Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a little-known but historically significant movement in America’s past—and it includes a special PS section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse... As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life—answers that will ultimately free them both. Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

"Readers who enjoyed Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants will embrace this novel. " —Library Journal"Secrets, lies, treachery, and passion.... I read this novel in a headlong rush." —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan TrainA powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep... When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her...

An epic novel that elevates its acclaimed author to a whole new level, The Orphan Master's Son is a stunning work of fiction that follows a young man's undercover journey in the world's most mysterious dictatorship, North Korea.Pak Jun Do is the haunted son of a lost mother--a singer "stolen" to Pyongyang--and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. There the boy is given his first taste of power, picking which orphans eat first and which will be lent out for manual labor. Recognized for his loyalty and keen instincts, Jun Do comes to the attention of superiors in the state, rises in the ranks, and starts on a road from which there will be no return--and that can end only in freedom or death.Considering himself "a humble citizen of the greatest nation in the world," Jun Do becomes a tunnel soldier, trained in the art of zero-light combat, then a professional kidnapper who in turn lies low and lets others impose identities...

Seven Wonders Journals: The Orphan by Peter Lerangis has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Movie men have come to Chincoteague to film the annual Pony Penning, and Paul and Maureen are thrilled—until they learn that the producers want to buy their beloved Misty. Reluctantly, they agree to sell in order to send their uncle to college. But how will they ever fill the lonely place that Misty leaves behind? Finding an orphaned colt helps Paul and Maureen deal with their loss, and they soon discover that little Sea Star needs them just as much as they need him.

Milo's Louisiana bayou is overrun with alien bug invaders and magical creatures in this start to a breathtaking series from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry. In a world filled with Bugs - monsters that ceaselessly ravage the Earth - Milo Silk has a hard time keeping his dreams separate from reality. So he keeps them locked up in his dream journal and hopes they'll never come to pass. But too often, they do - like when his father disappeared three years ago. Lately, the Witch of the World has been haunting his dreams, saying he is destined to be the hero who saves everyone. But all Milo can think about is how he fears the Bugs will attack his own camp, and bring something even more terrible than ever before. What Milo doesn't know is that the Earth is already fighting back with its own natural power in the form of Nightsiders, magical creatures who prefer shadows to sunlight and who reside in trees, caves, and rivers. And the Nightsiders are ready to find an ally in Milo!

This collection brings together three of Maggie Hope's most powerful novels:Orphan GirlWorkhouse ChildAn Orphan's SecretThese emotional tales of orphans overcoming terrible hardships may bring a tear to your eye, but they'll also bring warmth to your heart...

The rise of a young Songkeeper could be not only her demise but her homeland's. When forces seek to silence her, the fate of Leira rests on one orphan's song.

As he shared the bed with four boys in the workhouse, Gid Cobbler knew he would never be a thief like his father and he would never face the hangman. He would never be like him.Flatley's Undertakers was to be Gid's salvation and the root of many childhood nightmares. Rescued from the workhouse to work among the dead and to lead the funeral processions as the mute, Gid learnt his place quickly. He often regarded the young Martha Flatley as his buffer against the cruelty of her twin brothers, but he had never been able to read her emotions or her intent.He would never have thought that breaking the rules of his employment to speak to the mourning girl with the magical eyes would lead him down such a strange road.Abigail Gresham became the obsession of his dreams.Miss Gresham had Haverstock House all to herself now that she had buried the last of her family. She would need someone to keep her company; someone to be devoted to her alone. The mute would do just fine, and she would have him, she had decided, she would do anything to keep him close just as her mother had demanded on her deathbed.But Gid's meandering road had not ended, and the smog thickened on London’s grimy streets, Gid wasn’t sure of the path that he would tread. Would the path he choose end up breaking his heart?

Left all alone when her parents die, Sadie dreams of a new start away from Philadelphia. When she answers an ad from Alex, a widower in New Mexico, she believes she has met the man she is destined to marry.When she arrives in New Mexico to meet Alex and his infant daughter, he is cold and distant towards her. A shocked Sadie soon learns the reason for Alex's demeanor. She knows she must leave but when tragedy strikes, Sadie realizes there is no going back to the life she once led.

From the author of the bestselling The Pearler's Wife, a riveting novel of seventeenth-century romance and intrigue.In 1683 life is gruelling for the young women in Amsterdam's civic orphanage. The sole light in Johanna Timmerman's existence is her forbidden love for Frans, an orphan in the boys' section who has a smile like sunshine. Then he is gone, whisked across the globe to the Dutch East India Company's nascent colony at Good Hope.Floriane Peronneau's privileged world is pleasant and fulfilling until she discovers that it is all built on lies. Far from being the devoted gentleman he seems, her husband Claes is a womanizing degenerate who has led them to the edge of ruin. And the forces are closing in on him. While Johanna's love drives her to make a shocking bargain to secure passage to the Cape, Floriane is caught in a terrifying game of cat and mouse. The two women's lives could not be more different. Yet, on the long, dangerous voyage to the...

An orphaned boy, uncontrollable magic, and a destiny to recover a nation’s honor. For sixteen-year-old Ren, life was a brutal slog in the orphanage. His only aspiration was to become a sorcerer. But with no family connections, he had no chance... Until, a freak magical accident drew the attention of international authorities. Will Ren evade the authorities, and take his one chance to pass the ritual required to join the Amethyst sorcerers? Or will his low birth doom him and the world? _______________________ Orphan’s Price is the first book in the Chronicles of the Seventh Realm, an epic fantasy series comprised of episodic short reads. Ren may be the “chosen one”, but Chronicles of the Seventh Realm is a sprawling series of characters with many tales to explore. This is the first book of Ren’s Tale.

An orphaned boy, uncontrollable magic, and a destiny to recover a nation’s honor. For sixteen-year-old Ren, life was a brutal slog in the orphanage. His only aspiration was to become a sorcerer. But with no family connections, he had no chance... Until, a freak magical accident drew the attention of international authorities. Will Ren evade the authorities, and take his one chance to pass the ritual required to join the Amethyst sorcerers? Or will his low birth doom him and the world? _______________________ Orphan’s Price is the first book in the Chronicles of the Seventh Realm, an epic fantasy series comprised of episodic short reads. Ren may be the “chosen one”, but Chronicles of the Seventh Realm is a sprawling series of characters with many tales to explore. This is the first book of Ren’s Tale.

Lana and May are a very long way from home. Their Nigerian parents have emigrated to England in search of a better life for their family. Nineteen Fifties London is a great adventure to the girls but not always welcoming. There are signs in windows of lodging houses warning: 'no blacks, no dogs, no Irish'.When tragedy strikes and the girls lose their father, their mother is unable to cope. When she fails to recover from the surprise birth of another child all three girls are sent to an orphanage. Lana is determined to keep her sisters together but when baby Tina gets adopted, she must admit their family is about to be torn apart – perhaps for ever...

Ashley and Geoff fight to survive on District 13, the Angel City Orphanage and Juvenile Detention Center; run by teen gangs and governed by a pack of serial killers, preying on the otherwise helpless children.Ashley is now 15, and her parents have returned from the dead - only to be killed again, on her birthday!Ashley and Geoff are sent to a hell-hole of an orphanage, where they must fight to survive. Gangs rule the district with terror and violence, but Ashley kneels for no one.

A Sunday Times bestseller!Two women, bound by a child, and a secret that will change everything . . .London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate newborn at the Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the daughter she has never known. Dreading the worst, that she has died in care, she is astonished to discover someone pretending to be Bess has already claimed her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl—and why.Less than a mile from Bess's poor lodgings, in a quiet Georgian townhouse, lives Alexandra, a reclusive young widow. When her close friend—an ambitious doctor at the orphanage—persuades her to hire a nursemaid to help care for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The...

Recently widowed Rodger de Jonge is losing his bond with his daughters. He's a man of the African bush, and coping with 'girlie feelings' was always Helene's department, not his. When an orphaned baby elephant is found, Rodger sees an opportunity that might help him reconnect with his children. But interfering with the orphan goes against his usual conservation methods. It will require a new approach to save both the baby and his family.

The USA Today bestseller is back with a brand new gripping and heartfelt historical novel! Could the shifting winds of change finally carry Kitty home? After five long years of endless warfare, Red Cross nurse Kitty Pattison has seen her share of heartbreak and loss. And now, with her beloved fiancé Dr Michael McCarthy recuperating from a head injury across the ocean in Canada, and her dear friends Trixie and Jo scattered to the four corners of the war effort, it's harder than ever to battle through the heavy-hearted moments that mark the passing days. But as she tends to the lost and wounded, Kitty finds a resilience of spirit within herself she never thought imaginable. Because with everything the war has taken from her, it has also given her a conviction that it can never destroy the things that really matter in life – love, friendship, and hope.

"Mystical, magical, and wildly original...If Alice Hoffman and Sara Addison Allen had a witchy love child, she would be Paige Crutcher. Do not miss this beautifully realized debut!"—- JT Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Her Dark Lies on The Orphan Witch.A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found. Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. To someone. However, Persephone is as strange as she is lonely. Unexplainable things happen when she's around—changes in weather, inanimate objects taking flight—and those who seek to bring her into their family quickly cast her out. To cope, she never gets attached, never makes friends. And she certainly never dates. Working odd jobs and always keeping her suitcases half-packed, Persephone is used to moving around, leaving one town for...

Speak of pain, and I'll tell you of the Time who stole it away... Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood. So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king's been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change... And what she cannot. Unfortunately, Time Heirs have a history of getting killed, and with Okarria's future on the line, Emara may have no choice but to follow in her ancestors' footsteps.

From the bestselling and award-winning author of novels Bone and Steer Toward Rock, Fae Myenne Ng's Orphan Bachelors is an extraordinary memoir of her beloved San Francisco's Chinatown and of a family building a life in a country bent on their exclusionIn pre-Communist China, Fae Myenne Ng's father memorized a book of lies and gained entry to the United States as a stranger's son, evading the Exclusion Act, an immigration law which he believed was meant to extinguish the Chinese American family. During the McCarthy era, he entered the Confession Program in a failed attempt to salvage his marriage only to have his citizenship revoked to resident alien. Exclusion and Confession, America's two slamming doors. As Ng's father said, "America didn't have to kill any Chinese, the Exclusion Act ensured none would be born."Ng was her parents' precocious first born, the translator, the bossy eldest sister. A child raised by a seafaring father and...

A touch of George RR Martin, a dash of Jacqueline Carey, a sprinkle of Tolkien, and a hint of Lloyd Alexander."Masterful story telling. Amazing detail. Fresh and inventive characters. Grade A, all the way." - Adavanced Reader Copy Review Orphaned and raised on a hamlet far from anything interesting, Tristan wishes he was anywhere - and anyone - else.  With no name of his own or surety of place in a society that values both, he longs for something he has earned rather than the life his scholarly ward father has planned for him.  Rumors of a possible war with the distant Kingdom of Merid - along with tales of a fearsome warlord known only as the Horned Knight - fan his desire to earn the name, prestige, and recognition he might otherwise be denied. When an arrogant nobleman pays a visit to his home of Dorishad to consult with ward parents, great events and secrets are discussed...and Tristan is both insulted and excluded before being left behind.  Unprepared and ignorant of the world beyond his home, he takes his destiny into his own hands and breaks the one rule that has governed his life: never to step foot past the borders of the hamlet of Dorishad. A chance encounter with a strange nobleman turns Tristan into a pawn in a game against the mysterious Grand Duchess of Anahar - a game few even know is being played, and one with far-reaching geopolitical ramifications.  Aided by by a Hillffolk wildman, an unlucky bard, and a nervous woman claiming to be a political prisoner, Tristan must escape imprisonment and survive the most dangerous adventure he never imagined...the journey home. The first novel in Chronicles of the Fall, Orphan is a character-focused novel with adult themes and content that set the stage for events of the complete saga. 

In 1914, Hell's Kitchen is an apt name for New York City's grittiest neighborhood, as one of the city's first policewomen, Louise Faulk, is about to discover when the death of a young prostitute leads her on a grim journey through the district's darkest corners . . . Filthy, dangerous, and deadly—Hell's Kitchen is no place for a lady, but Louise Faulk is no ordinary woman. The amateur investigator turned rookie policewoman is investigating the death of young prostitute, Ruthie, who leaves behind a baby boy. Although detectives are quick to declare it a suicide, Louise is less certain after she discovers clues implying murder while attempting to find a caretaker for Ruthie's orphaned son. Uncovering the truth won't be easy, especially since Louise is struggling to make a name for herself amid the boys' club of the New York City Police Department. But Ruthie's case keeps tugging at Louise, luring her beyond the slums'...

From the secret files of Dr. Delphine Cormier, comes this ultimate guide to all of the characters, conspiracies, and shadowy organizations in the smart, innovative BBC America television thriller Orphan Black.Designed to resemble the classified files and notes of Dr. Delphine Cormier, this in-world compendium chronicles the inner workings of the mysterious people and organizations at the heart of the acclaimed hit television series Orphan Black. A detailed and creative look at the thrilling international hit series, Orphan Black Classified Clone Report includes detailed dossiers of Sarah Manning, Felix Dawkins, and all of the show's beloved characters; examines every twist and turn from season one to the present; provides exclusive information on the Dyad Institute, the Neolution clone program, and the notorious Proletheans; and features observations of the different clones from their monitors, classified intelligence, breakthroughs in Cosima's research, and private...

Clarence Edward Mulford was a 20th century American writer who was popular in his time for stories about the Wild West, and his Westerns are still popular today.

The historical adult debut novel by # 1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate, The Orphan's Song is a sweeping love story about family and music—and the secrets each hold—that follows the intertwined fates of two Venetian orphansVenice, 1736. Violetta has a secret: When she climbs out of her window at The Hospital of the Incurables, the revered music school and orphanage that has always been her home, she can look out over the city and dream. But when she stumbles upon Mino, a violinist from the boy's hall who also seeks solace in the skyline, she feels a surprising connection. The two begin a passionate duet that will transform their lives.Yet, as Mino becomes determined to find his lost mother, and Violetta's desire to sing in the ospedale's famous coro make clear she can never leave its walls, they find their love torn in two. Known as the "city of masks," Venice is the perfect place to hide one's heart, but as...

A warrior from a lost battle comes across a caravan where all are slain, except a small girl. He takes the girl with him but not before she retrieves her father's sword and book of fairy tales. He teaches her how to use the sword. When the girl grows up she takes the path of revenge and begins a journey to find her identity, to find out who she really is.

A heartbreaking story of one child's courage, from the bestselling author of The Orphan's of Halfpenny Street. Ella has never known love. Left as a baby outside the workhouse, Ella has only ever been treated with unkindness; especially from the hateful guardians of the workhouse, who hold the fate of the inmates in their cruel hands.When she is sold as a scullery maid to a new home, Ella hopes for a better life. But her hopes are dashed as she struggles to do all the work heaped on her thin shoulders by her brutish master.Daring to escape her harsh treatment, it isn't long before she is caught and once again finds herself at the mercy of an uncaring world. Can Ella resist giving in to despair and somehow to find the strength to carry on alone...

From the internationally bestselling author of The Secret Orphan A world at war A secret from her past A chance to be together... 'If you love Ellie Dean and Kitty Neale...It's like sticky toffee pudding on a cold winters day, a hug within a book' Reader review A moving and compelling historical novel about love, second chances and resilience in the darkest of times. Southampton 1940 Abandoned when she was tiny, Maisie Reynolds was separated from her twin brother and forced to grow up in Holly Bush orphanage – a place where she has never known love or kindness. But with the world at war and Hitler's devastating bombs coming ever closer, fate has other plans for Maisie and a secret from her past changes everything. When she meets handsome Canadian paratrooper, Cam, Maisie learns that love might not be lost to her after all – but not before her past life and D Day bring a tragic twist to her happiness. Readers are loving The Forgotten Orphan: 'Absolutely fantastic...Boy I wasn't...

Kenny Clark knows Santa is magical and only he can find his family. Kathleen Collins fights poverty and desperation every day in her bid to find new homes for the orphans of New York. But what about her happy ever after?Can the magic of Christmas bring happiness at last?

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Maiden's Voyage; perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Katie Flynn and Catherine Cookson.'Goodwin is a master of her craft. The perfect book for a cold winter's evening' Lancashire Evening Post'Goodwin is a fabulous writer' Worcester Evening News'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews1874.Growing up in extreme poverty in London, Pearl thinks life can get no worse. But when her parents discover there's yet another baby on the way, they have to tighten the belt even further. Pearl's mother decides to send her and her younger sister Eliza to the workhouse, where they are forced into a new life of hardship and struggle. Pearl's hopes are raised when the workhouse offers the sisters a new life in Canada and they...

The USA Today and Globe & Mail Canadian bestseller is back with a brand new gripping and heartfelt historical novel! Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but does nothing to heal the pain of spending every minute waiting to hear the worst... As the Second World War rages on, nurse Kitty Pattison's life takes a nomadic turn as her work with the Red Cross sees her traversing the country, moving from post to post. With her best friends Jo and Trixie also scattered across the UK, and her soldier sweetheart Michael off on the continent undertaking medical missions he can't discuss, the war takes its toll and long days are followed by sleepless nights interrupted only by nightmares of what she's seen on the wards. Now, Kitty's hopes rise and fall with the arrival of the post – the only thing that keeps her connected to her aunt and uncle, her dear friends, and her Michael – and every moment spent with those she loves is held dear, because each one could be the last...

In a poverty-stricken neighbourhood wedged between the city and the sea, a father and son struggle to keep their heads above water. Rather than being discouraged by their difficulties and hardship, their response is to come up with increasingly bizarre and imaginative plans in order to get by. Even when a horrifying, macabre event rocks the neighborhood and the locals start to flee, father and son decide to stay put. What matters is staying together.This is a bold, poignant text that juxtaposes a very tender father-son relationship with the son's sexual liberation and a brutal depiction of homophobic violence. Giuseppe Caputo uses delicate – yet electrifying – lyricism and imagery to weave a tale that balances desire, violence, discrimination, love, eroticism and defiance, while evoking with surreal humor the social marginalization of the protagonists as they struggle to keep afloat in a society where there are no safety nets.Like a brightly-lit theme park with its...

The New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns - just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back Into The Fire... Evan Smoak lives by his own code. Once he was known as Orphan X. Trained as an off-the-books government assassin and spoken about only in whispers, Evan Smoak was one of the most talented – and most feared – men in the Program. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate. If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather. Max is at the end of his rope. His cousin has been brutally murdered, leaving Max an envelope that contains nothing but a mysterious key. However, someone really wants that key, badly enough that Max – and anyone he turns to – is in deadly danger. What seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before as he heads once more Into The Fire. ** Review "Another exceptional installment in the "Orphan X" series, full of action, excitement, and adventure. A must-read for thriller fans." ―Library Journal (starred) "Spectacular...Kudos to Hurwitz for creating this series. Let's hope the Nowhere Man's phone rings again." ―Kirkus Reviews "Don't miss this one!" ―Booklist"By layering his nonstop action with character development, Hurwitz has created a terrific tale." ―Publishers Weekly About the Author GREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X books, including Out of the Dark. Critically acclaimed, his novels have graced top ten lists and have been published in 22 languages. Additionally, he’s written screenplays for and sold scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Hurwitz resides in Los Angeles.

This third book in a cli-fi series from a nationally-recognized anthropologist explores a frozen future where archaic species struggle to survive an apocalyptic Ice Age.It’s been 925 summers since the Jemen introduced zyme, a bioluminescent algae, into the world’s ocean and unwittingly triggered an Ice Age that has consumed most of the planet.  All but a handful of Jemen flew to the stars, but before they left, they recreated several extinct species that had thrived in the last Ice Age. After almost a thousand summers, the archaic hominins that struggle along the edges of massive glaciers are dwindling.  All they have to save them is a dying quantum computer called Quancee and her student, a Denisovan man named Lynx. When the last Jemen, Vice Admiral Jorgenson, tells Lynx he’s going to dismantle Quancee and use her parts to create a new computer, Lynx is stunned.  He can’t let Jorgenson kill Quancee! Meanwhile, in the...

For fans of Eowyn Ivey, Rose Tremaine, and Kate Atkinson, The Orphan of Salt Winds is a bewitching debut about the secrets that haunt us.England, 1939. Ten-year-old Virginia Wrathmell arrives at Salt Winds, a secluded house on the edge of a marsh, to meet her adoptive parents—practical, dependable Clem and glamorous, mercurial Lorna. The marsh, with its deceptive tides, is a beautiful but threatening place. Virginia's new parents' marriage is full of secrets and tensions she doesn't quite understand, and their wealthy neighbor, Max Deering, drops by too often, taking an unwholesome interest in the family's affairs. Only Clem offers a true sense of home. War feels far away among the birds and shifting sands—until the day a German fighter plane crashes into the marsh, and Clem ventures out to rescue the airman. What happens next sets into motion a crime so devastating it will haunt Virginia for the rest of her life. Seventy-five years later,...

Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan, the latest New York Times bestselling Orphan X thriller—when everything changes and everything is at risk.As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised and trained as an off-the-books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the program and went deep underground, he left with a lot of secrets in his head that the government would do anything to make sure never got out. When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the government's radar. Having eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the government will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat they see in Evan. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers.Until he makes one little mistake...Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal - eliminate a...

In the dystopian world of New America, all Eric Skye and his twin sister Melina want is to keep a low profile; to blend in with the rest of the orphans. To be left alone would be asking too much—orphans have to be put to some use, after all. But that's all right. As long as they're together, and each knows the other is safe, then working as slaves salvaging scrap metal suits them just fine. But when Melina is taken away to Commerce City and Eric is forced to join the militia, they both know that something is very, very wrong. They've both heard of the City's scientists and the endless, strange experiments they perform. Eric has to find Melina. He has to get her back.

The Orphan's Daughter is a novel about a woman who grows up in the shadow of her charismatic but troubled father, a man shaped by his boyhood in a Depression-era Jewish orphanage. The two life stories are woven together to form the fabric of this funny and suspenseful work of literary fiction.Clyde Aronson survives the cruelties of the seemingly bucolic orphanage but is left scarred. Brilliant and self-destructive, a popular high-school teacher and a callous womanizer, he yearns for a son to replace the relationship lost when his father abandoned him. Instead, he fathers two daughters. He resents most the one who most resembles him: the younger, Joanna.Joanna Aronson is thirty, alienated and living in Southern California when she learns of her father's puzzling illness. She returns home to Baltimore to help care for him. In the process, the two reconcile; Joanna struggles to come to terms with her own difficult history. Clyde promises to leave Joanna his collected...

A bold and daring cop.A passionate human rights lawyer.And a deadly terror plot.It's love at first sight for DIG Ajay Rajvardhan of the National Investigation Agency when he sees attractive young lawyer Asiya Khan in court, defending a young woman the NIA has arrested on charges of terrorism. They are on opposite sides - he specializes in taking down terrorists while she defends those wrongfully arrested by the authorities - but he finds he is unable to get her out of his head.Even as Ajay and Asiya are drawn closer, a web of crime, deception and intrigue weaves itself around them and threatens to take them down. A serial killer is on the loose, murdering India's most famous nuclear scientists one by one. And something far worse is brewing in the bylanes of Mumbai. Time is running out for Ajay and his associates, Deputy Commissioner Sagar Pratap and Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, to find the mastermind...

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress comes a World War II novel that spans continents and crosses generations as an American soldier and an enterprising Vogue photographer brave war-torn France to help a lost little girl find the one thing she never had: a family. New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. Journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules. Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And most important of all, the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price...France, 2005: Fifty years after World War II, D'Arcy...

The compelling new book from the author of The Girl in the Ragged Shawl and The Orphans of Halfpenny Street Danny gets a terrible start in life and runs away from his drunken father when he thrashes him to within an inch of his life. But life on the streets is no better and he falls into the clutches of evil men, finding that being big and strong for his age is no protection from the people who want to do him harm.Help comes in the form of Constable Jones, who is determined to help out the children who need it, and new friends Ron and Cassie, who are also runaways. Can Danny's dream of a loving home ever be a reality?

‘I love this book! I couldn’t stop reading… Beautiful but also emotional (have tissues close by!!!)... Your heart just aches for the characters...’ On My Bookshelf, 5 stars A heartbreaking, unputdownable and utterly unforgettable story of two young sisters cruelly abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will lose their hearts to this stunning World War Two novel. 1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – and they are confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most. 1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them. But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with. Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again? Readers are losing their hearts to The Orphan Sisters: ‘Perfect… I could not put it down… Had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had!... Will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready! Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘What a beautiful story! Had me in tears from the very beginning. I couldn't put this one down.’ A Book With Review, 5 stars ‘Outstanding... I absolutely loved this superb page turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Make sure you have tissues handy… The story is heartbreaking with a little happiness thrown in… Worthy of 5* and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Promises to keep you turning the pages as your heart attempts not to break. A book you will lose yourself in!’ All The Good Books ‘A gorgeous character-driven, coming-of-age story about family bonds, love, and hardships of war. Exceptionally beautiful… I have already recommended the book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A beautifully written coming-of-age story… I didn’t want to put down… Tugs at your heart strings.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I love the story… A tale of family, heartbreaks, and forgiveness!... The characters are wonderful... The book is written so beautifully!... It's not a story I will soon forget! I definitely recommend this book to others!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Emotional and inspiring.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Superb!... A page turner of a read as I was so engrossed… The Orphan Sisters is a compelling and emotional story that will tug on the readers’ heartstrings.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘Have a Kleenex nearby!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A beautifully sad story… Beautifully written and ready to capture the reader’s heart.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A heartbreaking story of hope, sisterly love and support, and the devastating effects of war. I loved this book from the beginning – I was recommending it at only 20% in!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Brilliant... Beautifully written.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars **

London, 1940When tragedy strikes, Libby Gilbert is left homeless and destitute, fending for herself on the capital's most dangerous streets.Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Libby is on the cusp of making a decision that could jeopardise her future when a local boy saves her from ruin.The kindness of this stranger sets her on a different path, and Libby heads to Liverpool with a determined mind and hope in her heart.There, she reconnects with long lost family - but will she be able to uncover the truth that tore them apart all those years ago?WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN:'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy''Hard to put down''Her characters are like old friends''Heartwarming romance'

An ancient science unearthed...an orphaned robot discovered...and the shades of fate forged across the gravelands of a forgotten realm.  The live-wired, paranormal-fantasy adventure tells the tale of an orphaned robot and its strange journey to try and help save a forgotten and spellbound realm from the sinister sorcery of a wicked witch.  It's an adventure hammered with mayhem, madness, and magical mystery!Review "...This is the book you want! The characters have a presence about them that I have been hard pressed to find in other books that would be suitable for readers of all ages. I am in love with these three books and will read them again and again!"                                                                                                              - Bex 'N' Books review. About the AuthorAn author and graduate in fine arts from the University of Arizona, Joseph writes books and screenplays, and is an avid supporter of animal rescue and protection. A follower of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, horror, history, and mythology. Books authored by Joseph Beekman are "A Tail Spun" and "The Complete Trilogy of Little Orphan Anvil", which include: "Little Orphan Anvil, A Tale of Magic and Metal"; "Little Orphan Anvil, The Shades of Fate"; and "Little Orphan Anvil, The Gravelands of Fate". - All these books are published in the fantasy/science fiction/paranormal genres. Also available is a short collection of poems titled "Shades in Shadows". Joseph currently lives in the "Wild West" of Arizona.

Combining the gentleness of Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Nicole M. Hewitt's debut middle-grade novel, The Song of Orphan's Garden, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.In an arctic world that's getting colder every day, Lyriana's only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan's Garden. It's rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan's Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter's pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won't live much longer without it.Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it's a death sentence. Orphan's Garden is his...

War rages, but the women and children of Liverpool's Dr Barnado's Home cannot give up hope. What more could you wish for than a poignant, heart-warming saga to read this Christmas? LIVERPOOL, 1943Yorkshire is the place Lana has always called home, but it's now filled with painful memories of her fiancé, Dickie, who was killed at sea. When she accepts the challenging position of headmistress at a school in Liverpool, she hopes a new beginning will help to mend her broken heart. A BATTLE TO FIGHTNot everyone at Bingham Hall is happy about her arrival but Lana throws herself into the role, teaching children from the local village and the nearby Dr Barnardo's orphanage. She thrives in her work, but soon finds herself falling for a man who she would once have considered the enemy – and is torn between what she knows is right, and taking a risk that might see her lose everything. THE STRENGTH TO HOPEThere are children that desperately need her help, and Lana must fight for everyone's...

In Archer Mayor's enthralling The Orphan's Guilt, a simple drunk driving arrest snowballs into a homicide investigation, as Joe Gunther and his VBI team peel back layer upon layer of history to learn the long-hidden truth.John Rust is arrested for drunk driving at a routine stop by a Vermont state trooper. Looking to find mitigating circumstances, his lawyer hires a private eye to look into the recent death of the driver's younger brother. The brother died at twenty-eight due to medical issues arising from a childhood brain injury. But then it's revealed that the brain injury was the result of shaken baby syndrome, rendering his death a murder—bringing in Joe Gunther and his Vermont Bureau of Investigation team. But that murder quickly becomes more than an ancient tale of avarice, betrayal, and murder as the vengeful memories of parties unknown are stirred to the point of violence. As the original subject, John Rust, disappears, Joe Gunther and...

(3800 words) A pair of fantasy stories wherein an orphan's curse brings about the death of a ship's captain, but the captain's dying curse is worse. (Yes, the title is from that poem by Coleridge) In the sequel, “Dead Man's Ashes”, Dar, a young thief, is sent into the darkest part of the city by Peli, King of the Beggars, to recover the ashes of the man who cursed him, so he can exact his revenge.The cool sand in the Dunes is comforting to a young girl as she seeks to find her goddess and finds a Sun God instead. A walk barefoot reveals cool secrets and a lakeshore ramble results in a myriad of butterflies. Inspirational.

From the internationally bestselling author of What She Left Behind, a powerful tale of upheaval, resilience and hope set in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak—the deadly pandemic that went on to infect one-third of the world's population... In the fall of 1918, thirteen-year-old German immigrant Pia Lange longs to be far from Philadelphia's overcrowded slums and the anti-immigrant sentiment that compelled her father to enlist in the U.S. Army. But as her city celebrates the end of war, an even more urgent threat arrives: the Spanish flu. Funeral crepe and quarantine signs appear on doors as victims drop dead in the streets and desperate survivors wear white masks to ward off illness. When food runs out in the cramped tenement she calls home, Pia must venture alone into the quarantined city in search of supplies, leaving her baby brothers behind. Bernice Groves has become lost in grief and bitterness since her...

Heartache and hardship in London's East End, from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street St Saviours children's home in London's East End has provided a safe refuge for local children for decades and Sister Beatrice and her team are as busy as ever.New staff member Jinny is glad to escape the lewd advances of her drunken and slovenly mother's rotten boyfriends, but can she prove she isn't a chip off the old block?As ever, the staff are tested when orphaned brother and sister Andy and Beth are brought to the home – they are clearly terrified of something, and Andy refuses to be sent home, but can Sister Beatrice get to the bottom of their story before they are returned to their stepfather?It's all in a day's work for the home – but things are about to change forever – will they be ready to face the future?

Brothers Theodore and Rollie are excited to welcome their father home from fighting in the American civil war. The excitement is short lived and in a matter of days the two boys find themselves standing on the front steps of an orphanage. They try to adjust to life without parents, but as soon as they begin to make friends and get comfortable, the entire orphanage is marched through town and loaded onto a train that will take them all around the country to be adopted. Theodore promised his mother that he would look after his younger brother, but when Rollie gets adopted without him, he wonders if he can keep that promise. Jumping from the train, running from deadly snakes, and meeting people from walks of life he's only ever read about all await him as he begins an 80-mile adventure that he can only pray will lead back to his brother.

WINNER, DA VINCI EYE AWARD FOR COVER DESIGN, THE ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARDSHONORABLE MENTION, E-BOOK NONFICTION, THE ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARDSFINALIST, E-BOOK NONFICTION, THE NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDSFINALIST, MEMOIRS (Overcoming Adversity), THE NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDSFrom 1854 to the early 1930s, the American Orphan Trains transported 250,000 children from the streets and orphanages of the East Coast into homes in the emerging West. Unfortunately, families waiting for the trains weren't always dreams come true–many times they were nightmares.William Walters was little more than a toddler when his sister deposited him and his brother on an Orphan Train heading to destinations unknown. Separated from his brother and handed over to a cruel New Mexico couple, William faced a terrible trial. Through his strength and resilience, however, his life became a remarkable adventure.Whether he was escaping his abusers, jumping...

Winter, Liverpool 1947. Evie Kilgaren is a fighter. Abandoned by her mother and with her father long gone, she is left to raise her siblings in dockside Liverpool, as they battle against the coldest winter on record. But she is determined to make a life for herself and create a happy home for what's left of her family.Desperate for work, Evie takes a job at the Tram Tavern under the kindly watch of pub landlady, and pillar of the community, Connie Sharp. But Connie has problems of her own when her quiet life of spinsterhood is upturned with the arrival of a mysterious undercover detective from out of town.When melting ice reveals a body in the canal, things take a turn for the worst for the residents of Reckoner's Row. Who could be responsible for such a brutal attack? And can Evie keep her family safe before they strike again?A gritty, historical family drama full of laughter and tears from the author of Annie Groves'...

London, 1910. Lily is ten years old when she realises her grandmother, a washerwoman in the backstreets of London's Bermondsey, is seriously ill. She's determined to do what can she can to help and keep her grandmother's illness a secret – even from her beloved twin, Artie. But Gran isn't getting any better, and there's only so much Lily can do... When tragedy strikes and the twins are faced with the prospect of a workhouse or an orphanage, a benefactor offers to take Artie in and educate him. All Artie's needs will be taken care of – but the gentleman has no use for a girl. The twins have lost everything they knew and loved, but they never thought they'd lose each other. As the orphan twins grow up and take different paths, their new lives are beyond anything they could have imagined. Will they ever find a way to be together again? Set against the backdrop of the First World War, The Orphan Twins is the heart-wrenching new...

The Aldens visit an old Kansas inn that’s full of secrets! Nobody knows why a famous photographer visited the inn just to take a single picture. And what about the other legendary guest—a heroic young stranger who’d come west on an “orphan train?” The children discover a long-lost riddle that just might solve all these mysteries—if only they can solve it!

An epic tale of tragedy and adventure based on the experiences of the author's great-grandfather as he made his way across America during the Civil War. Told by his stepmother that he alone had been responsible for the death of his mother, abandoned by his father's earlier departure for Gold Rush California, and threatened with being locked in a cage with his psychotic step-uncle, eight-year-old Benjamin Franklin "B.F." Windes decides to abandon home and trail his father's westward path. Thus begins months of constant struggle with disease, severe weather, hardship, Indian attack, and death on his lone journey across much of what is now the United States. B.F. spends the next eleven years in gold rush towns in California—first as a barber, then as a physician's assistant—before departing for the Caribbean at age nineteen, where he becomes a blockade-runner during the American Civil War. At war's end, he discovers that the men he had...

A heart-warming and nostalgic family saga set in Cornwall at the turn of the century. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Katie Flynn.When tragedy strikes, will her family come together again? Almost a decade after being rescued from a shipwreck by a local Cornish family, sixteen-year-old Lottie is settled in St Ives with her adoptive family. But after a trip to America to meet her birth mother ends badly, Lottie fears her new life might be falling apart . . . Arriving back in Cornwall, Lottie struggles to adjust to life with her temperamental mother around, and her very arrival shakes up their quiet community. Lottie, too, faces a more difficult problem - she's hiding the secret of her first love. And soon she is forced to make a choice between her duty to her family and to her heart. As new challenges arrive for Lottie and the community in St Ives, will she and her family be able to overcome their troubles and find their way back to each...

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father who is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break. Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn't enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he's an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune. Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain? An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan's Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what "family" really means.

From the international bestselling author of The Secret Orphan When all seems lost... As Hitler's bombs rain down on a battered and beleaguered Britain, Ruby Shadwell is dealt the most devastating blow – her entire family lost during the Coventry Blitz. Hope still survives... Alone and with the city in chaos, Ruby is determined to survive this war and rebuild her life. And a chance encounter with street urchin Tommy gives Ruby just the chance she needs... And love will overcome. Because Tommy brings with him Canadian Sergeant Jean-Paul Clayton. Jean-Paul is drawn to Ruby and wants to help her, but Ruby cannot bear another loss. Can love bloom amidst the ruins? Or will the war take Ruby's last chance at happiness too?

The dead won't bother you if you don't give them permission.Boston, 1844.Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby's gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the "Resurrection Men."In the end, Tabby's gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.

Giulia has been an orphan all her life. Raised in Florence's famous Ospedale degli Innocenti, her probing questions and insubordinate behavior made her an unwelcome presence, and at the age of fifteen, she was given an awful choice: become a nun, or be married off to a man she didn't love. She chose neither, and after refusing an elderly suitor, Guilia escaped onto the streets of Florence. Now, after spending two years as a successful pickpocket, an old man catches her about to make off with his purse, and rather than having her carted off to prison he offers her a business proposition. The man claims to be a cabalist, a student of Jewish mysticism and ritual magic, who works for the most powerful families in Florence. But his identity is secret—he is known only as "the Magician of Florence"—and he is in need of an assistant. She accepts the job and begins smuggling his talismans throughout the city. But the talismans are not what they seem, and...

Adventure, intrigue, and romance combine in a new fantasy duology from Incarnate series author Jodi Meadows.When Princess Wilhelmina was a child, the Indigo Kingdom invaded her homeland. Ten years later, Wil and the other noble children who escaped are ready to fight back and reclaim Wil's throne. To do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate the Indigo Kingdom palace with hopes of gathering information that will help them succeed.But Wil has a secret—one that could change everything. Although magic has been illegal for a century, she knows her ability could help her save her kingdom. But magic creates wraith, and the deadly stuff is moving closer and destroying the land. And if the vigilante Black Knife catches her using magic, she may disappear like all the others. . . .The Orphan Queen delivers epic fantasy, perfect for fans of Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

An engaging adventure from a Newbery Honor-winning storyteller for readers who love the circus, and anyone who has dreamed of finding the perfect home.Four orphans have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who used to talk and sing. No one knows why she doesn't speak anymore; silence is her protection. The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, but she must be able to speak to them, and to warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn't find her voice, she'll be left behind when the circus goes on the rails. Meanwhile, people are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her. This lively, heartwarming novel by the award-winning author of the Tales from Alcatraz series is full of marvels and surprises.

Keep her secret Keep her safe On the 14th November 1940, Hitler's bombs rain down on Coventry. From the rubble of a bombed-out family home, a young girl is saved ... but at what cost? This is a stunning and memorable page-turner of love, loss and resilience for fans of Orphan Train and The Secret Wife As the Nazis' relentless bombs fall during the Blitz of Coventry, six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned and under the guardianship of a Cornish farmer's daughter, Elenor Cardew. Elenor knows that the only way to protect spirited Rose is to leave the city and make a new life for themselves away from harm. But soon Elenor discovers that Hitler's firestorm is not the only thing she must fear when she learns a devastating secret about Rose... With Rose's life in imminent danger, Elenor turns to the only person she can trust to keep the deadly secret, heroic Canadian pilot, Jackson St John. And amidst the destruction of war, an unlikely romance blossoms as they find a way to... As the Nazis' relentless bombs fall during the Blitz of Coventry, six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned and under the guardianship of a Cornish farmer's daughter, Elenor Cardew. Elenor knows that the only way to protect spirited Rose is to leave the city and make a new life for themselves away from harm. But soon Elenor discovers that Hitler's firestorm is not the only thing she must fear when she learns a devastating secret about Rose... With Rose's life in imminent danger, Elenor turns to the only person she can trust to keep the deadly secret, heroic Canadian pilot, Jackson St John. And amidst the destruction of war, an unlikely romance blossoms as they find a way to protect the child they have both grown to love...and each other.

The first full biography of one of the most intriguing and important spies of the twentieth century.Donald Maclean was one of the most treacherous spies of the Cold War era, a member of the infamous "Cambridge Five" spy ring. Yet little is known of this shrewd, secretive man. The full extent of his betrayal has never been documented—until now. Drawing on the recent release of previously classified files, A Spy Named Orphan meticulously documents the extraordinary story of a man leading a chilling double life until his exposure and defection to the USSR. Roland Philipps describes a man prone to alcoholic rages, who rose through the ranks of the British Foreign Office while secretly transmitting through his Soviet handlers reams of diplomatic and military secrets detailing intelligence on the making of the atom bomb and the division of power in postwar Europe. His story has inspired an entire genre of spy movies and novels, but no one so far has written the definitive...

The Aldens visit an old Kansas inn that's full of secrets! Nobody knows why a famous photographer visited the inn just to take a single picture. And what about the other legendary guest—a heroic young stranger who'd come west on an "orphan train?" The children discover a long-lost riddle that just might solve all these mysteries—if only they can solve it!

In 1855 a philanthropic young person, Miss Charlotte Smith, was escorting forty orphans to San Francisco when the ship was wrecked, and the survivors-Miss Smith, the orphans, a doctor, and some others, landed on a desert island. Those sailors who had escaped deserted them the next day in the boats. There they remained unvisited for some seventy years, with little to disturb the monotony beyond the adventures of the Doctor, who was secured in turn by Miss Smith and a shark. All this is contained in chapter one. The second chapter opens in 1922 at Cambridge, where lived the descendants of one of the sailors who deserted-a professor and his three children. A document and chart coming into the professor's hands, left by his dead grandfather, telling the story of the marooning of Miss Smith and the orphans, the professor and his family voyage out to the island and find there a thriving community, and Orphan Island is chiefly concerned with the community and the relations of it to...

Evan Smoak—government assassin gone rogue—returns in Hellbent, an engrossing, unputdownable thriller from Gregg Hurwitz, the latest in his #1 international bestselling Orphan X series.Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as an off-the-books government assassin: Orphan X. After he broke with the Orphan Program, Evan disappeared and reinvented himself as the Nowhere Man, a man spoken about only in whispers and dedicated to helping the truly desperate. But this time, the voice on the other end is Jack Johns, the man who raised and trained him, the only father Evan has ever known. Secret government forces are busy trying to scrub the remaining assets and traces of the Orphan Program and they have finally tracked down Jack. With little time remaining, Jack gives Evan his last assignment: find and protect his last protégé and recruit for the program. But Evan isn't the only one after this last...