Ember and his pet friends come face-to-face with the most bizarre pet yet: an evil axolotl!Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Ember comes face-to-face with truly the st...

This set includes the first 3 books in the Raina Sun Mystery Series. For readers who like cozy mysteries, quirky characters, a dash of humor, and Chinese-American culture.Raining Men and CorpsesGraduate student Raina Sun is on a quest to collect an outstanding loan from her college advisor. When she stumbles on his dead body, she becomes the prime suspect. And the only man she ever loved reappears as the lead detective and wants to reignite their passion (o...

When it rains, it pours … and this amateur sleuth may be in over her head.Graduate student Raina Sun is trying to keep her head above water as the bills roll in when her dashing college adviser cons her out of several months of rent. Her quest to retrieve the money sets in motion a streak of even worse luck.First, she stumbles on her advisor's dead body and becomes a suspect in his murder. Next, the only man she's ever loved reappears as the lead detective to the case. Rain...

How far will you go for your ‘Happily Ever After’?It has been eight years since the Nutcracker has defeated the Mouse King, and he is still a cursed doll. The Nutcracker’s one desire is to break the curse, allowing him to take his rightful place as King and make Marie his queen. But nothing has worked.The Nutcracker grows more and more desperate as time runs out and Marie begins to move away from him. One day, he uncovers a dark secret about his kingdom and decides...

In an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation and global crises, how can we envision a more stable and inclusive planetary order? This pioneering volume calls for a radical rethinking of international relations—moving beyond the Westphalian state system to embrace a civilizational dialogue rooted in shared histories, values, and mutual concern.The collection brings together leading scholars to explore the idea of tianxia (All under heaven) as a conceptual and moral framew...

The acclaimed national and international bestseller“Epic, romantic, and enthralling from start to finish.”—Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series“An all-consuming work of literary fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its suspense."—BookPage, starred reviewA captivating and romantic debut epic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese...

A coming of age story about growing up and finding love - perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.In a small café in Hsinchu, Taiwan, everyone is waiting for something. Whether it's love, a second chance or a sign of something greater. More than just an ordinary coffee shop; this is a place for serendipitous encounters.Si-ying, a young woman working at the café, harbours a secret crush on the hand...

A BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICKAN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEWINNER OF THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZE AND THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZETeoh Yun Ling was seventeen years old when she first heard about Aritomo and the garden. But a war would come to Malaya, and a decade pass before she would travel to see him. A man of extraordinary skill and reputation, Aritomo was once the gardener f...

Yvette Tan, one of the Philippines’ most celebrated horror writers, returns with her second short story collection. Two friends adapt in a zombie-infested Angeles City. At Luneta Park, a girl and a young tikbalang begin their journey to save the last moon. A brothel in Poblacion offers an expecting father pleasures he cannot resist. And in the titular story, an American unwittingly purchases a mail-order bride from the mystical island of Siquijor. From stories of youthful charm with supern...

War's Whispering Melody is an epic historical novel of love, music, memory, and survival, set against one of the most turbulent periods in Indonesian history.War arrives without warning, shattering the life of Herman Hirschfeld, a young musician whose family has lived in Semarang for generations. When the Japanese Empire occupies the Dutch East Indies, Herman and his family are forced into a civilian internment camp, leaving behind their home, their music shop, and the world they h...

Wherever I am, wherever you are - I will come for youLife in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has only survived as a skilled thief and an even better liar. But when she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the ey...

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTIONA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA FINANCIAL TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, NEW YORKER AND WASHINGTON POST BOOK OF THE YEARWillie Somerset Maugham is one of the greatest writers of the early twentieth century. But in 1921 he is beleaguered by an unhappy marriage, ill-health and business interests that have gone badly awry....