Armani Curtis can think about only one thing: her tenth birthday. All her friends are coming to her party, her mama is making a big cake, and she has a good feeling about a certain wrapped box. Turning ten is a big deal to Armani. It means she's older, wiser, more responsible. But when Hurricane Katrina hits the Lower Nines of New Orleans, Armani realizes that being ten means being brave, watching loved ones die, and mustering all her strength to help her family weather the storm.

A ten-year-old girl learns the importance of family and community in this tale of love and hope set during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Armani Curtis can think about only one thing: her tenth birthday. All her friends are coming to her party, her mama is making a big cake, and she has a good feeling about a certain wrapped box. Turning ten is a big deal to Armani. It means she’s older, wiser, more responsible. But when Hurricane Katrina hits the Lower Nines of New Orleans, Armani realizes that being ten means being brave, watching loved ones die, and mustering all her strength to help her family weather the storm. A powerful story of courage and survival, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere celebrates the miraculous power of hope and love in the face of the unthinkable. Praise for Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere “Lamana goes for and achieves realism here, carefully establishing the characters and setting before describing in brutal detail, beyond what is typical in youth literature, the devastating effects of Katrina—loss of multiple family members, reports of attacks in the Superdome, bodies drifting in the current and less-than-ideal shelter conditions. An honest, bleak account of a national tragedy sure to inspire discussion and research.” —Kirkus Reviews “I recommend the book because I think it does a good job of capturing what life was like in New Orleans both before and after Katrina and because Armani’s journey will give readers a lot to think about and discuss. But parents will want to know that it doesn’t flinch when describing the death and destruction that hit New Orleans during that time and be cautious with younger, sensitive readers.” —Cindy Hudson, author of Book by Book

This is a combined literature and grammar unit that contains everything you need to teach the novel and more! Included in the unit are pre-reading, active-reading and post-reading activities with grammar lessons, literary activities, a final essay test with grading rubric, and other activities just for fun!

"Tales from the Upside Down" is a spine-chilling compilation of horror stories that brings the campfire tales of the internet straight to your hands. Perfect for 9-10 graders, this collection features some of the eeriest and most unsettling creepypastas that have haunted the dark corners of Reddit’s r/nosleep, various forums, and blogs. Each story blurs the line between reality and imagination, leaving you to decide whether these terrifying tales are real or just figments of a twisted mind. Dive into the "Tales From The Upside Down", where every shadow holds a secret and every whisper could be your last. Are you brave enough to face the unknown?

What might a two-month visit to Australia and New Zealand be like if the traveler were not distracted and overwhelmed by the spectacular scenery? In this book Dan Pukstas, a blind professor, answers this question by providing a series of humorous and insightful perspectives about the places and people he encountered. Whether he is trying to find his way out of a strange restroom or climbing to the summit of a dormant volcano after by-pass surgery, Dan is ready with a philosophical quip or amusing observation. In the company of his wife Nancy, Dan covers a broad geographical area from Auckland to Adelaide, from Ayers Rock to Sydney, and from Cairns to Brisbane along 2000 kilometers of Queensland highway. His topics of interest are just as broad-from his observations about food, wine prices, parenting styles, public transportation, human behavior to the joys and challenges of travel for the visually impaired. Those who like witty and pointed observations served up with a modest amount of inspiration will find this book a tasty treat. Those who have healthy vision might also find that they will see things a bit more clearly after reading this book.

'Ascension' is a new kind of sci fi. It's dark, gothy cyberpunk, with a twist or two in the tail. Set in a tower with Heaven at the top and Hell at the bottom, Frakture is a humanoid creature able to swap limbs at will as she ascends towards the top. Her bizzare struggles are not dissimilar to those we face in our own lives, the question being when do you give up and settle for what you've got?