Arr-gust: International Pirate Month

 

Ahoy me hearties! Argg-ust is upon us!  A month for celebrating gentlemen (and women) of fortune!  That is to say, it's International Pirate Month. Time to celebrate, dress, speak, an' learn everythin' there is be to knowin' about sailin' the seas in search o' fortune an' glory an' 'ow to avoid mutiny an' a trip to davy jones' locker. One can begin this here voyage by usin' the Pirate Name Generator an' be inspired with some Motivational Pirate Quotes for Life, Love and Adventure.

Born to be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess and Stole a Fortune by Thomson, Keith

"Discover the "fascinating and outrageously readable" account of the roguish acts of the first pirates to raid the Pacific in a crusade that ended in a sensational trial back in England."--Amazon.

Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution by Dolin, Eric Jay

"The best-selling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters reclaims the daring freelance sailors who proved essential to the winning of the Revolutionary War. The heroic story of the founding of the U.S. Navy during the Revolution has been told before, yet missing from most maritime histories of America's first war is the ragtag fleet of private vessels, from 20-foot whaleboats to 40-cannon men-of-war, that truly revealed the new nation's character-above all, its ambition and entrepreneurial ethos. In Rebels at Sea, best-selling historian Eric Jay Dolin corrects that significant omission, and contends that privateers, though often seen as profiteers at best and pirates at worst, were in fact critical to the Revolution's outcome. Armed with cannons, swivel guns, muskets, and pikes-as well as government documents granting them the right to seize enemy ships-thousands of privateers tormented the British on the broad Atlantic and in bays and harbors on both sides of the ocean. Abounding with tales of daring maneuvers and deadly encounters, Rebels at Sea presents the American Revolution as we have rarely seen it before"--. Provided by publisher.

Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas by Lewis, Leigh

"A collection of fact-filled profiles, poetry, and illustrations of women pirates who made their mark on the high seas. Each profile includes an original poem presented against a backdrop of full-color art by illustrator Sara Woolley Gomez. The profile is followed by information about the real-life and times of these daring women"--. Provided by publisher.

Enemy of all Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt by Johnson, Steven

"How did a single manhunt spark the modern era of multinational capitalism? Henry Avery was the seventeenth century's most notorious pirate. The press published wildly popular--and wildly inaccurate--reports of his nefarious adventures. The British government offered enormous bounties for his capture, alive or (preferably) dead. But Steven Johnson argues that Avery's most lasting legacy was his inadvertent triggering of a new model for the global economy. Enemy of All Mankind focuses on one key event--the attack of an Indian treasure ship by Avery and his crew--and its surprising repercussions across time and space. Johnson uses the extraordinary story of Henry Avery and his crimes to explore the emergence of the modern global marketplace: a densely interconnected planet ruled by nations and corporations. Like the bestselling How We Got To Now and The Ghost Map, Enemy of All Mankind crosses disciplinary boundaries to recount its history: the chemistry behind the invention of gunpowder; the innovations in navigation that enabled the age of exploration; the cultural history of pirates; the biographical history of Avery and his crew; the rise of the Moghul dynasty; and the commercial ambition of the East India Company. In this compelling work of history and ideas, Johnson deftly traces the path from a single struck match to a global conflagration"-- Provided by publisher.

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War that Changed American History by Kilmeade, Brian

The little-known story of Thomas Jefferson's battle to defend America against Islamic pirates. Kilmeade and Yeager recount the dramatic events building up to this forgotten war against the Tripoli pirates and the heroics that led to its resolution. They tell the story of a 25-year-old sailor named Stephen Decatur who sailed into the enemy harbour, his boat disguised as a Maltese merchant ship, and William Eaton who led Marines on a 500 mile trek across the desert to surprise the port of Derna. New York Times bestselling authors make history come alive.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Levenseller, Tricia

"When her father, the ruthless pirate king, discovers that a legendary treasure map can be found on an enemy ship, his daughter Alosa knows that there's only one pirate for the job herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her welcome on the ship"-- Provided by publisher.

Cursed Pirate Girl. Volume one by Bastian, Jeremy

"Adventures on and under the high seas lead a cursed pirate girl to encounter mythic creatures, gnarled and crusty pirates, and ghostly apparitions as she tries to find her lost father, one of the dreaded Pirate Captains of the mythical Omerta Seas. Cursed Pirate Girl is a whimsical, swashbuckling tale of wonderland journeys and unimaginable dangers, starting in Port Elisabeth, Jamaica in the year 1728, and quickly heading across - and beneath - the waves!"--Publisher.

Oathbound by McCombs, Victoria

Emme has spent her life avoiding anything to do with pirates, but the fates are cruel, and now a hidden sickness leads her to partner with pirates for the one thing that can cure her--rumored to be on an island none are certain exists. The captain's obligations are tinged with betrayal, his secrets darker than the deep, and just as lethal.

The Mermaid, The Witch, And The Sea by Tokuda-Hall, Maggie

The pirate Florian, born Flora, has always done whatever it takes to survive--including sailing under false flag on the Dove as a marauder, thief, and worse. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a highborn Imperial daughter, is on board as well--accompanied by her own casket. But Evelyn's one-way voyage to an arranged marriage in the Floating Islands is interrupted when the captain and crew show their true colors and enslave their wealthy passengers.

Both Florian and Evelyn have lived their lives by the rules, and whims, of others. But when they fall in love, they decide to take fate into their own hands--no matter the cost.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall's sweeping fantasy debut, full of stolen memories, illicit mermaid's blood, double agents, and haunting mythical creatures conjures an extraordinary cast of characters and the unforgettable story of a couple striving to stay together in the face of myriad forces wishing to control their identities and destinies.

Never Never : A Tale of Captain Hook by Valentino, Serena

Cutthroat pirate James Bartholomew, who longs to return to Neverland where he was taken as a child, gets his wish with the help of the Odd Sisters and a bit of magic, but soon he discovers the high price he must pay.

The 9th book in the New York Times bestselling Villains series tells the tale of the rise and fall of the infamous pirate, Captain Hook--a boy who grew up.

Before Peter Pan and Wendy. Before the Lost Boys. There was just a boy named James who wanted to get back to Neverland. As a baby, James Bartholomew fell out of his pram and was taken to Neverland. James is claimed by his parents just shy of seven days--after which he would have officially become a Lost Boy. Once he returns to London, he never stops thinking about Neverland. As he grows up, he hates his life in London, and everything to do with growing up and eventually becoming a gentleman. So he seeks a position on the ship of the infamous pirate, Blackbeard. On Blackbeard's ship he learns to be a cutthroat pirate, and eventually becomes captain of his own ship, which James is determined to sail to Neverland. With the help of the Odd Sisters and a bit of magic, he just might get his wish. But returning to Neverland comes at a price--and now that he's grown up, the whole world seems to be rooting for his demise…

Mountain Climbing

On August 1, 2015, Bobby Mathews and Josh Madigan triumphantly scaled the 46th peak of the Adirondack Mountains. Their success at scaling all 46 peaks led to the observation of Mountian Climbing Day on August 1st.

https://www.ixambee.com/blog/national-mountain-climbing-day/

To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth: a memoir by O'Brien, Vanessa

"A memoir by Vanessa O'Brien, record-breaking American-British explorer, takes you on an unexpected journey to the top of the world's highest mountains"--. Provided by publisher.

The Next Everest: Surviving The Mountain's Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again by Davidson, Jim

"A dramatic account of the deadly avalanche on Everest-and a return to reach the summit. On April 25, 2015, Jim Davidson was climbing Mount Everest when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake released avalanches all around him and his team, destroying their only escape route and trapping them at nearly 20,000 feet. It was the largest earthquake in Nepal in eighty-one years and killed nearly 8,900 people. That day also became the deadliest in the history of Everest, with eighteen people losing their lives on the mountain. After spending two unsettling days stranded on Everest, Davidson's team was rescued by helicopter. The experience left him shaken, and despite his thirty-three years of climbing and serving as an expedition leader, he wasn't sure that he would ever go back. But in the face of risk and uncertainty, he returned in 2017 and finally achieved his dream of reaching the summit. Suspenseful and engrossing, The Next Everest portrays the experience of living through the biggest disaster to ever hit the mountain. Davidson's background in geology and environmental science makes him uniquely qualified to explain why the seismic threats lurking beneath Nepal are even greater today. But this story is not about "conquering" the world's highest peak. Instead, it reveals how embracing change, challenge, and uncertainty prepares anyone to face their next "Everest" in life"--. Provided by publisher.

No Summit Out of Sight: The True Story of the Youngest Person to Climb the Seven Summits by Romero, Jordan

"The story of Jordan Romero, who at the age of 13 became the youngest person ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest. At age 15, he reached the summits of the world's 7 highest mountains"-- Provided by publisher.

Continental Divide: A History of American Mountaineering by Isserman, Maurice

In Continental Divide, Maurice Isserman tells the history of American mountaineering through four centuries of landmark climbs and first ascents. Mountains were originally seen as obstacles to civilization; over time they came to be viewed as places of redemption and renewal. The White Mountains stirred the transcendentalists; the Rockies and Sierras pulled explorers westward toward Manifest Destiny; Yosemite inspired the early environmental conservationists. Isserman traces the evolving social, cultural, and political roles mountains played in shaping the country. He describes how American mountaineers forged a "brotherhood of the rope," modeled on America's unique democratic self-image that characterized climbing in the years leading up to and immediately following World War II. And he underscores the impact of the postwar "rucksack revolution," including the advances in technique and style made by pioneering "dirtbag" rock climbers.

Running Above the Clouds: The Nature of Mountains, The Terrain of an Athlete, and How I Carved My Own Path to the Top of the World by Jornet, Kilian

"The most accomplished mountain runner of all time and one of the greatest athletes alive offers a first-person account of the decades of training, running, skiing, and climbing that led him to his record-breaking ascent and descent of Mount Everest in 2018"-- Provided by publisher.

Without Ever Reaching the Summit: A Journey by Cognetti, Paolo

"In this exquisitely written journal-turned-journey of self-discovery, international bestselling author Paolo Cognetti examines our universal desire for connection through a voyage in the Himalayas. Why climb a mountain without ever reaching the summit? In 2017, Paolo Cognetti returned to Nepal, not to conquer the mountains but to journey through the high valleys of the Dolpo with a copy of Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard in hand. Drawing on memories of his childhood in theAlps, Cognetti explored the roots of life in the mountains, truly getting to know the communities and the nature that forged this resilient, almost mythical region. Accompanying him was Remigio, a childhood friend who had never left the mountains of Italy, and Nicola, a painter he had recently met. Joined by a stalwart team of local sherpas, the trio started out in the remote Dolpo region of Nepal. From there, a journey of self-discovery shaped by illness, human connection, and empathy was born. Without Ever Reaching the Summit features line illustrations drawn by the author"-- Provided by publisher.

The Push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits by Caldwell, Tommy

This engrossing memoir chronicles the journey of a boy with a fanatical mountain-guide father who was determined to instill toughness in his son to a teen whose obsessive nature drove him to the top of the sport-climbing circuit. Caldwell's affinity for adventure then led him to the vertigo-inducing and little-understood world of big wall free climbing. But his evolution as a climber was not without challenges; in his early twenties, he was held hostage by militants in a harrowing ordeal in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Soon after, he lost his left index finger in an accident. Later his wife, and main climbing partner, left him. Caldwell emerged from these hardships with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. He set his sights on free climbing El Capitan's biggest, steepest, blankest face--the Dawn Wall. This epic assault took more than seven years, during which time Caldwell redefined the sport, found love again, and became a father.

The Ghosts of K2: The Epic Saga of the First Ascent by Conefrey, Mick

"At 28,251 feet, K2 might be almost 800 feet shorter than Everest, but it is a far tougher proposition. Unlike Everest, there is no 'yak route' for commercial clients. It is hard climbing all the way from its base to its summit. K2 will kill you on the way up and kill you on the way down. Mick Conefrey tells the story of three extraordinary expeditions filled with riveting drama and unimaginable tragedy: Fritz Wiessner's controversial attempt of 1939, the disastrous American expedition of 1953, and the huge Italian expedition of 1954 on which K2 was first climbed. He captures the bold and eccentric characters-- their friendships and rivalries, their guilt and betrayals. At the center of the narrative is Charlie Houston, who led the failed 1953 exhibition, who was forced to give up his ambition of ever reaching the summit, and who was haunted for the rest of his life by the ghosts of the world's most beautiful and lethal mountain"-- Provided by publisher.

Beyond The Limits: A Woman's Triumph on Everest by Allison, Stacy

BEYOND THE LIMITS--A Woman's Triumph On Everest recounts the story of Stacy Allison's climb of Mount Everest to become the first American woman to reach the summit. Stacy's skill in mountaineering was attained through experience on the highest peaks of North America, Russia, and the Himalayan peaks of K2 and Ama Dablam. After suffering a first attempt failure on Mount Everest, Stacy assumed she would not have another opportunity to climb the mountain. The journey to reach her ultimate goal--beginning with the dream, traversing through the challenges, both in her personal life and as a member of an elite climbing team--has lessons that can motivate the reader to believe that anything is possible.

Paperback Day

 

Once upon a time, in lands across the globe, book production was limited, and the books themselves were always hard-bound, and while they could be beautifully detailed, they were often quite heavy.  Then on July 30, 1935, Penguin, founded by Allen Lane, published their first 10 paperback novels. Selling for only 6 pence each, paperbacks ushered in a publishing revolution.

 

The History of the Book in 100 books by Cave, Roderick

The First 10 Paperbacks:

Ariel By Andre Maurois

 A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemmingway

Poet's Pub By Eric Linklater

Madame Claire By Susan Ertz

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club By Dorothy L. Sayers

The Mysterious Affair By Agatha Christie

Twenty-Five By Beverley Nichols

William By E.H. Young

Gone to Earth By Mary Webb

Carnival By Compton Mackenzie

                      https://www.abebooks.co.uk/books/bodley-head-hemingway-christie-sayers/penguin.shtml 

 I much prefer paperback over hardback and  Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss is a nostalgic journey of all those paperbacks that I thrived off of in my younger years.   From Babysitters Club to Fear Street, The Against Taffy Sinclair Club, and The Dollhouse Murders to The Sleepover Club to Christopher Pike.  These are the books I first hoarded and searched library shelves for with fervor. 

In celebration of Paperback Day, on July 30th, I'd like to highlight our Paperback Exchange.

  With over 150 books to choose from, one can just select ones they would like to read from the Paperback Exchange shelf and just leave a tally mark on our clipboard; no library card is needed.

                   

Bicycle

I've always liked the idea of bicycling more than the actuality.  I was definitely one for a more casual ride, this worked a lot better when I had a nice level bike path behind my house.  Now I'm in a neighborhood that seems to be going uphill in every direction on a street that has multiple speed bumps.  My bicycle is good and buried in my shed.  My best friend, however, is in constant preparation for RAGBRAI, the weeklong bike ride across Iowa.  I have a rocky childhood history when it comes to bicycles.  All mine seemed to love falling apart, mostly a matter of chains falling off, usually as I was attempting to cross the street. Once it happened when a school bus seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.  It seemed to be barreling down in my direction, leaving me to try and hurriedly drag the bike to the side of the road.  The one bike I had that seemed well put together was stolen and never seen again.

Geared For the Grave by Brown, Duffy

Hoping to shift her chances of a promotion in her favor, Evie Bloomfield heads to Mackinac Island to assist her boss's father. Rudy Randolph has broken his leg and operating his bike shop, Rudy's Rides, is too much to handle by himself. But Evie's good turn only leads to more trouble...

After Evie's arrival, wealthy resident Bunny Harrington dies in what looks like a freak bike accident. Upon closer inspection, Bunny's brakes were tampered with, and now the prime suspect in her murder is also Bunny's number one enemy- Rudy. So if Evie hopes to stay on her boss's good side, she'll need to steer Rudy clear of jail. Now she must quickly solve this mystery so she can put the brakes on the real killer's plan...

Braking for Bodies by Brown, Duffy

Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it’s the best decision she’s ever made. That’s not to say she’s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles. But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists—including Evie’s friend Fiona’s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA—arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren’t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend’s name...

The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor, America's First Black Sports Hero by Kranish, Michael

"In the tradition of The Boys in the Boat and Seabiscuit, a fascinating portrait of a groundbreaking but forgotten figure--the remarkable Major Taylor, the black man who broke racial barriers by becoming the world's fastest and most famous bicyclist at the height of the Jim Crow era. In the 1890s, the nation's promise of equality had failed spectacularly. While slavery had ended with the Civil War, the Jim Crow laws still separated blacks from whites, and the excesses of the Gilded Age created an elite upper class. Amidst this world arrived Major Taylor, a young black man who wanted to compete in the nation's most popular and mostly white man's sport, cycling. Birdie Munger, a white cyclist who once was the world's fastest man, declared that he could help turn the young black athlete into a champion. Twelve years before boxer Jack Johnson and fifty years before baseball player Jackie Robinson, Taylor faced racism at nearly every turn--especially by whites who feared he would disprove their stereotypes of blacks. In The World's Fastest Man, years in the writing, investigative journalist Michael Kranish reveals new information about Major Taylor based on a rare interview with his daughter and other never-before-uncovered details from Taylor's life. Kranish shows how Taylor indeed became a world champion, traveled the world, was the toast of Paris, and was one of the most chronicled black men of his day. From a moment in time just before the arrival of the automobile when bicycles were king, the populace was booming with immigrants, and enormous societal changes were about to take place, The World's Fastest Man shines a light on a dramatic moment in American history--the gateway to the twentieth century"-- Provided by publisher.

Switching Gears by Sedgwick, Chantele

Still mourning the loss of Lucas Nelson, the boy she loved in secret for years, seventeen-year-old Emmy Martin turns to her passion for mountain biking to try to fill the empty void in her life. But just when things start looking up, Emmy discovers her mom has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Confused and angry that her parents didn't tell her sooner, she throws herself into mountain biking like never before.

When Cole Evans, the rich boy who usually doesn't care about anything but himself, offers to train her for the biggest mountain biking race of the season, she accepts, determined to beat Whitney, and prove she's good enough for a sponsor. The more time she spends with Cole, the more she realizes he's different than she'd expected, and, to her surprise, she's falling for him. Torn between the deep feelings she still has for Lucas and her growing ones for Cole, she knows she must choose a path: one offers her the chance to love again, while the other is blocked by the overwhelming heartache for the boy she lost.

As she drifts further away from her family and closer to her dream of being sponsored, a terrible accident threatens any semblance of peace and happiness she has left. Instead of closing herself off to the people she loves, Emmy must learn to rely on those she has pushed away if she's going to have any chance of getting her life back again.

Gold by Cleave, Chris

Cyclists Zoe and Kate are friends and athletic rivals for Olympic gold, while Kate and her husband Jack, also a world-class cyclist, must contend with the recurrence of their young daughter's leukemia.

Unbroken: 13 stories starring disabled teens

An anthology of stories in various genres, each featuring disabled characters and written by disabled creators. The collection includes stories of interstellar war, a journey to Persia, a dating debacle. The teenaged characters reflect diverse colors, genders, and orientations-- without obscuring the realities of their disabilities. -- adapted from jacket

Chasing AllieCat by Davis, Rebecca Fjelland

When she is left with relatives in rural Minnesota for the summer, Sadie meets Allie, a spiky-haired off-road biker, and Joe, who team up to train for a race, but when they find a priest badly beaten and near death in the woods, Allie mysteriously disappears leaving Sadie and Joe to discover the dangerous secrets she is hiding.

The Green Bicycle by Al-Mansour, Haifaa

Spunky eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with her parents. She desperately wants a bicycle so that she can race her friend Abdullah, even though it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes. Wadjda earns money for her dream bike by selling homemade bracelets and mixtapes of banned music to her classmates. But after she's caught, she's forced to turn over a new leaf (sort of), or risk expulsion from school. Still, Wadjda keeps scheming, and with the bicycle so closely in her sights, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart.

The Memory of Running by McLarty, Ron

Once in a great while, a story comes along that has everything: plot, setting, and, most important of all, the kind of characters that sweep readers up and take them on a thrilling, unforgettable ride. Well, get ready for Ron McLarty's The Memory of Running because, as Stephen King wrote in Entertainment Weekly(Stephen King's The Pop of King column for Entertainment Weekly), Smithy is an American original, worthy of a place on the shelf just below your Hucks, your Holdens, your Yossarians.”Meet Smithson Smithy Ide, an overweight, friendless, chain-smoking, forty-three-year-old drunk who works as a quality control inspector at a toy action-figure factory in Rhode Island. By all accounts, including Smithy’s own, he’s a loser. But when Smithy’s life of quiet desperation is brutally interrupted by tragedy, he stumbles across his old Raleigh bicycle and impulsively sets off on an epic journey that might give him one last chance to become the person he always wanted to be. As he pedals across America with stops in New York City, St. Louis, Denver, and Phoenix, to name a few—he encounters humanity at its best and worst and adventures that are by turns hilarious, luminous, and extraordinary. Along the way, Smithy falls in love and back into life.McLarty’s novel has already received significant attention for its unusual genesis as an audiobook. Now, in a major publishing event, Viking heralds the arrival of a major new voice in American fiction with his stunning debut, The Memory of Running.

Bicycle Repair Manual by Sidwells, Chris

Fully revised with the latest models and equipment, such as electronic gear shifting and internal cable routing, this manual is essential reading for every cyclist.

RODENTS

 

July 22nd is Pied Piper Day. Based on true events that occurred in Hamelin of Germany in the 13th century, the tale of the pied piper entered the realm of fairy tales via The Brothers Grimm in 1816.  Going back to the origins of the story, however, there seems to be no record of a rat infestation, just missing children: "'The Lueneburg manuscript (c 1440 – 50), which stated: the year of 1284, on the day of Saints John and Paul on June 26, by a piper, clothed in many kinds of colours, 130 children born in Hamelin were seduced, and lost at the place of execution near the koppen.'A 1384 entry in Hamelin’s town records also grimly states 'It is 100 years since our children left.'”  (https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/pied-piper-hamelin-001969).

Pied Piper day also coincides with ratcatchers day.   Rats are interesting little, (some not-so-little), creatures.  Although I would much prefer not to run into any wild ones, domesticated or "fancy" rats make for decent pets and can be quite cute.  My sister used to have pet rats. My only complaint about pet rats is that I seem to be allergic.  

Merriam-Webster defines a rodent as: 

1: any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (such as a mouse, squirrel, or beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel-shaped edge

2: a small mammal (such as a rabbit or a shrew) other than a true rodent

For more information about rodents check out these links:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-rodents-2057092

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/rodents/

Piper by Asher, Jay

Long ago, in a small village in the middle of a deep, dark forest, there lived a lonely, deaf girl named Maggie. Shunned by her village because of her disability, her only comfort comes from her vivid imagination. Maggie has a gift for inventing stories and dreams of one day finding her fairy-tale love. When Maggie meets the mysterious Piper, it seems that all her wishes are coming true. Spellbound, Maggie falls hard for him and plunges headfirst into his magical world. But as she grows closer to the Piper, Maggie discovers that he has a dark side. The boy of Maggie's dreams might just turn out to be her worst nightmare.

The Piper's Pursuit by Dickerson, Melanie

"In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina reluctantly allies with the handsome but brash Steffan to protect herself and her city from formidable dangers--missing children, hordes of rats, a marauding beast, and her devious stepfather, the town's mayor." -- (Source of summary not specified)

The Summer I Learned To Fly by Reinhardt, Dana

Drew's a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad's Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese from working at her mom's cheese shop, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It's the summer before eighth grade and Drew's days seem like business as usual, until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley named Emmett Crane. Who he is, why he's there, where the cut on his cheek came from, and his bottomless knowledge of rats are all mysteries Drew will untangle as they are drawn closer together, and Drew enters into the first true friendship, and adventure, of her life.

Pekoe Most Poison by Childs, Laura

"When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is invited by Doreen Briggs, one of Charleston's most prominent hostesses, to a Rat Tea, she is understandably intrigued. As servers dressed in rodent costumes and wearing white gloves offer elegant finger sandwiches and fine teas, Theo learns these parties date back to early twentieth-century Charleston, where the cream of society would sponsor so-called rat teas to promote city rodent control and better public health. But this party goes from odd to chaotic when a fire starts at one of the tables and Doreen's entrepreneur husband suddenly goes into convulsions and drops dead. Has his favorite orange pekoe tea been poisoned? Theo smells a rat. The distraught Doreen soon engages Theo to pursue a discreet inquiry into who might have murdered her husband. As Theo and her tea sommelier review the guest list for suspects, they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse..."-- From publisher.

The amazing Maurice and his educated rodents by Pratchett, Terry

A talking cat, intelligent rats, and a strange boy cooperate in a Pied Piper scam until they try to con the wrong town and are confronted by a deadly evil rat king.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Vol. 1 by North, Ryan

"Wolverine. Deadpool. Doctor Doom. Thanos. There's one hero who's beaten them all, and now she's got her own book! And to celebrate she's set her sights even higher - much higher. We're talking Galactus! But first Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl, is starting college, making new friends, eating nuts and kicking butts, not necessarily in that order! Together with her best (human) pal Nancy, and her best (squirrel) pal Tippy-Toe, and armed only with a tail and some foe fact-filled trading cards, she'll take on villains including Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash and, oh, yeah, the Devourer of Worlds!"--Amazon.

Squirrel Meets World by Hale, Shannon

Fourteen-year-old Doreen Green moved from sunny California to the suburbs of New Jersey. She must start at a new school, make new friends, and continue to hide her tail. Yep, Doreen has the powers of . . . a squirrel! After failing at several attempts to find her new BFF, Doreen feels lonely and trapped, liked a caged animal.

Then one day Doreen uses her extraordinary powers to stop a group of troublemakers from causing mischief in the neighborhood, and her whole life changes. Everyone at school is talking about it! Doreen contemplates becoming a full-fledged Super Hero. And thus, Squirrel Girl is born! She saves cats from trees, keeps the sidewalks clean, and dissuades vandalism. All is well until a real-life Super Villain steps out of the shadows and declares Squirrel Girl his archenemy.

Can Doreen balance being a teenager and a Super Hero? Or will she go . . . NUTS?

Squeak! : 100 Fun Facts About Hamsters, Mice, Guinea Pigs, and More by Davidson, Rose

• Mice and rats may be the most famous rodents, but readers will discover the diverse--and maybe even adorable--world of little squeaking critters. From cavies and capybaras to jerboas and gerbils to pocket mice and porcupines, get ready for the rodents. Packed with weird-but-true facts and tons of animal info, this Level 3 Reader shows just how endearing rodents can be. Meet the adorable pika, fuzzy hamsters, and yes, even supersmart rats, and collect cool facts about these scurrying squeaky creatures.

Little Red Rodent Hood by Vernon, Ursula

A little girl in a red cape asks for Princess Harriet Hamsterbone's help with a pack of weasel-wolves who want to eat her grandmother, but after meeting everyone, Harriet is not sure who to trust.-- Provided by Publisher.

Ratatouille [videorecording]

A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unwanted visitor in the kitchen of one of Paris' most exclusive restaurants, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy's amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion a chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down.