Lois Lowry

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth.

"In this tongue-in-cheek take on classic themes in children's literature, the four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny"--Title verso page.

"Estrild is not like the other girls in her village; she wants to be a warrior. Varick, the orphan boy who helps train her in spite of his twisted back, also stands apart. In a world where differences are poorly tolerated, just how much danger are they in? Inspired by the true discovery of the two-thousand-year-old Windeby bog body in Northern Germany, master storyteller Lois Lowry breathes life back into the Windeby Child, left in the bog to drown...

Anastasia's tenth year has some good things (like falling in love and really getting to know her grandmother) and some bad things (like finding out about an impending baby brother).

Using family photographs and quotes from her books, the author provides glimpses into her life.

Anastasia is hesitant to accept new surroundings when her family moves, but she soon learns moving means not only saying good-bye, but also making new friends.

"In 1918, as the Great War rages in Europe, the Spanish influenza tears a brutal path across the United States, leaving devastation in its wake. Ordinary life is turned upside down as schools are closed, and all spheres of public life are shut down. Suddenly, eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her older brother, Daniel, find themselves orphans of the flu, and are taken by their grieving uncle to be raised in the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake....

Her family's new organized schedule for easy housekeeping makes thirteen-year-old Anastasia confident that she can run the household while her mother is out of town, until she hits unexpected complications.

Sam is able to help his sister Anastasia with the poem she is writing for their mother's birthday, but his own efforts to create a special perfume are disastrous.