So begin the adventures of young Oliver Finch, born at the stroke of midnight. Believing that Oliver can spy out ghosts, Captain Scratch kidnaps him, bringing him aboard the notorious pirate vessel Bloody Hand. The ship sails the high seas in pursuit of the ghost of Gentleman Jack, who paces his grave where the pirate treasure lies buried. A despicable pirate captain, a mutinous crew, a band of sly sea ghosts—Oliver is determined to outfox them all and get safely home. It's a tale of treachery, intrigue, and suspense!

Twelve-year-old Oliver tries to escape from pirates who take him to an island to find the ghost and treasure of Gentleman Jack.

Traces the life and career of the British actor, discusses his major roles, and depicts his complex and often difficult personality

This Is the Church ... is a powerful, entertaining novel about the trials and triumphs of Our Father's Evangelical Church of Monument, California. The town's namesake is a 100-foot, Mount Rushmore-like carving of the left half of Rudolph Valentino's face from his 1921 movie, The Sheik. The main character is Ian Block, son and grandson of present and former deacons at the church. Ian tells of his very first impressions of the church, starting in the second grade, and its impact on his young life. He is greatly influenced by his fifth- and sixth-grade Sunday school teacher, the portly "Synopsis" Sid Barrington. As Ian grows up, he discovers that his adult foundation is in fact the lessons learned from his Sunday school days, especially those from Sid Barrington. From church splits to first kiss, from solving the mystery of his grandfather's defection from the church to coming to grips with mid-life, This Is the Church ... touches on the life lessons flung at anyone who has ever been involved with a local church: friendships, loyalty, accountability, racism, sexuality, marriage, politics, tithing, and evangelism. This Is the Church ... is also a heartfelt tribute to the backbone of the local church-the Sunday school-and to everyone who has even been, or ever will be, a committed Sunday school teacher-heroes and heroines of the twenty-first century.

You're no idiot, of course. You know Casper was a friendly ghost and that the Phantom Hitchhiker is someone you'd rather not meet on a deserted highway late at night. But when it comes to knowing the authentic roots of ghost stories--and which ones remain unexplained to this day--you don't stand a ghost of a chance. Don't get spirited away yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings is an eerie investigation into the firsthand accounts, legends, literature, and dramatic works surrounding the world of ghosts. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

This concise, authoritative volume analyses critically the work of 100 British directors, from the innovators of the silent period to contemporary auteurs.

"Discusses the life of children's author Sid Fleischman, including his childhood, writing career, and his advice for young writers"--Provided by publisher.