near. Every touch. Every look. Every stolen moment. The Nimali have no tolerance for outsiders. If they find out I’m not their princess, they will kill me. She is the daughter of my greatest enemy. I’m a Fai warrior, doing the bidding of the Nimali king to heal the princess. This is the penalty of war. Secretly, I work with the rebellion to free my people. Nimali are everything I hate. The princess is everything I despise. Cold. Aloof. Uncaring. Up close, she’s nothing like I thought. I don’t expect to crave her. I don’t expect the spark between us. Our souls calling to one another. I am a prisoner. She is a princess. Our lies are the only thing keeping us alive. Savage City is a dystopian, enemies-to-lovers, portal, shifter fantasy romance with intriguing worldbuilding and thrilling action.

An exciting new picture book-perfect for the little monster in your life! Everybody knows monsters can be...well, MONSTERS. But did you know sometimes even monsters get scared? They can be sad, they can be kind, they can miss their mommies. Sometimes, they're just plain silly. And even monsters need to brush their teeth! A funny and family-friendly picture book by innovative author/illustrator A. J. Smith, who combines traditional storytelling with exciting interactive digital components.

"Part fiction and part deranged educational film strip, Monsters focuses both on the physical symptoms and the traumatic emotional damage of an STD that rarely affects two people the same way. Following his acclaimed collection of short comics, Welcome to the Dahlhouse, Ken Dahl cements his status as one of the best cartoonists of his generation with this brutally honest account of disease and self-acceptance."--Amazon.com

Instant New York Times Bestseller! From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes an electrifying fantasy romance, perfect for fans of Holly Black and Victoria Aveyard. A desperate prince. A daring outlaw. A dangerous flirtation. In the Wilds of Kandala, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade has been watching people suffer for too long. A mysterious sickness is ravaging the land and the cure, Moonflower Elixir, is only available for the wealthy. So every night, she defies the royal edicts and sneaks out, stealing Moonflower petals and leaving the elixir for those in need. In the palace of Kandala, Prince Corrick serves as the King's Justice, meting out vicious punishments and striking fear into the hearts of agitators and outlaws. Corrick knows he must play this role convincingly--with a shortage of elixir and threats of rebellion looming ever closer, the King's grip on power is tenuous at best, and Corrick knows his brother is the kingdom's best hope for survival. But when an act of unspeakable cruelty brings the royal and the outlaw face to face, the natural enemies are faced with an impossible choice--and a surprising spark. Will they follow their instincts to destroy each other? Or will they save the kingdom together . . . and let that spark ignite?

A funny story to help children talk about their worries.