Wondrous Journeys In Strange Lands

WINNER OF THE PRESIGIOUS ETISALAT AWARD AN ADVENTURE-FILLED HISTORICAL-FOLKLORIC NOVEL ABOUT A PALESTINIAN GIRL WHO DEVELOPS GREAT HEALING SKILLS AND TRAVELS AROUND THE REGION, SOMETIMES DRESSED AS A MAN Sonia Nimr’s award-winning Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands is a richly imagined feminist-fable-plus-historical-novel that tells an episodic travel narrative, like that of the great 14th century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, through the eyes of a clever and irrepressible young Palestinian woman. The story begins hundreds of years ago, when our hero—Qamr—is born as an outcast, at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, near her father’s strange, isolated village. Qamr’s mother must solve the mystery of why only boys are born in this odd, conservative village. Then, in 1001 Nights style, this tale moves into another. Qamr’s parents die and a prince with many wives wants to marry her. Qamr takes her favorite book, Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands, and flees through Gaza, to Egypt, where she is captured, enslaved, and sold to the sister of the mad king in Egypt. After escaping, she flees to study with a polymath in Morocco. But when it’s discovered she’s a girl, she must leave again, disguising herself as a boy pirate to sail the Mediterranean. Through all her fast-paced battles, mysteries, and adventures, Qamr never finds a home, but she does manage to create a family.

An adventure-packed historical folkloric novel about a Palestinian girl who develops great healing skills and travels around the region on a daring journey across empires. Winner of the prestigious Etisalat Award Sonia Nimr’s award-winning Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands is a richly imagined feminist-fable-plus-historical-novel that tells an episodic travel narrative, like that of the great 14th century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, through the eyes of a clever and irrepressible young Palestinian woman. The story begins hundreds of years ago, when our hero—Qamar—is born as an outcast, at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, near her father’s strange, isolated village. Qamar’s mother must solve the mystery of why only boys are born in this odd, conservative village. Then, in 1001 Nights style, this tale moves into another. Qamar’s parents die and a prince with many wives wants to marry her. Qamar takes her favorite book, Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands, and flees through Gaza, to Egypt, where she is captured, enslaved, and sold to the sister of the mad king in Egypt. After escaping, she flees to study with a polymath in Morocco. But when it’s discovered she’s a girl, she must leave again, disguising herself as a boy pirate to sail the Mediterranean. Through all her fast-paced battles, mysteries, and adventures, Qamar never finds a home, but she does manage to create a family.

Award-winning historical fantasy and literary folktale. Winner of the presigious Etisalat award. In a tent at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, hundreds of years ago, our storyteller and her twin sister are born. Her newlywed parents name her Qamr (Moon) and her sister Shams (Sun). Their small caravan is journeying from the mother's city back to the father's remote ancestral village atop the mountain. This village suffers from isolation and a curse, which her young family tries to undo. But when both her parents' lives are cut short, Qamr and her sister are left orphans. And so, Qamr decides to pursue her mother's and father's dreams of discovering the world--its people and places, ideas and stories. With the red book in hand that brought her parents together, she sets out on a daring journey, on caravans and ships, across empires. Telling stories to survive, Qamr crosses deserts and seas: to Jerusalem and Gaza; Egypt, Tangier, Andalusia and Genoa; Abyssinia, India, the Maldives and Yemen. Kidnapped by bandits, sold as a slave to the House of a mad King, studying with a polymath, disguising as a man and falling in love for the first time--with a pirate: Qamr searches irrepressibly for life, in endless stories within stories. Like the famous travel narratives of the 14th century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, Sonia Nimr's award-winning Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands is a richly imagined feminist fable and a captivating, adventure-filled historical novel.

A Little Piece Of Ground will help young readers understand more about one of the worst conflicts afflicting our world today. Written by Elizabeth Laird, one of Great Britain’s best-known young adult authors, A Little Piece Of Ground explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinian lands through the eyes of a young boy. Twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Meanwhile, Karim, trapped at home with his teenage brother and fearful parents, longs to play football with his friends. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that’s the perfect site for a football pitch. Nearby, an old car hidden intact under bulldozed building makes a brilliant den. But in this city there’s constant danger, even for schoolboys. And when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive. This powerful book fills a substantial gap in existing young adult literature on the Middle East. With 23,000 copies already sold in the United Kingdom and Canada, this book is sure to find a wide audience among young adult readers in the United States.

From the New York Times–bestselling author of Carnivores of Light and Darkness comes the second fantasy adventure in the Journeys of the Catechist saga. With his two companions—Simna ibn Sind the swordsman and the massive black cat Ahlitah—at his side, Etjole Ehomba continues his honor-driven quest to find the Visioness of Laconda. Imprisoned in the fortress of an evil necromancer, she is both her captor’s obsession and his torment. Seeking to cross the blighted Semordria Ocean, Etjole and his sidekicks find no one willing to risk its legendary monsters—until they meet a collector of rare animals. He points them to the northern realm of Hamacassar, and then drugs them in order to steal Ahlitah. Escaping the man’s conjured assassins, the trio head to the Thinking Kingdoms, across snow-covered mountains to Laconda, with danger and dark magic nipping at their heels . . . “Foster’s latest series combines elements of epic fantasy with folkloric motifs in an engaging picaresque tale of a simple man’s honor-bound journey into adventure.” —Library Journal “The story’s swift pace and Foster’s boundless imagination deliver something very different from the usual fantasy quest saga. In these magical lands, Foster shows that character and common sense can be as important, and as powerful, as any magic.” —Publishers Weekly “There’s no doubt that Alan Dean Foster is a master storyteller. I finished Into the Thinking Kingdoms in a single sitting.” —Black Gate “Splendidly packed with illustrious incidents, not to mention a protagonist who grows steadily more intriguing and enigmatic.” —Kirkus Reviews

A glowing doorway. A lost friend. Will one loyal pet turn out to be the hero of the hour? Alby the housecat has no desire for adventure. Rescued from the street by the kindly Professor Wizoom, he's grateful to be safe and lazy. But when his master vanishes through a magical door, the scaredy cat summons what little courage he has and races in after him. Stuck in a strange land of mixed-together animals, Alby teams up with an irritating froguar to locate his missing owner. But when he's mistaken for a spy, the lonely feline finds himself caught in a war between wolvaraptor pirates and noble tigeroon knights! Can the timid feline conquer his worries in time to save the day? Journey to Jumbalot is an award-winning, action-packed middle grade fantasy novel. If you like talking animals, daring deeds, and enchanted worlds, then you'll love Ryan Wakefield's illustrated quest. Buy Journey to Jumbalot to learn to be brave today!

A controversial and newsworthy story from the award-winning author of Kiss the Dust, Jake's Tower, and The Garbage King. Macmillan Children's Books is to publish at great speed a hugely topical novel by award-winning author Elizabeth Laird about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Written in collaboration with Palestinian author Sonia Nimr, A Little Piece of Ground tells the story of Karim, an ordinary twelve-year old boy, living in Ramallah under the occupation of Israeli troops. Editor, Marion Lloyd say, 'This is an exceptionally exciting and important book, which will give any child who is curious and confused about what they hear and see on TV an insight into a conflict that affects all our lives.'

The Road Within is a book of transformation, of lessons learned, maps drawn and burned, and spiritual blessings bestowed by that great and hard teacher -- travel. Learn what mystics and saints have always known -- that wondrous things await people who are in touch with themselves, with the world, and with God. Authors featured in this very different kind of travel book include Annie Dillard, Huston Smith, Natalie Goldberg, Andrew Harvey, Barry Lopez, and Bill Buford.