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Tag: mystery
Back to School with these 4 Campus Novels
A campus novel is a book set in a school, college or university and the most popular is probably the Harry Potter series. Campus novels have always been popular amongst readers, so I thought I'd share four of them with you here.
Stoner by John Williams
My favourite campus novel by far is Stoner by John Williams. William Stoner comes from a poor farming family and attends University to study agriculture. He soon falls in love with literature and decides to put aside his plan to manage the family farm in order to become a career academic.
Stoner is a deeply honest portrait of an average man, living a lonely, underwhelming and sometimes depressing life.
However his story is told with such reverence I was completely swept away and bereft by the end.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
This is the first in the YA series of historical fiction novels to feature Gemma Doyle. Beginning in late 1890s India, Gemma is shipped off to Spence boarding school for girls in England after the death of her mother.
The school is a complete culture shock for Gemma and she finds it difficult to adjust. Gemma also finds it hard to deal with the boarding school 'mean girls'. A Great and Terrible Beauty is a gentle coming-of-age story told with well drawn characters and a touch of humour and longing.
The Exclusives by Rebecca Thornton
Josephine and her best friend Freya attend an elite all-girl boarding school and have an irreparable falling out in 1994. In this dual narrative, Josephine reflects on the events from her perspective 18 years later. The mystery slowly unravels as the novel works towards the ultimate reveal.
The Exclusives by Rebecca Thornton will appeal to readers of YA, NA and those who enjoy dissecting female friendships gone bad.
Variant by Robison Wells
Those looking for a male main character in their campus novels will love Variant by Robison Wells. In this YA thriller, Benson Fisher has been moved from foster home to foster home and is understandably excited when he receives a scholarship to Maxfield Academy.
Right away Benson notices something isn't quite right at the Academy. There are no teachers or adults on campus and the curriculum is strange. There are gangs of students in charge of various contracts at the school. Furthermore, the grounds are surrounded by a large wall patrolled by students on quad bikes. Benson wants to escape but if he's caught he'll be given detention. But the rumour is students don't return from detention. How will he survive?
Will you be adding any of these to your TBR? What's your favourite campus novel?
Posted on January 8, 2019 Author Tracey AllenCategories Book News, Book Reviews - Fiction, Tracey AllenTags Classic, Historical Fiction, John Williams, Libba Bray, mystery, New Adult, Stoner, thriller, young adult
Amnesia Fiction
Amnesia fiction generally contains a character suffering from some form of memory loss, or memory loss forms part of the storyline. It's such a common plot device I thought it was worth exploring. Here are seven amnesia fiction novels you might enjoy.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars is about a group of four friends who called themselves The Liars. Cady (Cadence), Mirren, Johnny and Gat are best friends and they spend every summer holidaying on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. During Cady's fifteenth summer she suffers a traumatic brain injury but unfortunately she can't remember what happened. Two years later she returns to the island in an attempt to try and remember what happened.
We Were Liars is full of mystery, secrets, lies and a twist at the end.
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Every time Christine goes to sleep she loses all of her memories. A consequence of a traumatic brain injury years earlier, her brain erases everything overnight and when she wakes, she has no idea who she is. Christine must find out what happened but soon learns she can't trust anybody.
Before I Go to Sleep is now a film starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Rachel catches the same train into London each day and enjoys imagining the lives of those living in the houses she travels past. The train waits at the same signal light each day and she pays particular attention to one of the houses. One day Rachel sees something that will set an entire chain of events rolling as she inserts herself into the lives of those she's been watching.
Rachel is an alcoholic and her memory is patchy as a result of black outs and alcohol abuse. This makes her an unreliable narrator. Or does it?
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Amnesia in fiction isn't always attributed to an accident, injury or trauma. In Still Alice by Lisa Genova, the protagonist Alice is fifty years old and a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard. She's an expert in linguistics, married with three adult children and learning to deal with early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Still Alice is about family dynamics and the sense of self. It's also been adapted to the big screen starring Julianne Moore as Alice.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas arrives on a lift surrounded by a gang of boys, all he can remember is his name. He finds himself in a walled glade which forms part of a mysterious yet brutal stone maze. Thomas doesn't want to settle down to life in the glade and insists on searching the maze.
Prepared to risk his life to escape the maze, what Thomas finds will irrevocably change the lives of everyone in the glade.
Alice 'comes to' in a gym, and instead of being 29 and pregnant with her first child, she finds 10 years have passed. She's now 39 years old with three kids and in the middle of a divorce. She also has a strained relationship with her sister.
Alice tries to work out what happened to her life. How did her life become like this and how did she lose 10 years of her life?
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
First in a series, the star of The Bourne Identity is Jason Bourne who hardly needs an introduction. Played by Matt Damon in the movie franchise, Jason suffers from amnesia and can't remember his former life. Was he an assassin? Why are people trying to kill him? This is a thrilling action-packed series following Jason's journey to the truth about himself.
Do you enjoy amnesia fiction? Have you read any of these books? If you have others you'd like to recommend, please let me know in the comments below.
Posted on December 12, 2018 Author Tracey AllenCategories Book News, Tracey AllenTags Amnesia, australian author, Before I Go To Sleep, e lockhart, James Dashner, liane moriarty, lisa genova, mystery, paula hawkins, robert ludlum, s j watson, still alice, The Bourne Identity, the girl on the train, the maze runner, thriller, We Were Liars, what alice forgot, YA
A Telling Future with Cameron Macintosh
Cameron Macintosh is the author of the exciting fantasy adventure series for future detectives in the making, steadily churning them out with number three being recently released. Having qualifications in Psychology and Professional Writing, and specialising in the educational publishing market for almost two decades, it is no wonder Macintosh knows exactly what makes an engaging and perfectly suited read for the junior to middle grade audience. With over 80 books released for the education field under his name, his break into trade publishing has been both rewarding and well-received.
The three Max Booth Future Sleuth books are a fun trip set 400 years into the future, including uncannily relatable characters (a history-buff youngster Max on the run with his robotic, yet loyal dog Oscar). They have demonstrated their keen interest in all things 'ancient' and 'vintage'; sleuthing out the mysteries of objects from the past like a cassette tape in Tape Escape, photos on a mobile phone in Selfie Search, and an old postage stamp from 2019 in Stamp Safari. Macintosh has carefully weaved in suitable language, plenty of humour and suspenseful quests that will hook any tech-loving, sci-fi and mystery-hunting fans, with a clever enticement to finding out about artefacts and technology from the past. Imaginative, creative, the ability to emotionally connect, and so much relevant and important learning potential – the Max Booth series certainly tick all the boxes.
Cameron Macintosh is back for yet another amazing interview (here's the last one) to discuss his books and writing life with us once again. 🙂
Coming from a background in writing for the education market, did you have teaching and learning purposes in mind when you started writing the Max Booth series?
Initially, I was trying to avoid any particular educational purpose beyond just getting kids reading – a major educational objective on its own. I just wanted the stories to be page-turners with lots of laughs along the way. But it didn't take long before I realised they had their own educational potential – not in a didactic way, but in the possibilities they offered for classroom discussions about technology and sustainability, and a range of other issues. The stories deal with future people looking back at objects from our present day, so I figured pretty quickly that they'd offer teachers some interesting angles to discuss technological development, and the positives and negatives that go along with it.
How did you decide what kinds of technological developments to incorporate into the series?
I always intended the series to be episodic, so that any title could be plucked off a shelf and read without any prior knowledge of the characters or their world. I'm glad I chose this option, but it does mean that a little bit of world-building needs to be done in each book. Because of that, I haven't pushed the technological changes too far, except for a few very big ones that don't need too much explanation, including hover-vehicles, floating suburbs, robot companions, and the rarity of a few presently common things such as paper.
Who is the series aimed at?
As far as interest level goes, it's aimed at readers around 7 to 10 years of age. I've tried to make the vocab manageable for less confident readers too, so I especially hope the series can be helpful in encouraging these readers to tackle longer texts. The Max Booth books are all around 12,500 words each.
How did you find the gap to write technology / futuristic-based junior fiction?
Before I fully drafted the first Max story, I did some research to see what future-based books were already out there in the marketplace. Although there was plenty of brilliant futuristic stuff, I couldn't find anything that used the future as a lens to look back at our present day, so I figured I'd potentially found a bit of niche there.
The Max Booth Future Sleuth series makes a great point for readers to connect past and present technology with the possibilities of the future. What are the most significant aspects you'd like your audience to take away from the series?
I'd love readers to think about what a wondrous time we're living in, with regards to the staggering pace of technological development. I'd also love them to consider the potential pitfalls of this development, in terms of environmental ramifications, and also in terms of the potential that technology holds to bring humanity closer together, or possibly divide us further.
I also really hope the series will spark lots of interesting discussions about technology between kids and their parents, grandparents and teachers – particularly about the way some items or ways of life have evolved over the last few generations, and others have remained pretty much the same. (Although, I don't recommend describing pre-internet life to a school-aged person unless you want to feel extremely ancient!)
Do you think that setting stories in the future presents any disadvantages to a storyteller?
There's always the risk of an emotional disconnect with the reader if you let the technological side of things take too much precedence. I'm constantly getting frustrated by sci-fi movies that are so clever and complicated that I lose any real empathy for the characters. And even though you have a lot of freedom in world-building in sci-fi, readers will still expect the world of the story to be believable, and to have its own logical consistency, so there's a lot of balancing to be done along the way.
The Max Booth series is brilliantly and shrewdly illustrated by the talented Dave Atze. By Book 3, was there anything in particular you needed to collaborate on or did he basically have it all covered?
Dave's incredible, isn't he! We're so lucky to have him on board – to have an illustrator who amplifies the pathos, action and humour is a massive privilege. It's always very exciting to see how he interprets the illustration briefs, and to see what fun surprises he adds in. Dave had all of this stuff well and truly nailed in the first book (Tape Escape), so by book 3, it was really just a case of keeping out of his way!
Anything else of excitement you'd like to add? News? Upcoming projects? TBR pile?
Well, the wheels are currently turning to make Max Booth book 4 a reality. I've already seen the cover, which is always a big moment in the journey. As expected, it's rather brilliant – thanks again to Dave, and the incredible team at Big Sky Publishing.
The TBR pile is getting out of hand but it's not a bad problem to have! At the top of the pile is Ottilie Coulter and the Narroway Hunt by Rhiannon Williams, and Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan, and Markus Zusak's Bridge of Clay (Aussie authors are really knocking it out of the park at the moment). Also, Joyce's Ulysses has been sitting there for five years daring me to tackle it (I have a feeling it'll be sitting there at least five more).
Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses, Cameron! It's been a pleasure! 🙂
It's been my great pleasure too. Thanks for such an interesting chat!
Cameron Macintosh can be found at his website, and on blog tour here.
#ByAustralianBuyAustralian
Posted on November 19, 2018 November 17, 2018 Author Romi SharpCategories Author Interviews, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, New Book Releases, Romi SharpTags adventure, Big Sky Publishing, Cameron Macintosh, Dave Atze, Environment, fantasy, friendship, Junior Fiction, Max Booth Future Sleuth, middle grade, mystery, science fiction, Selfie Search, Stamp Safari, Tape Escape
Setting the Scene with Rachel Nightingale
Rachel Le Rossignol, aka Rachel Nightingale, is the debut novelist of young adult fantasy fiction series, Tales of Tarya, including the first two in the trilogy – Harlequin's Riddle and Columbine's Tale. She also happens to be an award-winning playwright, with a musical she wrote set for the stage next year. Rachel has a background in theatre as well, which, when you bring all these creative elements together, you have the perfect blend for a magical series underpinning the gifts of artistry and storytelling and their boundless possibilities. The Tarya Trilogy is about the power of creativity and where it can take you, exploring the states of being within two different realms of another time. Rachel states, 'it was inspired by a quote by Broadway actor Alan Cumming about that in-between place you discover just before you step onstage and enter a different world – a place where anything is possible…'
Rachel is here to discuss her writing journey and the culmination of her passions for the arts and storytelling in her books. Thanks Rachel!
How did you come to be a writer?
Little eight-year-old Rachel decided for me. Sometimes I want to go back in time and talk her out of it and other times I want to pick her up, swing her round and go 'wheeeee!'. It's a fun job but it has its tough moments. Of course, it took many years, lots of writing, two creative writing degrees and a lot of persistence to actually get to the point of being published.
Please tell us a bit about your fascinating background in performance, and how you feel this helps with your storytelling abilities.
I did my first theatre show when I was 17. I was in the chorus of Cinderella, and I was hooked. Over the years I've done just about everything possible, from acting to lighting, sound, direction and stage management. It all feeds into being about to create the atmosphere and reality of theatre in my books. Working for a number of years on the improvised 'Murder on the Puffing Billy Express' show was really important for bringing the players to life on the page, because the Commedia dell'Arte, the travelling players I'm writing about, do improvised shows. Understanding how improv works, and what it feels like to perform something and make it up on the spot, was really important. Plus improv stretches the creativity muscles, which is really helpful.
What kinds of books do you naturally draw inspiration from? Has your series been influenced by any of these titles or their authors?
I love all sorts of books, but if I'm particularly looking for inspiration I go back to Ray Bradbury's short stories. He is a master of language, he understands the human condition so well, and the ideas in his stories are fascinating. I dream of being able to write like him. I think the book out there that is most like mine is The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, since it's about performers and magic, with a dash of romance, but Harlequin's Riddle was written a long time before it was published so it wasn't a source of inspiration.
Columbine's Tale follows the gripping first title, Harlequin's Riddle. What was your process in developing each title and subsequent series? Did you have your plots consciously mapped out beforehand?
The books have changed so much from my original conception, but I think by the time I'd finished Harlequin's Riddle I was pretty clear on the overall story. After that it was just fine-tuning the details. Aside from Mina's quest to find her brother, there's a very strong element of mystery related to the travelling players that Mina has to solve, and to do that properly I needed to be able to put some things in the first book that would only make sense in the third book. So plotting rather than pantsing (flying by the seat of my pants) was definitely the way to go. It means readers can look for clues early on, which is something I always love in a book.
What does the artisan life, costumes and drama mean to you personally?
I would love nothing more than to have a gypsy caravan and travel around, visiting many different places and offering up my stories. I used to pretend I was a gypsy when I was a teenager to make the walk home from school more interesting. I'd picture what I was wearing, and how I would cook over an open fire when I got home. I wish I could spend all my time creating, not doing the shopping or the other mundane tasks of life.
What has your publishing experience with Odyssey Books been like for you? How have they supported you throughout the process?
It's been a sharp learning curve – being a writer and being an author are two different things. The main difference is learning about marketing and social media. But Odyssey have been great – there are company manuals that are super-helpful for knowing how to approach that side of things. And my publisher has a brilliant strategy, which is that she puts new authors in touch with the Odyssey author community, so you suddenly have an amazingly supportive network who can help you negotiate the whole 'being published' thing.
I'm pretty excited at the moment that a musical I wrote is going to be debuted in Auckland next year. It's a re-telling of Aristophane's classical Greek play, The Birds but with funky Spanish rhythms and a lot of comedy. Bach Musica are going to stage a concert version, with a full orchestra, soloists and forty-person choir. I will be travelling over to New Zealand to see it. I can't wait, but I'm terrified at the same time – such a public performance of my work!
Thank you so much for your time, Rachel! It's been a pleasure getting to know more about you and your books.
Rachel and the Tarya Tales can be found at her website, and her book blog tour is taking place here.
Posted on October 31, 2018 October 30, 2018 Author Romi SharpCategories Author Interviews, New Book Releases, Romi SharpTags author interview, Columbine's Tale, fantasy, Harlequin's Riddle, mystery, Nadia Turner, Odyssey Books, Rachel Le Rossignol, Rachel Nightingale, Tarya Tales, young adult
Review: White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig
White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig was such an intensely stressful story that I felt myself tensing up while reading! Which is exactly what I want from a YA thriller, ok?! It scores all the points. It's a twisty story of complicated families, messy broken hearts, drug gangs, arson, and (of course) murder. It's definitely one you need to carve out a block of time to just go ahead and read and read because it's fast paced and every time you think there's an answer? BOOM. It takes you on another twist.
The story follows Rufus Holt who receives a strange call for help from his half-sister. He goes, wary of a prank…but instead he finds his sister drugged, covered in blood, holding a knife, and next to her is her murdered boyfriend. So that's not how Rufus thought his night would go. Between panicking and soliciting begrudging help from his ex-boyfriend (who absolutely broke his heart) he gets pulled into trying to solve the mystery. His sister swears she didn't do it, but the evidence is grim. They know they can't put off calling the cops forever, but they have one night and 6 suspects and surely they can piece together this mess. Except it's complicated by hallucinogenic drugs (called White Rabbits) and kids with guns and no one is telling the full truth….and Sebastian, Rufus' ex, needs to tell him something important. This night couldn't get any more intense.
The whole story is set over just ONE NIGHT. Which makes it absolutely super intense and face-paced! There was such a lot to pack in but I thought the pacing caught it all perfectly. And we get to learn so so much about Rufus, our narrator, and his ex-boyfriend Sebastian even in such a short time period. I was very impressed! The secondary-characters are a little more hazy but that's to be expected, and I think we were left purposefully with gaps to fill in their character sand personalities so we wouldn't solve the mystery too fast!
Rufus Holt was a complex and heartbroken angry boy. He's unintentionally good at puzzles, which is why his half-sister begs for his help. But he has a bad record himself, and he's super scared of getting mixed up in this grisly scene full of drugs, lies and murder. He also has an anger disorder which he takes medication and has therapy for, and I thought it was great the book discussed this! Anger, for some people, can be inevitable, but it's never and excuse or something that can't be dealt with. It's such a good contrast with how Rufus manages his anger issues vs how so many of the other "rich spoiled brat" teens in the book display theirs with super unhealthy behaviours. And look where it's got them.
Of course, Rufus is also dealing with heartbreak from his ex-boyfriend, Sebastian. They both end up trying to solve this mystery together but Rufus is convinced he will NEVER forgive Sebastian. But maybe there's more to what happened between them than Rufus is willing to admit? I loved how they unpacked so many heartfelt moments and I honestly was torn between being furious at Sebastian and feeling really really bad for him. He and Rufus had a lot of chemistry, anger, hurt, and intense feelings still. It showed so so well.
White Rabbit is a murder mystery of lies, passion and shames. And it keeps you glued to the page and guessing the WHOLE way through. I devoured it in just one day and couldn't stop till I had answers. I also am a fan of the author's debut, Last Seen Leaving, so be sure to check that out too!
Posted on August 29, 2018 August 10, 2018 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young AdultTags book review, Cait Drews, lgbtqia, mystery, thriller, young adult
Double Dipping – Middle Grade Novels that Defy Belief
Novelists use the art of suspension of disbelief in an attempt to encourage readers to surrender logic and sacrifice realism for the sake of enjoyment. Children are naturally more susceptible to stories that defy belief purely because their imaginative acceptance is less eroded than ours is. What I admire about these two middle grade novels is their easy ability to captivate the imagination and suspend disbelief, pressuring readers to levels of discomfiture whilst retraining a sense of irrefutable realism. At the end of both, you walk away loving the characters just a little bit more and happily consider risking life, limb and sanity to walk with them all over again.
The Endsister by Penni Russon
Words flow like silken cream from Russon's pen in this entrancing tale of ghosts, family disintegration and returning to ones roots. Told in alternating points of view from each family member and a couple of resident ghosts, this story heaves readers from the gumtree-clad hills of Australia to the history-rich, leafy suburbs of inner London with mysterious charm and grace.
Continue reading Double Dipping – Middle Grade Novels that Defy Belief
Posted on April 30, 2018 May 2, 2018 Author Dimity PowellCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Dimity PowellTags adventure, Allen & Unwin, CBCA Notables, changes, emotions, Family, family relationships, friendship, ghosts, Homelessness, middle grade ficton, mystery, Penni Russon, Scot Gardner, survival, suspense, suspension of disbelief, teen relationships, The Endsister
Turn Back Time – Middle Grade Magic
If you could turn back time, erase your mistakes, remember what you did with your car keys or even better, find those missing precious memories and loved ones, would you? These two middle grade novels explore the premise of losing someone inexplicably and the emotions produced through relentless searching for those missing loved ones.
The IBBY International Children's Book Day logo, 'The small is big in a book' certainly chimes true for A Wrinkle in Time. That it has stood the test of time is testament to this tale (first published in 1963), which I had never read as a child. If I had, I might not have recognised it as a bewitching hybrid of sci-fi, adventure, fantasy, and dystopia. For those living in another dimension like me or have not seen the movie yet, A Wrinkle in Time is a story of discovery and tenacity. It also (re)defines the power of friendship and love.
Continue reading Turn Back Time – Middle Grade Magic
Posted on March 26, 2018 Author Dimity PowellCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Book Reviews - Fiction, Dimity Powell, Film adaptation, New Book ReleasesTags A Wrinkle in Time, adventure, australian author, children, Classic, family relationships, friendships, Madeleine LEngle, middle grade ficton, missing, mystery, social issues, space, Sue Whiting, time travel., Walker Books Australia
Breathtaking Fantasy Adventures for Middle Grade and Young Adults
It's not often I get the opportunity to delve into the depths of fantasy-adventure novels, so the change has been an interesting welcome. If you're a thrill-seeker, a supernatural-hunting-wannabe, a mission-impossible-style adrenalin junkie or courageous-fugitive aspirant, then these following books are for you!
Fenn Halflin and the Seaborn by Francesca Armour-Chelu, July 2017.
Following its predecessor, Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero, this final futuristic fantasy takes the resourceful and brave Fenn Halflin to new depths of heroism. With fantastic, fast-paced action, Fenn and his loyal mongoose Tikki are at the forefront of saving themselves and the Seaborn people from the grips of the merciless Terra Firma and their evil leader, Chilstone. Haunted by his past and his pain, Chilstone literally drowns in his own hatred in response to the inner strength of our protagonist, Fenn. Uncomplicated but enough visualisation to get lost in, the dystopian Fenn Halflin and the Seaborn will sweep its middle grade readers into a spunky science fiction odyssey.
The City of Secret Rivers by Jacob Sager Weinstein, June 2017.
Twelve-year-old Hyacinth gains a lot more than she bargained for when moving from America to London; the place of her ancestry. Drawing on a wonderful mix of real life and an underground magical alternate reality, author Jacob Sager Weinstein literally sweeps us through a series upon romping series of adventure into tunnels, pipes and mazes in the secret sewer systems of London. When something as simple as washing her hands sets off a complicated chain of dangerous events, Hyacinth is thrust into a world of outlandish characters, including muddy Saltpetre Men, toshers and a bather-wearing pig, facing tests of trust, bravery and the acceptance of a whole new identity. All this to save her kidnapped Mom, oh, and the entire city from the Great Fire – plot by the conniving Lady Roslyn. With elements of suspense, humour, excitement and pure terror, The City of Secret Rivers combines the kind of complexity and ingenuity to that of Lewis Carroll and J.K. Rowling all rolled into a fantastical adventure for mid to upper primary-aged children.
William Wenton and the Luridium Thief by Bobbie Peers, April 2017.
First in this exciting new series is William Wenton; an extraordinarily talented codebreaker which lands him in all sorts of strife. Kidnapped by the Institute for Post-Human Research for his code-cracking skills, what follows is a series of mystery, adventure and secret discoveries. Wenton not only discovers the powerful substance, luridium whilst held captive, but also forges a path of self-discovery and identity, as most youngsters do on their journey into adulthood. With cryptic puzzles and fiendish mechanical inventions, the Luridium Thief is a captivating and enigmatic fantasy novel that will immediately hook those upper-primary readers.
The Traitor and the Thief by Gareth Ward, August 2017.
More secrets, spies and being hunted. Another thrilling steampunk story for older readers, The Traitor and the Thief is essentially about fourteen-year-old petty thief Sin, on his own mission of soul-searching, relationship-building, and becoming a saviour. Caught and recruited into the Covert Operations Group (COG), Sin is trained to be an agile spy with mastery in weaponry and technology in order to uncover truths and conquer dangerous adventures. With quirkiness and elements of imaginative realities, as well as a touch of budding young romance and navigating teenagehood, this fantasy novel suits those readers out for a good mystery mixed with adventure.
Alex Rider: Never Say Die (Book 11) by Anthony Horowitz, June 2017.
From the bestselling series here is a new mission for Alex Rider, a fifteen-year-old adopted into a writerly family, and recruited by the M16 agents. Intensely terrifying adventure leads to clues as to the whereabouts of his female guardian, Jack – ultimately held for ransom by a terrorist organisation. Set in Cairo, and packed with plot twists and turns, Never Say Die is an exciting and absolutely gripping explosion of action and adrenalin that will have its readers on tender hooks until the end.
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, including authors Cassandra Clare, Sarah Ress Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, May 2017.
To fully immerse oneself in this latest volume of the 'Shadowhunters' series, background knowledge and loyalty to best-selling YA author, Cassandra Clare would be ideal. In essence of the Harry Potter-style ideology of mixing realms between the normal and the magical variety, these tales confront protecting the 'mundane' world from the dangers of the supernatural beings. With ten short stories written by four authors and varying in complexity, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy fans will, I'm sure, relish learning of every new skill, memory and life discovery of its central character, human / vampire / Shadowhunter Simon Lewis.
Posted on July 20, 2017 Author Romi SharpCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, New Book Releases, Romi SharpTags Action, adrenalin, adventure, Alex Rider Never Say Die, Anthony Horowitz, Bobbie Peers, Cassandra Clare, fantasy, Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero, Fenn Halflin and the Seaborn, Francesca Armour-Chelu, Gareth Ward, Jacob Sager Weinstein, Maureen Johnson, middle grade, mystery, Robin Wasserman, Sarah Ress Brennan, steampunk, supernatural, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, The City of Secret Rivers, The Traitor and the Thief, Walker Books, William Wenton and the Luridium Thief, young adult
Review: This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston
This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston was an amazingly intriguing murder mystery. I didn't want to put it down! It's set in a small town where controversies are often hushed up, but this time a teen who aspires to be a lawyer is determined to get to the truth of what happened when five boys when hunting and only four came back. And that premise entirely captivated and intrigued me! There's nothing like a bit o' murder amongst friends and a teen girl who is going to see through the lies and bring justice. I am a fan.
Basically the story takes off with Kate's boss taking on this case of a "hunting accident"…although he's suspicious that it's murder. Due to failing health, he has Kate doing a lot of the footwork to gather evidence and get to the bottom of which of the 4 boys shot their friend, Grant. Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Kate's life is further complicated by the fact she had a secret friendship with Grant…and now he's dead. She wants justice for him and sees the other 4 boys involved as rich, entitled, and cruel fiends. Or are they?
I'm really pleased it featured quite a lot of the lawyer/case working side of the tale! Usually that's the part that's brushed over in the YA crime novels I tend to find…so it was great to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of that part of the case solving. All the attorney storylines felt really realistic and intriguing!
Kate was a very winning protagonist too. Although she did make a lot of dumb decisions, including getting involved with one of the boys when she's explicitly told not to talk to them. Obviously that's going to happen and obviously that's going to go badly. But despite the slight clicheness of that aspect, I still enjoyed it! I liked getting to know the boys, even though they all seemed pretty evil. I also enjoyed the fact there was no instalove, but actual developed friendships and relationships. Such a relief! And on top of that, Kate actually had a really epic female friend, so the book was winning for positive girl relationships too.
I, of course, was very interested to know the killer. There are four boys alive and despite their jerky behaviour, they all have complex layers that Kate has to unwind to figure out what they're hiding. I would've liked to got to know the boys deeper?? But the mysteriousness of them did keep the "but whodunnit" aspect of the story fresh and full of pressure. One of the boys anonymously narrates every second chapter, too, providing us with clues to try and figure it out. I loved that! Just let me get my Sherlock Holmes hat.
The writing was engaging although on the slower side. But if I couldn't stop reading, that makes it a solid win right?? It made sure to include lots of details and also frequents trips to eat fast food because lawyers don't sleep apparently. Seems legit.
In summary: This Is Our Story is an engaging murder mystery that leaves you freaking out till the last page. You won't get answers until the last minute and then you'll be thrilled how it all comes together. It's full of surprises and plot twists, with a cosy setting that is more sinister than it seems, and a protagonist you can't help but root for!
Posted on March 27, 2017 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young AdultTags book review, Cait Drews, crime novel, mystery, young adult
Review: Damage Done by Amanda Panitch
Okay WOW. Damage Done by Amanda Panitch was simultaneously glorious and terrifying. It's a thriller about a school-shooting and the plot twists had me absolutely enthralled. I'm actually very hard to surprise…having read, like, a million and two books. (That's a very accurate statistic of course.) But this one definitely hooked my attention and had me shrieking at the end.
What Is The Story About?
22 minutes separate Julia Vann's before and after. Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend. After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and a memory of those twenty-two minutes that refuses to come into focus. At least, that's what she tells the police. Now that she's Lucy Black, her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school. And someone much more dangerous. She thought her brother's crimes were behind her. But now she's being forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind. How far will Julia go to keep her slate clean? One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It's only just beginning…
The story takes off when Julia and her parents are moving to a new town for a fresh start after her twin, Ryan, shot 11 people at their old school. So we basically get Julia's feelings of fear of the future, denial of the past, missing-her-brother-even-though-he's-a-monster, and trying to stay undercover. Which, totally doesn't work out. Since it's from the persepctive of the shooter's sister, it reminded me of Hate List by Jennifer Brown (which I also highly recommend if you like a feelsy punch in the guts). Julia was surprisingly held together though and managed to keep up some wit and the semblance of trying to have a life despite all of these. Go Julia.
There were a few times where I had to "suspend disbelief" though. That's literally my only negative. There are a lot of convenient plot developments and police fumbles that really wouldn't happen in real life.
But other than that? The rest of the story was perfect and engaging and TERRIFYING. I loved the writing style! I adored Julia's voice. She has this mixture of slightly self-deprecating humour meshed with intense traumatised meltdowns. She felt venerable but coping at the beginning. I also loved her obsession with hot chocolate. I MEAN WHO DOESN'T LIKE HOT CHOCOLATE?!?
Also I'll take a moment to say Michael was the perfect love interest. He was adorable. He cooked for her (!!) and any guy who makes a girl an omelette or from-scratch lasagna is a winner. Also, Julia's best friend, Alane, was pretty epic too. I was really impressed at how fleshed-out, dimensional and interesting all the secondary characters were. It made the world feel very real.
The plot twist will absolutely KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. Obviously I can say no more because of spoilers but woah. I was sucked in. It was perfectly revealed (although there were a few info dumps at the end) and I was glued to the page.
This is a thriller that's not to be missed! It totally twists your brain and it's addictive to read. Don't let the calm contemporary-feeling beginning lull you. At the beginning it's a school story with a cute boy and cafes and a little bit of trauma — and then the ending just GETS YOU. This is positively wonderful.
Posted on March 8, 2016 March 15, 2016 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young AdultTags book review, Cait Drews, mystery, thriller, young adult fiction
Review: Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer
I had zero idea of what to expect from Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer. And what did this glorious conglomeration of paper give me? AN INCREDIBLE, MIND BLOWING STORY. I am such a fan. I'm absolutely going to dig out Brigid Kemmerer's other series (The Elementals) to and devour it immediately because this author is marvellous.
Thicker Than Water is basically the story of Thomas Bellweather, who moved to a small, backwoods sort of town with his mother after she re-married a cop. THEN SHE IS MURDERED. Thomas looks very guilty. He's totally friendless in this town and everyone thinks he did it. But he befriends Charlotte and they try to solve the mystery.
Although the thing to note is this is a paranormal murder-mystery thriller. I didn't know that when I started, so I confess: I was thrown. But it's still set in an "normal" sort of town and the story is like 80% reality and 20% paranormal.
Thomas and Charlotte's relationship is basically a "forbidden romance". Everyone thinks Thomas is a killer and Charlotte has an entire family (!!) in the police force; father plus three brothers. They do NOT want her anywhere near a potential killer. But I loved how low burning their relationship was though! They're attracted at first, but neither really acts upon it. And it's entirely adorable how they learn to trust each other.
A Small List Of Other Things I Loved About This Book:
I was absolutely rooted to my chair. I could not stop reading. It's been aaages since a book has gripped me this much!
The characters were all fantastic. It's dual narrated by both Thomas and Charlotte. And even though it's in 1st person for both (which I usually find confusing) they both had very distinct voices. Plus I loved them both so there was no sighing at the alternating POVs.
Thomas was an incredible creature. He was really angry and bitter, particularly since everyone was condemning him for this murder he didn't do. He was frustrated and lashed out a lot…but I really understood him. And there was so much emotion! When he'd struggle not to cry….oops. THERE GO MY EMOTIONS TOO.
Charlotte made some pretty dumb decisions when chasing after him (and was constantly being hurt…okay, she was slightly a bit of a damsel) but I can't blame her because Thomas was intensely interesting.
I do have much love for Charlotte too! She has Type 1 Diabetes and she has a huge family (lots of cops) and they're all very traditional and want her to be a "lady". She's often left with the dishes and treated as a child, despite being nearly 18. So she quietly struggles with the sexism of her family life, too, but she still adores her family and they're all so loving. I adore reading about big families!
Plus Charlotte really loved to cook. There is so much FOOD in this book. Please bring a snack when you start to read it.
It's set in a sleepy small summery town and I felt so sucked into the atmosphere. Excellent writing!
The murder mystery aspect kept me on my toes, too! I was REALLY curious how it'd play out in the end, especially when the paranormal aspects came out.
The twists will probably leave you shrieking.
Thicker Than Water was definitely a solid win for me! I loved the writing and the characters (I mean, aren't characters the best part of a book anyway?!) and the fact that my eyeballs were glued to the page. And maybe the paranormal aspects did take the realism out of it, but it still made the book so thrilling and addictive and exciting. The ending was left WIDE open, though, and I'm clamouring for a sequel!
[Purchase Here]
Posted on March 2, 2016 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young AdultTags book reviews, Cait Drews, murder, mystery, Paranormal, thrillers, young adult
Whodunnit?! A List of YA Murder Mysteries
There's nothing like a good, solid murder mystery to curl up with in the evening. After — you know — you've double checked all your doors are locked and armed yourself with with a deathly looking lampshade and a fearsome whisk for protection. (Sometimes books feel real, okay?!) And if you like the Young Adult variety, oh oh, have I got a list for you.
YA Murder Mysteries You Need To Consume
EVERY BREATH by Ellie Marney
Not only is this by a homegrown Aussie author, it's also a Sherlock Holmes retelling. (Can it seriously get anymore awesome than that?!) It's set in Melbourne and follows Rachel Watts and her best friend James Mycroft as they solve a murder the police don't seem to care about. It's absolutely stuffed with Australian slang (!!) and humour and gallons of tea.
Best of all…it's a trilogy! Don't forget to check out Every Word and Every Move (the last one I haven't read yet, but I am impatiently awaiting its arrival in the mail because I'm 90000% sure this series can do no wrong).
DANGEROUS GIRLS by Abigail Haas
This is the kind of book that will leave you spinning. It was my first taste of a REAL murder mystery, where the protagonist is the "accused" and we watch her go through courts and trials to see if she's guilty or not. The backstory unravels as you read. A couple of teens…off on a beach holiday…what could go wrong?! (Um, everything.)
I'm still in shock over the ending. It absolutely took my breath away and it's masterfully written!
AS RED AS BLOOD by Salla Simukka
It's about Lumikki who lives in Finland (!!) and becomes tangled up in a cacophony of blood soaked money. She's like the Finnish Nancy Drew, basically. And she's awesome. She loves liquorice and black coffee and comics, so basically she won my heart right then and there — and then she went on to be awesome at solving mysteries too.
Also this book is TINY. It's like 240-pages and you won't be able to put it down.
THE NATURALS by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I was so so chilled while reading this. It's about kids with supernatural abilities who track down murderers. And the narrator, Cassie, has the ability to "read" people (nearly in a Sherlock Holmes way, too…except hers is supernatural). It's pretty gruesome and gritty and wow.
It also has a sequel: Killer Instinct.
I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER by Dan Wells
So the title sounds pretty incriminating, right? Um, yes. BUT ANYWAY! It is about John Wayne Cleaver, who is not a serial killer but is definitely a sociopath. His family business is a morgue (how fitting) and he gets caught up trying to solve a supernatural murder mystery. So think demons and monsters for this one, folks. And possibly you will find yourself hiding under the covers and suppressing a need to scream. I understand, I do.
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon
Okay, it's only a dog that's murdered…but it's still a big deal for the narrator, okay?! Christopher is Autistic and super smart and determined to find the killer of his neighbour's dog. This one is more about tugging at the heart strings, but it still involves mystery and family secrets and timeless coming-of-age story line.
Posted on October 20, 2015 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book NewsTags Cait Drews, murder, mystery, young adult
Review: When You Leave by Monica Ropal
Okay, wow, this book took me by surprise. It did look delicious, of course (I'm notorious for picking up books based on extreme cover love) and the promise of muuuurder (I'm normal, I swear) added an extra hook. But the first 30% was so much teen angst, cheating relationships, lying, and general meanness all round that I was about to throw up my hands and run away. I'm SO glad I didn't. When You Leave by Monica Ropal developed into a mind whirling whodunnit mystery.
I'm definitely a fan of murder mysteries. And this book's ending is EXTRAORDINARY.
It's narrated by Cass. She's a snarky skater and goes to a private school where she doesn't really "belong". She's built walls to stop herself being hurt because her BFF, Mattie, nearly died of throat cancer when they were kids. She still has her tight-knit group of skater friends, but is an absolute snob to the rich kids at her school. Cass was pretty unlikeable, but she's supposed to be that way. This is a story of her growing. I really liked the end result and her character development was well written.
SO. MURDER? Someone kills a kid, Cooper, at Cass' school. BUT WHO DID IT?! I couldn't figure it out! I suspected EVERYONE. One of Cass' skater friends is the police's suspect, but what if it was one of Cooper's jock friends? WHAT IF IT WAS MATTIE?!! I loved Mattie. He was a sweetie, and also mute, but as he and Cass grew apart through the stress in the story…I worried about him being a suspect too. I literally couldn't put the book down after 60%!
There is romance, since Cooper (pre-death; there are no zombies in this book unfortunately) and Cass were a secret couple. But it really isn't the focus, which is refreshing in YA since everything usually seems so romance focused. Mattie and Cass have an awesome friendship that was purely platonic. I found it quite refreshing!
I have a few negatives, mainly that:
The beginning was a bit sleepy. Still intriguing though! Just make sure you push past that to get to the scary, juicy parts.
I worried about Mattie, who is mute, having zero forms of communication!! (This isn't really a negative on the storytelling, though.) The book says he speaks solely through his "eyes", but how is that logical? Let me snort. No one can go through life communicating JUST like that, yet, even in his final years of high school he didn't appear to be learning sign language. So I questioned the realism, but that's really only a tiny issue.
I definitely enjoyed this one! The mystery was so well done and literally EVERYONE was a liar at some point and it was so so suspicious. I loved Cass by the end and totally recommend this to fans of contemporaries and mysteries and lovers of books like We Were Liars.
"I'm afraid…that when the next person leaves with a piece of my heart..there won't be anything left." ~ When You Leave
[PURCHASE WHEN YOU LEAVE]
Posted on June 21, 2015 June 21, 2015 Author Cait DrewsCategories Book Reviews - Childrens and Young AdultTags Cait Drews, contemporary fiction, mystery, young adult
What I'm reading this Christmas: Anna O'Grady, Simon & Schuster
Anna O'Grady in front of her home library
Thanks to Anna O'Grady for talking to Boomerang Books today, and sharing your Christmas picks with us. First, let's find out more about you and some of the books you've been working on.
You're the Marketing and Publicity Manager at Simon & Schuster. What does your job entail?
How much time do we have? I like describing it as 'parenting' a book and making sure that I find the best possible home for it. It all starts by understanding who would enjoy the particular title, and then the fun part of thinking of the best means of reaching that audience. Nowadays there are so many different ways that this can be achieved.
In the last few months I've worked on creating online trailers and ads, organized blog tours, pitched titles to festivals, events and media and talked to our book loving community over various social media channels.
How did you get this job?
I am the third generation working in the book world from a family of booksellers and publishers. For the better part of my life I have been lucky enough to continue our family tradition across six different countries. However, bookselling is rapidly changing and for a few years I have wanted to try my hand in a publishing house. All the stars aligned really well this year and I ended up with the amazing team at Simon & Schuster Australia. I have learnt a tremendous amount but it also has been a lot of fun.
What is different/special about Simon & Schuster?
One of the things I really like about Simon & Schuster is that it is a small publishing house. There are just over 20 people in the office and that means that there are opportunities to try different things in different areas of the book business. For example, even though my official role is within the marketing and publicity department, I am also part of the acquisition team – so I have a chance to read new manuscripts and contribute to the decision on publishing these.
I also really love the staff's passion for books we publish within the Simon & Schuster program. A lot of larger houses release so many books that it is physically impossible for everybody to be familiar with all titles. Our publishing program is small enough that almost everybody in-house can read all the books we publish and be able to meet all the authors in person. I really love being in an office where everybody reads and where books are celebrated every day.
I suspect you love all the books you work on, but could you tell us about some that you are particularly proud of?
It has been quite a year for me, and I often feel in awe of the amazing authors that I have been taking care of. I will highlight two – only because they are so completely different. The first one was my campaign for debut author Ellie O'Neill's book Reluctantly Charmed. Debuts are notoriously difficult to break out, but I felt special pressure on this one because everybody at Simon & Schuster loved this book. In the end we had a great campaign that was embraced by a major sponsor – Tourism Ireland – and also created a lot of buzz in the book blogging community. I am already looking forward to the second book from Ellie coming next year.
The other campaign that will probably stay in mind for a very long time was A Thousand Shards of Glass by Michael Katakis. Although Michael is a world class photographer, an overseer of the intellectual property of Hemingway and an author of very thought provoking books, he is very little known in Australia. We decided to bring him here for a tour and I had the task of arranging events and media for his tour. This took several months and many, many phone calls and emails to organize. Because Michael is relatively unknown some event organizers took some persuasion and were hesitant to the last moment. In the end the response to Michael's tour was exceptional and well worth all our efforts. I have never seen such an emotional reader–writer reaction, with many people moved to tears at events, and many readers calling and sending emails – and in one instance hand delivering a letter of thank you to our offices. There is nothing more special than seeing that connection in front of my eyes and knowing that I helped make it happen.
What do you see as the way forward in the book industry?
I have been watching the book industry very carefully for at least 20 years now and I find some changes painful, but I also see a lot of great things on the horizon. I think that we might be experiencing a new golden age of storytelling. There are more people reading than ever before, and they access books in many formats and ways. But what is even more exciting is that readers have more to say, and the means to say it, than ever before. The future of the publishing industry is in deepening the connection to readers and embracing new ways of telling and experiencing stories. I have no doubt that great books and storytellers will always find their audience.
What are your must-reads over Christmas?
I have been building my little Christmas stack for a while now – and as usual I am probably overambitious. Here are the titles that are currently sitting in my Christmas pile: The Fly Trap by Fredrik Sjoberg; The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel; In Certain Circles by Elizabeth Harrower; The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber; and This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein – but who knows what other gems I might find under my Christmas tree.
What is your secret reading pleasure?
I really enjoy many YA novels, love a good mystery, and have a fascination with horror fiction. For me some of the great horror and crime writers are amongst the best at the craft of writing – although critics often disregard them.
Thanks very much for speaking with us, Anna.
You're most welcome, it's been a pleasure.
Posted on December 9, 2014 Author Tracey AllenCategories Book News, Joy Lawn, Tracey AllenTags A Thousand Shards of Glass, Christmas recommended reads, Cracking Christmas reads, Crime Fiction, Elizabeth Harrower, Ellie O'Neill, Fredrik Sjoberg, hilary mantel, Holiday Reading, horror, In Certain Circles, Michael Katakis, Michel Faber, mystery, Naomi Klein, non-fiction, Reluctantly Charmed, Simon & Schuster, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, The Book of Strange New Things, The Fly Trap, This Changes Everything, YA Books, YA Fiction


text:
Image copyright PA Media Image caption Owen Jones was attacked during a night out to celebrate his birthday A man launched an unprovoked attack on Guardian columnist Owen Jones because of his sexuality and political views, a judge has ruled. James Healy, 40, admitted assaulting Mr Jones by The Lexington pub in Islington last year […]
Image copyright Met Police Image caption Leo Marcus suffered 14 separate injuries during the attack in July last year A man has been jailed for life for robbing and murdering a drugs courier in south-east London. Drug dealer Shackim Purnell-Taylor stabbed 22-year-old Leo Marcus in the heart during the attack in Woolwich on 10 July […]
Lukasz Fabianski suffered the injury as he took a 13th-minute goal-kick on Friday West Ham United keeper Lukasz Fabianski will be out for a "couple of weeks" following a scan on his hip injury. Fabianski, 34, suffered a reaction when taking a goal-kick during the 1-0 Premier League loss Sheffield United. The Poland international has […]
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored his first Premier League goal as Chelsea returned to winning ways at Stamford Bridge with a comfortable victory over struggling Burnley. The England winger showed a nice bit of opportunism, stealing in to the box to finish off Cesar Azpilicueta's chipped ball, to net his side's third and seal the win shortly […]
Neil Golding is a lawyer at at London-based Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Saracens have named lawyer Neil Golding as their new chairman as they look to recover from the salary cap scandal. The club were deducted 35 points and fined £5.36m after an inquiry into business dealings between ex-chairman Nigel Wray and some Sarries players. Wray […]
Koko Camden: Fire engulfs famous music venue
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionOne third of the roof of Koko in Camden was on fire at one point, the London Fire Brigade says One of London's most famous music venues has been badly damaged in an overnight blaze. The dome on the roof of Koko in Camden has been destroyed […]
Crystal Palace v Derby County, FA Cup third round
Preview followed by live coverage of Sunday's FA Cup third-round game between Crystal Palace and Derby County. plumbers Slough Source link
Ethical veganism is philosophical belief, tribunal rules
Image copyright PA Media Image caption Mr Casamitjana describes himself as an ethical vegan and campaigns to get his message to others Ethical veganism is a "philosophical belief" and so is protected in law, a tribunal has ruled for the first time. The case was brought by vegan Jordi Casamitjana, who claims he was sacked […]
New Year's Eve: Police warning as UK prepares for 2020
Image copyright PA Media Image caption Fireworks are let off from Edinburgh Castle as part of the Hogmanay New Year celebrations Police are warning people not to attend New Year celebrations on the River Thames in London without a ticket, as spectators gather to usher in 2020. More than 100,000 tickets have been bought for […]
Anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on London shops and cafes
Image copyright PA Media Image caption A council worker removed the graffiti which someone had covered with a note wishing all people "Peace and Good Will" Anti-Semitic graffiti has been daubed on a synagogue and several shops in north London during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The Star of David, a Jewish holy symbol, and […]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hi, Sian here for BBC Learning English.
And today, we're going to look at these two little words.
but they don't have the same meaning.
We use 'been' to talk about complete visits.
and now she's back in the UK.
and she's still in Paris now.
Been – you go somewhere and return.
Gone – you go somewhere but don't return.


text:
Clinical profile and survival outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome in a rural tertiary care hospital
Nakul Kadam1, Sourya Acharya1, Samarth Shukla2, Nitin Raisinghani1, Aditya Khandekar1
1 Department of Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Pathology, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
Dr. Sourya Acharya
Department of Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra
Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by rapid onset severe dyspnea, hypoxemia, and diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates leading to respiratory failure. This syndrome can occur even without primary damage to the lung parenchyma, and thus, they are more often classified as ARDS due to pulmonary and extrapulmonary causes. Mortality estimates range from 26% to 44% in different studies. There are several critical care scores that are in vogue in intensive care units. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical profile of ARDS and along with that the study also intended to correlate the outcome of ARDS patients with reference to these critical care scores and try to establish which score would be best to prognosticate ARDS. Aims: This study aims to study the clinical profile and survival outcome of ARDS in a rural tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: All patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria as per the 1994 American European Consensus Conference on ARDS definition of ARDS were included in the study. The severity of ARDS was measured by various critical care scores such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score (MODS), Lung Injury Score (LIS), and Sequential Organ Dysfunction Assessment (SOFA score). Results: The ratio of male and female (male: female) was 1.7:1.0. Proportion of males (62.5%) was significantly higher than that of females (37.5%) (Z = 3.53;P < 0.001). Clinical disorders pneumonia (35%), sepsis with multiorgan failure (27.5%), and tropical infections (21.5%) were significantly higher than that of other etiologies (Z = 3.68;P < 0.0001). The mean age, APACHE-II score, SOFA score, LIS, and MODS were significantly higher of the patients who died during treatment as compared to the patients who were discharged alive (P < 0.0001). In receiver operating characteristics/area under curve (AUC) analysis, AUC of MODS followed by SOFA score was higher than that of other scores. Thus, MODS Score was as good as SOFA score to predict death. Conclusion: In this study, the primary pulmonary infection/pneumonia, septicemia, and tropical infections were the leading causes of ARDS. Among the various scores; MODS and SOFA score predicted the mortality more accurately.
Kadam N
Acharya S
Shukla S
Raisinghani N
Khandekar A
Lung injury score
multiorgan dysfunction score
sequential organ dysfunction assessment score


Comments: Sodium membrane channels for gpi model neuron, from traub et al. (1991), sah (1988) data. No apparent model db ancestors. Modeling study that uses morphology and other data from monkey, and other physiology information from rat ep, the gp analogue.
Temperature: Kinetics originally recorded at 23 deg C, modified for simulations here at 36 deg C. No standard temperature dependence.


Sometimes I forget what a gorgeous place I live in. When the rain of winter gets to me and I hide in a dark house I forget my own advice: "don't forget to look up". In other word don't get mired in the small petty things that are directly under your feet.


text:
Microsoft Dynamics Partner Roundup: HighJump acquired; Vertical-oriented partnership; D365 for materials handling; Lean project delivery
by Bryan Ray | posted in: Cloud/SAAS, Microsoft Dynamics | 0
By: Linda Rosencrance
Körber Acquires HighJump – a Leading US-American Supply Chain and Cloud Solutions Specialist
International technology group Körber has acquired supply chain software company HighJump. A Microsoft Gold Partner, HighJump's supply chain suite integrates to Microsoft Dynamics ERP products,
The purchase of HighJump will be from its parent company, Accellos Holdings and its primary investor, Accel-KKR, a technology focused investment firm, according to company officials. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With the acquisition of HighJump, the Körber Group aims to be the technology leader in the SCM (supply chain management) software segment, according to company officials.
"Körber AG will be a tremendous long-term strategic and financial partner for HighJump," said Chad Collins, CEO of HighJump, in a statement. "We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues from the business area logistics systems, such as Inconso, Aberle Software and DMLogic and the entire Körber Group, to establish a market leading position in this ever-changing supply chain environment."
TRIMIT and PA Group USA Announce Partnership
TRIMIT, a provider of industry-specific software solutions for fashion, furniture and configurable manufacturing, and PA Group USA, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Dynamics ERP, are joining forces
PA Group will work with companies to implement TRIMIT's software. This will help PA Group's customers get full transparency throughout their business processes, bring new products to market quicker, and drive growth, officials of the companies said in a statement.
"We are always looking for ways deliver business value for our customers. With TRIMIT, we believe we can provide companies the right software solution to optimize their potential and help employees become even more productive," said Bradley Hanon, CEO at PA Group, in a statement.
Hanon stated that TRIMIT is a business software solution and by using a standardized approach to implementation projects, PA Group's consultants will be more efficient when scoping and implementing solutions, and deliver significantly faster.
Find your next exciting ERP/CRM opportunity here at DynamicsFocus, LLC
Briggs Equipment Selects the Customer Engagement Equipment Dealer Solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 as CRM Platform and Edgewater Fullscope as Technology Partner
Fullscope Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edgewater Technology Inc. and a provider of Microsoft Dynamics 365, has announced that Briggs Equipment has selected its Customer Engagement Equipment Dealer Solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 to enhance the customer experience via its sales, service and marketing efforts.
Briggs selected Dynamics 365 for sales, marketing and service with the expertise of Edgewater Fullscope to develop a solution that fits well with "who we are and where we want to go in terms of the business changes desired," says Courtney Harvey, senior vice president, operations at Briggs Equipment, in a statement.
"We look forward to working with Briggs Equipment," says David Kohar, managing director at Edgewater Fullscope, in the statement. "They have a tremendous opportunity to maximize client relationships and follow on sales by automating their processes with the Customer Engagement Equipment Dealer Solution and the Dynamics 365 platform."
ADEACA Announces Lean Productivity Breakthrough for Project Organizations
Microsoft industry partner Adeaca, a company specializing in ERP solutions for project-oriented industries, has successfully adapted lean management practices to project-driven organizations.
This new approach aims to increase the productivity of project organizations as it did for manufacturing when lean production was introduced, according to company officials.
ADEACA's flagship solution ADEACA ONE, built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP, is a unified project solution that brings lean methodology to project companies so they can operate in real time, eliminating waste and exercising greater control over profitability, risk and project delivery, company officials said.
Any company that organizes client-facing activities in projects, such as construction, engineer-to-order manufacturing, professional services, or aerospace and defense, can take advantage of these lean practices to reduce waste and maximize customer value, officials said.
"Project enterprises are fundamentally different than traditional manufacturing, retail, or distribution companies," said Daniel Bévort, chief executive officer of Adeaca, in a statement. "We are bringing the same success that traditional industries have enjoyed from lean thinking to project indus
About Linda Rosencrance
Linda Rosencrance is a freelance writer/editor in the Boston area. Rosencrance has over 25 years experience as an reporter/investigative reporter, writing for many newspapers in the metropolitan Boston area. Rosencrance has been writing about information technology for the past 16 years.
She has covered a variety of IT subjects, including Microsoft Dynamics, mobile security issues such as data loss prevention, network management, secure mobile app development, privacy, cloud computing, BI, big data, analytics, HR, CRM, ERP, and enterprise IT.
Rosencrance is the author of six true crime books for Kensington Publishing Corp.


Q: I want to volunteer for the 2019 Kia Classic. How do I sign up?
A: Registration is now closed for the 2019 Kia Classic.
Q: My child wants to volunteer for the Kia Classic. Do you accept Junior volunteers?
A: Yes. Junior volunteers must be at least 14 years old to volunteer for the Kia Classic. Use code "junior2019" when registering. Volunteer positions include Standard Bearer, Range, and Merchandise Tent. If your child is under 16 they must be accompanied by an adult.
Q: How much does it cost to volunteer? What do I receive for volunteering?
A:The volunteer package costs $70 and includes a shirt, jacket, hat, backpack, meal for each shift worked, tickets for family and friends and many other perks.
Q: Is there a returning volunteer discount?
A: A returning volunteer discount is not being offered this year.
Q: Do volunteers/his or her family members receive any discounted tickets?
A: No. However, every volunteer will receive 6 tickets they may give to their family and friends. Your volunteer credential will serve as your ticket into the tournament.
Q: What is the time commitment for volunteering? How many hours and shifts would I volunteer?
A: All volunteers will be required to volunteer a minimum of three shifts each lasting approximately five to six hours. Volunteers are responsible for arriving to their assigned positions on time. The LPGA will conduct training sessions for each committee in March. Volunteers are expected to attend their training session which will last approximately one hour.
A: After the completion of 3 shifts, volunteers will be given one golf voucher for the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Course. Please see restrictions on voucher for details.
Q: Can I sign up with friends?


text:
Q: Why do my unit tests pass with Chrome and fail with PhantomJS? I am using Angular2 final (2.0.2) with angular-cli.
I am trying to set it up for running unit tests with PhantomJS.
Running the specs with Chrome and karma-chrome-launcher works - all tests pass.
Running the same with Phantomjs-prebuilt 2.1.13 and karma-phantomjs-launcher 1.0.2 tests fail.
I added the phantomjs launcher to the plugins array in karma.conf, as well as PahntomJS in the browsers array.
The error I am getting is:

PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Mac OS X 0.0.0) DataTableFormat should transform date
  in milliseconds FAILED
          ReferenceError: Can't find variable: Intl in src/main/js/test.ts (line 53565)
          intlDateFormat@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/common/src/facade/intl.js:117:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:53565:20
          webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/common/src/facade/intl.js:148:36
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:53596:59
          dateFormatter@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/common/src/facade/intl.js:157:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:53605:39
          format@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/common/src/facade/intl.js:192:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:53640:29
          transform@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/common/src/pipes/date_pipe.js:92:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:70473:90
          transform@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/src/main/js/app/pages/+platform/events/data-table/data-table.pipe.ts:9:4418
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:52698:5787
          webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/src/main/js/app/pages/+platform/events/data-table/data-table.pipe.spec.ts:20:30
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:60923:30
          execute@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/core/bundles/core-testing.umd.j
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:2997:28
          webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/@angular/core/bundles/core-testing.umd.js:951:32
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:3084:56
          invoke@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:203:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:98886:33
          onInvoke@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/proxy.js:72:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:68790:45
          invoke@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:202:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:98885:42
          run@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:96:0 <-
  src/main/js/test.ts:98779:49
          webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/jasmine-patch.js:91:27
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:68526:53
          execute@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/jasmine-patch.js:119:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:68554:46
          execute@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/jasmine-patch.js:119:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:68554:46
          invokeTask@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:236:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:98919:42
          runTask@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:136:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:98819:57
          drainMicroTaskQueue@webpack:///Users/sninio/dev/csp-ui/~/zone.js/dist/zone.js:368:0
  <- src/main/js/test.ts:99051:42 PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Mac OS X 0.0.0)
  DataTableFormat should transform date string FAILED

Maybe I am missing some configuration in the test.ts file created by angular-cli?
UPDATE:
Seems the only tests that fail import DatePipe and JsonPipe.
I tried to also import @angular/common/testing in test.ts but that doesn't help - they are not exported in the relevant index.js.
Also tried importing the entire @angular/common/pipes but that didn't work either.
here is the Pipe:
import { Pipe, PipeTransform } from "@angular/core";
import { DatePipe, JsonPipe } from "@angular/common";

@Pipe({name: 'dataTableFormat'})
export class DataTablePipe implements PipeTransform {

    // values with type 'json' are parsed to json. As a result, string values may be displayed with quotes ("<string>").
    // To avoid that, we remove these quotes with this regex
    private quotesExp: RegExp = /^\"|\"$/gi;

    constructor(private datePipe: DatePipe, private jsonPipe: JsonPipe) {

    }

    transform(value: any, type: string): string {
        switch (type) {
            case "date":
                return this.datePipe.transform(value, 'short');
            case "json":
                return this.jsonPipe.transform(value).replace(this.quotesExp, "");
            default:
                return value;
        }
    }
}

and the spec:
import { inject, TestBed } from "@angular/core/testing";
import { DataTablePipe } from "./data-table.pipe";
import { DatePipe, JsonPipe } from "@angular/common";

describe('DataTableFormat', () => {

    beforeEach(() => {
        TestBed.configureTestingModule({
            providers: [
                DatePipe, JsonPipe
            ]
        });

    });

    it('should transform date in milliseconds', inject([DatePipe, JsonPipe], (datePipe, jsonPipe) => {
        let pipe = new DataTablePipe(datePipe, jsonPipe);
        let testDate: Date = new Date();

        expect(pipe.transform(testDate.getTime(), 'date')).toBe(datePipe.transform(testDate, 'short'));
    }));

    it('should transform date string', inject([DatePipe, JsonPipe], (datePipe, jsonPipe) => {
        let pipe = new DataTablePipe(datePipe, jsonPipe);
        let testDate: Date = new Date();

        expect(pipe.transform(testDate.toISOString(), 'date')).toBe(datePipe.transform(testDate, 'short'));
    }));

    it('should transform json', inject([DatePipe, JsonPipe], (datePipe, jsonPipe) => {
        let pipe = new DataTablePipe(datePipe, jsonPipe);
        let testJson = {
            prop1: "val1",
            prop2: "val2"
        };

        expect(pipe.transform(testJson, 'json')).toBe(jsonPipe.transform(testJson));
    }));

});

here is my test.ts file - didn't change it much from the one generated by angular-cli...
import "./polyfills.ts";
import "zone.js/dist/long-stack-trace-zone";
import "zone.js/dist/proxy.js";
import "zone.js/dist/sync-test";
import "zone.js/dist/jasmine-patch";
import "zone.js/dist/async-test";
import "zone.js/dist/fake-async-test";

// Unfortunately there's no typing for the `__karma__` variable. Just declare it as any.
declare var __karma__: any;
declare var require: any;

// Prevent Karma from running prematurely.
__karma__.loaded = function () {
};

//noinspection TypeScriptUnresolvedVariable
Promise.all([
    System.import('@angular/core/testing'),
    System.import('@angular/platform-browser-dynamic/testing'),
    System.import('../../../node_modules/nvd3/build/nv.d3.min.js'),
])
// First, initialize the Angular testing environment.
    .then(([testing, testingBrowser]) => {
        testing.getTestBed().initTestEnvironment(
            testingBrowser.BrowserDynamicTestingModule,
            testingBrowser.platformBrowserDynamicTesting()
        );
    })
    // Then we find all the tests.
    .then(() => require.context('./', true, /\.spec\.ts/))
    // And load the modules.
    .then(context => context.keys().map(context))
    // Finally, start Karma to run the tests.
    .then(__karma__.start, __karma__.error);

Any idea why this works for Chrome and not PhantomJS?

A: Now you have Intl support in all your browsers. polyfill.io is a nifty service that will only load the polyfill if the requested browser actually needs it. This is a pretty good solution but what if you want your polyfill to be bundled with your scripts? You potentially get better performance and your application doesn't rely on a third party CDN that if it goes down it takes your app down with it. So whats the next option?
Well with the Angular CLI its actually quite easy. First we will use npm to install the Intl polyfill directly into our Angular app. To do this run npm install intl --save. Once installed in your Angular CLI project go to the /src/polyfills.ts file. In here you can add the following lines.
import 'intl';
import 'intl/locale-data/jsonp/en.js';

That's it! Now when your project builds it will add the Intl polyfill and the English language service. You can add more language support by importing more language files. Now the downside to this is even if the browser supports Intl it still has to download the code. You could potentially mitigate this using feature detection and dynamic loading. The great part about polyfilling is as browser support for Intl gets better we will be able to drop the dependency all together!

A: Since PhantomJS does not implement the Intl implementation Angular2 depends on, the solution was to install npm package intl polyfill and edit the polyfills.ts to include
import 'intl';
import 'intl/locale-data/jsonp/en.js';

See here: https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/3333
here: https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/10809
and here: https://coryrylan.com/blog/adding-the-internationalization-polyfill-to-a-angular-cli-project

A: Intl implementation is available in Angular, in PhantomJS it is not available. To make it available with polyfills follow the steps:

*

*Install Intl: npm install intl --save

*Add the following imports to polyfills.ts file:
import 'intl';
import 'intl/locale-data/jsonp/en.js';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


MILAN, July 18 (Reuters) - The cost of using Italian bonds to raise funds rose on Wednesday after clearing house LCH increased the margin on debt from the euro zone's third largest economy to reflect higher volatility.
Italian bonds have faced pressure since anti-establishment parties joined forces in May and formed a coalition government following an inconclusive March election.
Investors have demanded a bigger premium on the Italy's debt due to concerns that public finances may weaken under the new coalition and that previous market-friendly reforms may be unwound.
Banks use government bonds as collateral to access cash in the repurchase (repo) market, in which clearing houses assume lending risks to provide institutions with the cash.
Clearing houses, such as LCH, collect cash in the form of a margin on individual trades, which they hold centrally to refund members left out of pocket in the event of a default.
LCH said in a note on its website that the margin increase would be effective after the close of business on Wednesday and would apply to the margin calls on Thursday.
The rise affects maturities between three months and 10-years, as well as floating-rate CCT bonds.
The worst hit are maturities between two and 4.75 years as well as CCT bonds, which are mostly held by domestic investors and traditionally more stable than nominal BTP bonds.
"The parameter that LCH monitors more closely is volatility, so given what happened in recent months I'm not surprised it raised margins on BTP bonds and CCTs," said Luca Cazzulani, deputy head of fixed-income strategy at UniCredit.
LCH took similar steps on Italian debt in 2011 and 2012 during the euro zone sovereign crisis. Italy's 10-year debt costs were close to 7 percent in 2011 compared with 2.5 percent now.
LCH's announcement piled pressure on shorter-dated Italian government bonds on Wednesday, traders said. Two-year yields rose 6 basis points to the day's high of 0.63 percent after the LCH notice, before easing back to 0.58 percent.


Probably the best way to describe my wedding photography style is modern traditional. I look for those spontaneous and distinctive – sometimes even quirky – expressions of love, joy, and happiness which spark photos into glorious life.
I want couples to look back at the photos and remember specifically how they felt when those moments were captured. My work ultimately is about the couple themselves – what they want and what makes them and their day different to every other wedding, and capturing that. They themselves and their relationship are the single most important focus for me on the day. And I also pay close attention to making the details of the day that the couples have worked so hard on, as well as some of the individual characters at the wedding, and the different elements and events which take place during the day, very much part of the visual story.
I love to produce modern, relaxed, natural, classic and clean imagery that remains as beautiful in later years as it was when it was captured.


Born in the United States, Mayra Kahori Vidaña Sanchez spent most of her childhood in Juárez, Mexico. When she was around 12, Vidaña Sanchez moved a few miles north of the border to El Paso, Texas, for school. Although technically a U.S. citizen, she spoke little English and carried a pocket dictionary to class. She spent hours listening to pop music and watching American television, trying to absorb not only a language but a culture that felt undeniably unfamiliar.
Despite her efforts, a few kids at school made fun of Vidaña Sanchez and her brother for their accents and supposed foreignness. Yet once, during elementary school back in Mexico, she'd had to give back a scholarship after the mother of a classmate complained that it shouldn't have gone to a kid born in the United States. Not quite Mexican, not quite American.
These days, she brushes off such slights. But the 19-year-old is still navigating a life bisected by a border crossing. A sophomore studying industrial engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso, Vidaña Sanchez has technically lived and studied in the U.S. for years. Yet many days, she can still be found guiding her car out of her family's home in Juárez toward the border—and school—before dawn, a sometimes-international commuter if not technically an international student.
Vidaña Sanchez is an avid athlete.
Vidaña Sanchez said during a phone conversation that she has encountered a few people in El Paso recently who think a border wall is a good idea and that immigrants are stealing jobs. I hear what you're saying and I respect you, she replies, but I just don't agree. Once, she was so scared an encounter was about to turn violent that she sprinted away. Vidaña Sanchez recounted the incident with laughter, joking that her friends teased her for putting her athletic prowess to good use.
But she quickly turned serious. "I have no idea," she replied to a question about whether things might improve after the election. "I hope it gets better after the election, because if it doesn't…" She trailed off a little. She'd like to help her father, an engineer educated in Mexico, and mother, a cashier, come to the United States, and to see her younger cousin, born in America but spending the early years with family in Mexico, have an easier time fitting in north of the border. But she's worried. "I'm trying to encourage as much voting as possible," she said.
While the politics aren't nearly as contentious on the northern border with Canada, even students there wonder what the impact of a Trump election would be. Ken Lambert, an American who recently spent time studying at Brock University just across the border from Niagara Falls, New York, says he's experienced unpleasant interactions with border guards, although he acknowledges that they're minor—comments about America being inferior to Canada, for instance. "These small jabs at each other can make living on the border uncomfortable at times," he said. "I think that sense of bond is gone." Lambert now lives in Philadelphia, but says friends who still live near the border say the election has intensified some of the negative rhetoric.
At border crossings that aren't jammed with cars and pedestrians, students cross with relative ease. Several years ago, then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Columbus Elementary School in New Mexico, just a few miles from the border. Nearly three-quarters of the children at the school commuted from Mexico at the time. (Many are American because the nearest hospital to their homes is actually in the United States and some Mexican women have been allowed to give birth there before returning to Mexico.) According to the Washington Post, children have been crossing the border for school there for more than six decades. These days, they are required to be U.S. citizens, but back in the 1950s, that wasn't a requirement. And while there have been lawsuits over the years and not all residents think the children should be allowed to attend school in New Mexico, there has traditionally been broad support for allowing these children to obtain an education north of the border.
Despite some of the campaign rhetoric, not much seems to have changed this election cycle, according to Border Partners, a group working in the area. It's hard to say, said a spokesman for the group, whether a Trump presidency would make it more difficult for children to cross because the situation is so unique.
Yet it isn't entirely unheard of. Although it seems to have less red tape, New Mexico isn't the only border state where schools accept U.S.-born children from across the border. As the Huffington Post noted, U.S.-born students living in Mexico who want to go to school in places like California and Texas are often required to either prove they live in the district or pay tuition, which many can't afford. A spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency told the site that it was up to each district to enforce those requirements. However, in Arizona, where support for curbing illegal immigration has been particularly widespread in recent years, the state has acted as the enforcer and "cracked down on border-crossing students." For a variety of reasons, some families opt to put their children in Mexican schools instead. The country estimates that it has several hundred thousand U.S.-born students enrolled in its schools.
That crackdown hasn't happened in New Mexico so far, although it's unclear what a Trump win would mean for these families. The principal of the Columbus Elementary School told KRWG, a local television station, that he'd even seen an influx of kids from states like South Dakota after those children experienced the deportation of a parent. The families realized, he said, that they could reunite in Puerto Palomas, Mexico, just over the border, and that their children, born in the United States, would still be able to attend American schools like Columbus. That's happened in part because officials there don't enforce the same restrictions as their counterparts in places like Arizona.
It's not just kids who live across the border who are negatively affected by the potential for a Trump presidency. Teachers across the country have reported an increase in stress this year among children, particularly those from immigrant families, who say they are scared of what might happen if Trump wins the election. For Latino kids, the worries often center around parents being deported or a wall going up along the border. Teachers also say they're hearing more anti-immigrant rhetoric in class. While there isn't data specifically on the perceptions of kids who cross from Mexico to the United States for school, it's not unreasonable to expect that these children who stand to be the most affected by changes at the border are also among the most concerned.
College students express similar fears. A 2010 dissertation by a UTEP health-psychology doctoral student named Thomas J. Taylor suggested that some 40 percent of the 130 college students he surveyed who commuted to and from Juárez on a regular basis showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Taylor could not immediately be reached for comment, but while violence has declined significantly in Juárez over the last six years, it hasn't gone away entirely, and the border continues to present a physical and psychological barrier for students.
While he thinks the school is a generally inclusive place, he said he's heard students who feel "discouraged" about coming to the states. Friends from Italy who might have considered a move to America now second guess that idea. Last weekend, his family came to visit and they went to Dallas. When people there realized his mother did not speak English, sometimes they asked why she was there. "It gets to you, you know?" he said.
Some universities close to the border have seen those trends and worked actively to recruit Mexican students. New Mexico State University recently said it would begin a program to offer discounted tuition to Mexican students. The school's enrollment has been declining, and officials see the new outreach as mutually beneficial. Whether this campaign season has made the school's recruitment efforts more difficult is unclear. "NMSU has a lot to offer students from Mexico, and we know these students have a lot to offer us in terms of their backgrounds, experiences, and diversity," the NMSU chancellor, Garrey Carruthers, said in a statement.


The Department of Justice served Apple and a few actual publishers with a suit on eBook price-fixing charges.
The "collusion" accusation mystifies us. We've always been at the short end of the deal, and told what to do by the big gorillas in the room, Amazon as well as Apple.
Nevertheless, Amazon is the clear winner of this saga. Somehow its own monopolistic behavior missed the Justice Department crosshairs. Amazon dictates to publishers, and we had better conform to its new fees and procedural dictates, or else.
Though its fees and demands are extortionate, at least Amazon has not dictated the kind of books it would allow to be displayed on Kindle. Or at least not so much as Apple, who has banned the display of a number of Feral House eBooks.
As far as the readability of the Kindle or iPad devices, I'll have to step out of that conversation. Reading books on a plastic device repels me. That said, I do see a certain benefit to them: a lot more words per pound and possibly less physical waste in the end.
But even the newest version of both the iPad and Kindle does not reproduce image-heavy books half as well as their large offset-printed versions. It's quite a different experience.
The above links are for the Kindle edition but you can find these books available for most readers.
Enjoy the digital world. Feral House will continue, as long as it can, the analog editions.


Officials call it "among the more brazen attempts to exaggerate an injury" in a workers' compensation case. Now the woman who committed fraud is in prison. Surveillance video uncovered the fraud.
Robin Hammond, a former nurse's aide in Ohio, pleaded guilty to one felony count of workers' compensation fraud and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Her husband pleaded guilty to one felony count of complicity and received five years of community control.
The couple must repay $173,000.
Hammond claimed a workplace injury left her unable to use her arms and legs and she didn't have fine motor skills in her hands and feet.
She was granted permanent total disability, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) paid for special medical equipment, including an electric wheelchair and vehicle lift, a hospital bed, and a lift to help with sitting and standing.
But someone tipped off BWC that Hammond was not as injured as she claimed to be and was engaged in physical activity.
BWC's Special Investigation Department conducted surveillance on Hammond and her husband for 10 months, gathering hours of video showing she had full use of all four of her limbs.
Video also showed her husband helping her into a wheelchair on several occasions before entering the doctor's office and then walking with her when she doesn't appear to have any injury.
The video showed Hammond entering doctor's appointments in a wheelchair but walking out without assistance.
After investigators interviewed Hammond, the couple fled Ohio to Utah. They didn't respond to repeated requests to attend a hearing. A nationwide warrant was issued for their arrest. After being located in Utah, they were extradited back to Ohio.
The Ohio Industrial Commission found all of Hammond's injury awards were overpaid dating back to February 2007.
Officials say Hammond was able to fool many people including family, friends and doctors.
On top of the punishments imposed, these people should be banned from claiming workman's comp for life.


One of the main functions of the exterior of your house – roof, walls, windows – is to protect the inside of your house from Mother Nature.
Spring always brings rain showers and storms, so taking steps now to make sure that your home is ready to protect your home from water damage can save you headaches – and costly repairs – later.
Since most roofs are built to last 20 to 30 years, that may not always be the case. Damage to shingles, for example, could allow water leaks to start seeping into your home.
Check your roof before Spring. If you schedule an annual maintenance home inspection, that basic roof check is part of our service.
Leaves and other debris can block your gutters and prevent rainwater from moving off your roof. Water that backs up in your gutters and on your roof can cause many problems – and often this water damage occurs inside the walls where you may not see it for years.
There are many easy ways to clean your gutters, and well worth the minor investment of your time.
The finish on the exterior of your home – paint, siding – is another barrier in the fight to protect your home. If you begin seeing signs of water damage inside your home, such as mold or mildew on your wall – it could be caused by holes in your paint or siding.
Most common types of exterior siding – stucco, aluminum siding, wood siding, and cedar shingles – need to be painted to maintain the proper level of protection. Check your exterior now so that you have time to plan for painting if needed.
Water can seep into your house through windows and doors that are not properly sealed.
Weatherstripping, caulk, and even paint help maintain the barrier against water. These are also all very easy to maintain yourself. Take the opportunity to check your seals before storm season begins.
This is just the start of ways you can help protect your home by checking and maintaining the exterior.
We also recommend an annual maintenance inspection to help catch minor issues before they turn into major issues.
or schedule your home inspection online.
Do I Need an Inspection for a Flipped Home?
To ensure your 100% satisfaction with our services!
We intend to provide our customers with Exceptional Home Inspection Services so they can understand their new homes' condition through knowledgeable, courteous, and efficient service.
The Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis – Semper Fi for short – which is Latin for "Always Faithful." In that same tradition, the motto for Semper Fi Home Inspections, Inc. is also Semper Fi so you know we will be always faithful to you when you choose us for your home inspection.
We are dedicated to serving our customer's needs, and our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. We strive to bring you the best quality home inspection possible. If something isn't right, please let us know. Thank you for your business.
Does a Home "Pass" or "Fail" a Home Inspection?