Showing results by narrator "Heather Corrigan" in All Categories

At an exclusive school somewhere outside of Arlington, Virginia, students aren't taught history, geography, or mathematics - at least not in the usual ways. Instead, they are taught to persuade. Here the art of coercion has been raised to a science. Students harness the hidden power of language to manipulate the mind and learn to break down individuals by psychographic markers in order to take control of their thoughts. The very best will graduate as "poets": adept wielders of language who belong to a nameless organization that is as influential as it is secretive.

In the heart of Paris, in the posh building made famous in The Elegance of Hedgehog, Pierre Athens, the greatest food critic in the world, is dying. Revered by some and reviled by many, Monsieur Arthens has been lording it over the world's most esteemed chefs for years, passing judgment on their creations, deciding their fates with a stroke of his pen, destroying and building reputations on a whim. But now, during these his final hours, his mind has turned to simpler things.

Hannah Payne awakens to a nightmare. She is lying on a table in a bare room, covered only by a paper gown, with cameras broadcasting her every move to millions at home. She is now a convicted criminal, and her skin color has been genetically altered. Her crime, according to the State of Texas: the murder of her unborn child, whose father she refuses to name. Her color: red. The color of newly shed blood.

Lacey Lancaster has always longed to be a wife and mother. However, after a painful divorce, she decides it's time to lay low for a while in her charming San Francisco apartment with her beautiful Abyssinian cat, Cleo. Everything would be wonderful, except for her utterly impossible neighbor Jack Walker. When he's not arguing day and night with his girlfriend, begging her to move in with him, he's chasing down his cat named Dog, who seems determined to get Cleo to succumb to his feline advances.

Still reeling from the deaths of her mother and sister on the Titanic, Sibyl Allston is living a life of quiet desperation with her taciturn father and scandal-plagued brother in a town house in Boston's Back Bay. Trapped in a world over which she has no control, Sibyl flees for solace to the parlor of a table-turning medium. But when her brother is suddenly kicked out of Harvard under mysterious circumstances and falls under the sway of a strange young woman, Sibyl turns for help to psychology professor Benton Derby.

Self-doubting Ruth is coddled by her immigrant mother, who uses food to soothe and control. Defiant Francesca believes her heavy frame shames her Park Avenue society mother and, to provoke her, consumes everything in sight. Lonely Opal longs to be included in her glamorous mother's dinner dates - until a disturbing encounter forever changes her desires. Finally, Setsu, a promising violinist, staves off conflict with her jealous brother by allowing him to take the choicest morsels from her plate - and from her future.

When Saba Khan’s apartment burns in a mysterious fire, possibly a hate crime, her Chicago high school rallies around her. Her family moves rent-free into a luxury apartment, Saba’s Facebook page explodes, and she starts (secretly) dating a popular boy. Then a quirky piece of art donated to a school fund-raising effort for the Khans is revealed to be an unknown work by a famous artist, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Saba’s life turns upside down again.

Mia is excited to learn a new dance with her best friend, Ruby. But on the day of class, Ruby isn't feeling well and Mia must find another partner. At first Mia is afraid she won't have anyone to dance with, but soon Mia finds herself with not one, but two partners! Making sure no one is left out, Mia finds a solution that will work for everyone.

Mia and her friend Ruby are excited to welcome a new girl - Sara - to Miss Bird’s dance class. They try to teach her exactly how to do their dance. But Sara doesn’t do it right. She adds a new twist to every step! By watching Sara dance, Mia and her classmates eventually learn that individuality is a wonderful thing.

When Dixie gets to join Emma at school for Pet Day, she can hardly stop wagging her tail with excitement! Emma’s classmates have all kinds of pets - hamsters, birds, goldfish - even lizards! Dixie tries her best to sit still, but with all the new friends to make, she may not be able to stay calm for long... Dixie’s loveable antics will keep beginning readers laughing in this wonderful addition to the I Can Read library.

Meet Evelyn and Godfrey. Evelyn is breaking up with her boyfriend, who’s passing out advertisements for his band on a snowy street corner in Baltimore. She's seen their dismal future together at Dr. Chin's office: she and her boyfriend, both many years older, singing "Happy Birthday" to a Chihuahua and arguing about cheese. She hopes for more. Meanwhile, Godfrey is proposing to his girlfriend, Madge, who is not quite willing to take that leap; she wants to see their future together first - just to be sure they're meant for each other.

The Pony Scouts' last visit to Jill's farm was one they'll never forget - that was the night Surprise, the baby foal, was born! Annie can't wait to see her again. But when Annie accidentally loses her balance during her riding lesson, she has to decide: can she pick herself up and try again, or will her dream of one day riding Surprise have o be forgotten? Rich with vivid illustrations and easy-to-read text, Pony Scouts: Back in the Saddle is sure to have young readers cheering as Annie faces her fear!

When Meg's parents go away for the weekend, letting Meg stay with fellow Pony Scout Jill, the Scouts are in for an extra-special sleepover! Meg, Jill, and their friend Annie get to tend Jill's ponies day and night. But when one of the Scouts forgets to latch a pony's stall, things start to get a little crazy. The Pony Scouts race to the rescue, and along the way they learn that being careful is an important key to being able to have fun. The Pony Scouts return in this charming I Can Read, a wonderful addition to the Pony Scouts series.

Emma and her puppy, Dixie, are inseparable after-school friends. But when Emma starts preparing for her class's production of The Wizard of Oz, Dixie feels left out. She wants to romp and play, but all Emma wants to do is memorize her lines in peace and quiet. Dixie does not understand. Dixie, the mischievous puppy who is trying to be good, will be embraced by beginning readers.

For a new dance number, Mia the ballerina kitten swaps her ballet slippers for jazz shoes. The only thing is, Mia doesn’t think the jazz shoes are as pretty as her pink slippers. The plain shoes don’t seem to match the snazzy jazz routine. As always, Mia uses her quick thinking to come up with the perfect solution to match her plain Jane outfit to her jazzy steps.

Meg has pony books, pony toys, and pony clothes. And on her first day at a new school, Meg meets two girls who are as pony crazy as she is!

On her first day at dance class, Mia can’t wait to put on her bouncy pink tutu. There’s only one problem: her tutu is too-too big! It falls down and Mia falls over it with every step. But just as Mia starts to get upset, she meets Ruby - and Mia realizes that no setback is too hard to handle with a good friend by your side. With simple text and warm, tender illustrations, this I Can Read story is the perfect choice for the earliest readers - and for dance fans of any age!

The Pony Scouts are becoming better at riding with every lesson. But just when they think they've seen it all, a new horse arrives on Jill's farm...one who hasn't been ridden before! Taffy is a beautiful palomino pony that needs Jill's help. With a little patience and a lot of love, Jill and the Pony Scouts will make Taffy a member of the family.

The Pony Scouts have come a long way with their riding lessons. Meg, Jill, and Annie can steer their ponies. They even know how to trot! So what's the harm in taking a little trail ride by themselves? The Pony Scouts will soon find out that even though they know a lot, there's still much for them to learn! The Trail Ride is the sixth book in the Pony Scouts I Can Read series, filled with the same fun horseplay as always!

Today is the big day - Jill and Apples are going to compete at the horse show! Even waking up extra early to get Apples prepped can’t dampen the Pony Scouts’ excitement on this special day. But when Jill catches a glimpse of the competition, she starts to get nervous. How will she and Apples measure up? Beginning readers will get caught up in the excitement of the Pony Scouts’ equestrian outing. A sweet story of friendship and ponies, this is the perfect book for young horse lovers.