Common Themes In Children S Literature

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  common themes in children's literature: The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children Nancy Lamb, 2001-09-20 Create Unforgettable Stories for Kids! You dream of writing stories that children respond to–the kind they come back to again and again. Nancy Lamb can help you achieve that dream. She mixes insightful advice for mastering storytelling with dozens of examples that illustrate a variety of plot-building techniques. Nancy's instruction covers everything from format and content to setting and characterization. She also draws from a range of children's classics, including Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte's Web and Bridge to Tarabithia to explore and illuminate the unique nature of children's literature. Nancy also shares writing tips and tricks accumulated through years of successful storytelling–invaluable advice for crafting fiction that resonates with children of all ages, from 4 to 14 and beyond.
  common themes in children's literature: The Light Princess George MacDonald, 2015-06-12 Now a Musical with Music from Tori Amos! “One day [the prince] lost sight of his retinue in a great forest. These forests are very useful in delivering princes from their courtiers, like a sieve that keeps back the bran. Then the princes get away to follow their fortunes. In this they have the advantage of the princesses, who are forced to marry before they have had a bit of fun. I wish our princesses got lost in a forest sometimes.” ― George MacDonald, The Light Princess When a princess is cursed to lose her gravity she loses both her wit and her ability to keep her feet on the ground. This short (43 page) novel makes an enjoyable read for children and adults alike. In this book, a familiar fairy tale (Sleeping Beauty) is twisted into a funny, lyrical and wise story about a young princess who saves the prince. This Xist Classics edition has been professionally formatted for e-readers with a linked table of contents. This eBook also contains a bonus book club leadership guide and discussion questions. We hope you’ll share this book with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and can’t wait to hear what you have to say about it.
  common themes in children's literature: Children's Literature Barbara Stoodt, 1996
  common themes in children's literature: Feeling Like a Kid Jerome Griswold, 2006-12 A lively and illustrated inquiry of how children's literature reflects the curious mind of a child—now available in paperback. Outstanding Academic Title for 2007, Choice Magazine In this engaging book, Jerry Griswold examines the unique qualities of childhood experience and their reappearance as frequent themes in children's literature. Surveying dozens of classic and popular works for the young—from Heidi and The Wizard of Oz to Beatrix Potter and Harry Potter—Griswold demonstrates how great children's writers succeed because of their uncanny ability to remember what it feels like to be a kid: playing under tables, shivering in bed on a scary night, arranging miniature worlds with toys, zooming around as caped superheroes, and listening to dolls talk. Feeling Like a Kid boldly and honestly identifies the ways in which the young think and see the world in a manner different from that of adults. Written by a leading scholar, prize-winning author, and frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times, this extensively illustrated book will fascinate general readers as well as all those who study childhood and children's literature.
  common themes in children's literature: The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle Patrick Rothfuss, 2012-12-18 Originally published: Burton, MI: Subterranean Books, 2010.
  common themes in children's literature: This Is Not My Hat Jon Klassen, 2022-11-15 “Combines spare text and art to deliver no small measure of laughs in another darkly comic haberdashery whodunit. . . . Hats off!” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing a certain enormous fish hasn’t woken up. And even if he does, it’s not like he’ll ever know what happened, right? Deadpan visual humor swims to the fore in this Caldecott Medal–winning title in the celebrated hat trilogy.
  common themes in children's literature: Baaa David Macaulay, 1985-09-30 After the last person has gone from the earth, sheep take over the world, make the same mistakes as humans, and eventually disappear as well.
  common themes in children's literature: The Early Reader in Children's Literature and Culture Jennifer Miskec, Annette Wannamaker, 2015-12-22 This is the first volume to consider the popular literary category of Early Readers – books written and designed for children who are just beginning to read independently. It argues that Early Readers deserve more scholarly attention and careful thought because they are, for many younger readers, their first opportunity to engage with a work of literature on their own, to feel a sense of mastery over a text, and to experience pleasure from the act of reading independently. Using interdisciplinary approaches that draw upon and synthesize research being done in education, child psychology, sociology, cultural studies, and children’s literature, the volume visits Early Readers from a variety of angles: as teaching tools; as cultural artifacts that shape cultural and individual subjectivity; as mass produced products sold to a niche market of parents, educators, and young children; and as aesthetic objects, works of literature and art with specific conventions. Examining the reasons such books are so popular with young readers, as well as the reasons that some adults challenge and censor them, the volume considers the ways Early Readers contribute to the construction of younger children as readers, thinkers, consumers, and as gendered, raced, classed subjects. It also addresses children’s texts that have been translated and sold around the globe, examining them as part of an increasingly transnational children’s media culture that may add to or supplant regional, ethnic, and national children’s literatures and cultures. While this collection focuses mostly on books written in English and often aimed at children living in the US, it is important to acknowledge that these Early Readers are a major US cultural export, influencing the reading habits and development of children across the globe.
  common themes in children's literature: The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger, 2024-06-28 The Catcher in the Rye," written by J.D. Salinger and published in 1951, is a classic American novel that explores the themes of adolescence, alienation, and identity through the eyes of its protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The novel is set in the 1950s and follows Holden, a 16-year-old who has just been expelled from his prep school, Pencey Prep. Disillusioned with the world around him, Holden decides to leave Pencey early and spend a few days alone in New York City before returning home. Over the course of these days, Holden interacts with various people, including old friends, a former teacher, and strangers, all the while grappling with his feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. Holden is deeply troubled by the "phoniness" of the adult world and is haunted by the death of his younger brother, Allie, which has left a lasting impact on him. He fantasizes about being "the catcher in the rye," a guardian who saves children from losing their innocence by catching them before they fall off a cliff into adulthooda. The novel ends with Holden in a mental institution, where he is being treated for a nervous breakdown. He expresses some hope for the future, indicating a possible path to recovery..
  common themes in children's literature: The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town Mary Casanova, 2011-05-24 The pair behind One-Dog Canoe team up once again for this rollicking Wild West adventure that celebrates the power of books. Full color.
  common themes in children's literature: Bebé Goes Shopping Susan Middleton Elya, 2008-04-01 A quick trip to the supermercado? Not with Bebe in the shopping cart. Just as Mama is ready to throw up her manos, she gives sweet Bebe a box of animal cookies. A dulce, at last! Then they're off to the checkout line, smiling all the way. Includes a glossary of Spanish words.
  common themes in children's literature: Life History and Narrative J. Amos Hatch, Richard Wisniewski, 2002-11 Narrative inquiry refers to a subset of qualitative research design in which stories are used to describe human action. This book contains current ideas in this field of research, and will be of interest to qualitative researchers.
  common themes in children's literature: How High The Moon Karyn Parsons, 2019-03-07 Boston was nothing like South Carolina. Up there, colored folks could go anywhere they wanted. Folks didn't wait for church to dress in their fancy clothes. Fancy was just life. Mama was a city girl . . . and now I was going to be one too. It's 1944, and in a small Southern town, eleven-year-old Ella spends her summers running wild with her cousins and friends. But life isn't always so sunny. The deep racial tension that simmers beneath their town's peaceful facade never quite goes away, and Ella misses her mama - a beautiful jazz singer, who lives in Boston. So when an invitation arrives to come to Boston for a visit Ella is ecstatic - and the trip proves life-changing in more ways than one. For the first time, Ella sees what life outside of segregation is like, and begins to dream of a very different future. But her happiness is shattered when she returns home to the news that her classmate has been arrested for the murder of two white girls - and nothing will ever be the same again. A beautifully written and deeply moving story about finding and fighting for your place in the world.
  common themes in children's literature: Was the Cat in the Hat Black? Philip Nel, 2017 Racism is resilient, duplicitous, and endlessly adaptable, so it is no surprise that America is again in a period of civil rights activism. A significant reason racism endures is because it is structural: it's embedded in culture and in institutions. One of the places that racism hides-and thus perhaps the best place to oppose it-is books for young people. Was the Cat in the Hat Black? presents five serious critiques of the history and current state of children's literature tempestuous relationship with both implicit and explicit forms of racism. The book fearlessly examines topics both vivid-such as The Cat in the Hat's roots in blackface minstrelsy-and more opaque, like how the children's book industry can perpetuate structural racism via whitewashed covers even while making efforts to increase diversity. Rooted in research yet written with a lively, crackling touch, Nel delves into years of literary criticism and recent sociological data in order to show a better way forward. Though much of what is proposed here could be endlessly argued, the knowledge that what we learn in childhood imparts both subtle and explicit lessons about whose lives matter is not debatable. The text concludes with a short and stark proposal of actions everyone-reader, author, publisher, scholar, citizen- can take to fight the biases and prejudices that infect children's literature. While Was the Cat in the Hat Black? does not assume it has all the answers to such a deeply systemic problem, its audacity should stimulate discussion and activism.
  common themes in children's literature: Almost an Author Susan Tarr, 2019-05-22 When a chance meeting with a local publisher outside a small bookshop results in all three of her manuscripts being signed, Ruby Wright thinks she has it made. Already she sees images of herself wearing dark glasses, being mobbed by fans clamouring for her latest blockbuster... Little does Ruby know, but her ditsy publisher is a charlatan who has no more idea about publishing than Ruby does. Pretty soon Ruby is broke. She has no IT experience so depends heavily on her nerdy flatmate, Hunter, whenever her computer fails her. He has enough of his own issues to deal with-he is studying for his final law exams. She bribes him with a dog she found on the side of the road, then Panforte, which chips his tooth, and a couple of Axolotls until he finally gives in and helps her. But Ruby's life is filled with disaster... What follows is excitement, disappointment, heartache, love and loss as we follow Ruby's hilarious struggles to maintain her trust and focus in the ever-shifting publishing industry and in people in general.
  common themes in children's literature: A Little Pretty Pocket-book John Newbery, 2022-05-29 A Little Pretty Pocket-Book is a children's book written by John Newbery. It is commonly thought to be the first children's book ever made, and provides a code of conduct for boys and girls in different social settings.
  common themes in children's literature: The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein, 2014-02-18 As The Giving Tree turns fifty, this timeless classic is available for the first time ever in ebook format. This digital edition allows young readers and lifelong fans to continue the legacy and love of a classic that will now reach an even wider audience. Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy. So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, and of classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit. And don't miss the other Shel Silverstein ebooks, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic!
  common themes in children's literature: I'm Glad I'm a Boy! Whitney Darrow, 1970-01-01 The author's concepts of what boys and girls are: Boys are handsome. Girls are beautiful. Boys are doctors. Girls are nurses. Boys are pilots. Girls are stewardesses.
  common themes in children's literature: Building Communities of Engaged Readers Teresa Cremin, Marilyn Mottram, Fiona M. Collins, Sacha Powell, Kimberly Safford, 2014-06-20 Reading for pleasure urgently requires a higher profile to raise attainment and increase children’s engagement as self-motivated and socially interactive readers. Building Communities of Engaged Readers highlights the concept of ‘Reading Teachers’ who are not only knowledgeable about texts for children, but are aware of their own reading identities and prepared to share their enthusiasm and understanding of what being a reader means. Sharing the processes of reading with young readers is an innovative approach to developing new generations of readers. Examining the interplay between the ‘will and the skill’ to read, the book distinctively details a reading for pleasure pedagogy and demonstrates that reader engagement is strongly influenced by relationships between children, teachers, families and communities. Importantly it provides compelling evidence that reciprocal reading communities in school encompass: a shared concept of what it means to be a reader in the 21st century; considerable teacher and child knowledge of children’s literature and other texts; pedagogic practices which acknowledge and develop diverse reader identities; spontaneous ‘inside-text talk’ on the part of all members; a shift in the focus of control and new social spaces that encourage choice and children’s rights as readers. Written by experts in the literacy field and illustrated throughout with examples from the project schools, it is essential reading for all those concerned with improving young people’s enjoyment of and attainment in reading.
  common themes in children's literature: Understanding Children′s Books Prue Goodwin, 2008-06-24 Children′s books play a vital role in education, and this book helps you to choose books that have the most to offer young children. Each chapter reflects on a different theme or genre and their role in educational settings, and recommends ten ′must reads′ within each one. The themes covered include: - books for babies - literature for the very young - narrative fiction - books in translation - poetry - picture books - graphic texts. Early years professionals, childcare professionals and teachers working from nursery to Key Stage 3 will find this book a fascinating and useful resource.
  common themes in children's literature: Lord of the Flies William Golding, 2012-09-20 A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys' delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance. First published in 1954, Lord of the Flies is one of the most celebrated and widely read of modern classics. Now fully revised and updated, this educational edition includes chapter summaries, comprehension questions, discussion points, classroom activities, a biographical profile of Golding, historical context relevant to the novel and an essay on Lord of the Flies by William Golding entitled 'Fable'. Aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 students, it also includes a section on literary theory for advanced or A-level students. The educational edition encourages original and independent thinking while guiding the student through the text - ideal for use in the classroom and at home.
  common themes in children's literature: Balance Keepers, Book 1: The Fires of Calderon Lindsay Cummings, 2014-09-23 The Fires of Calderon is Book One in #1 New York Times bestselling author Lindsay Cummings’s epic Balance Keepers series. These exciting fantasy-adventure books are full of magic, mystery, friendship, and humor, and are perfect for fans of books like Brandon Mull’s The Candy Shop War or the Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann. Bestselling author of the Skeleton Creek series Patrick Carman describes The Fires of Calderon as “fast paced and packed with adventure,” and Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series, says, “Wow!” With themes of friendship, self-discovery, and courage; both boy and girl main characters; fierce creatures to battle; a mystery to solve; and a boarding school that could be described as Hogwarts Underground, there’s something for every reader to enjoy in this contemporary—and fantastically imaginative—spin on the classic A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. When eleven-year-old Albert Flynn follows a mysterious map deep into the woods, and then under the woods, he discovers he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for keeping harmony in fantastical underground worlds. Together with his teammates Leroy and Birdie, Albert must master his magical talents in time to stop the fires in the Calderon Realm from destroying New York City above.
  common themes in children's literature: The Princess and the Goblin Illustrated George MacDonald, 2020-11-10 The Princess and the Goblin is a children's fantasy novel by George MacDonald. It was published in 1872 by Strahan & Co.Anne Thaxter Eaton writes in A Critical History of Children's Literature that The Princess and the Goblin and its sequel quietly suggest in every incident ideas of courage and honor.Jeffrey Holdaway, in the New Zealand Art Monthly, said that both books start out as normal fairytales but slowly become stranger, and that they contain layers of symbolism similar to that of Lewis Carroll's work
  common themes in children's literature: Lubna and Pebble Wendy Meddour, 2022-07-07 In an unforgettable story that subtly addresses the refugee crisis, a young girl must decide if friendship means giving up the one item that gives her comfort during a time of utter uncertainty. Lubna's best friend is a pebble. She found it on the beach when they arrived in the night, then she fell asleep in Daddy's salty arms. Lubna tells Pebble everything. About home. About her brothers. About the war. Pebble always listens to her stories and smiles when she feels afraid. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna understands that he needs Pebble even more than she does . . .
  common themes in children's literature: Brundibar Tony Kushner, 2004 Aninku and Pepicek find their mother sick one morning, they need to buy her milk to make her better. The brother and sister go to town to make money by singing. But a hurdy-gurdy grinder, Brundibar, chases them away. They are helped by three talking animals and three hundred schoolchildren, to defeat the bully. Brundibar is based on a Czech opera for children that was performed fifty-five times by the children of Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp in 1943.
  common themes in children's literature: Red Michael Hall, 2015-02-03 A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as red suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone. Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age! Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue!
  common themes in children's literature: The 1000 Year Old Boy Ross Welford, 2019-10-08 A heartstopping, poignant, epic adventure story about a boy destined to live forever, who only wants to grow up. Without death, life is just existence. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live forever? Well, Alfie Monk can tell you. He may seem like an ordinary eleven-year-old boy, but he's actually more than a thousand years old--and remembers the last Viking invasion of England, not to mention the French Revolution and both World Wars. Way back in the tenth century, he and his mother were given the alchemical secret to eternal life. But when everything Alfie knows is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world intrudes, he must embark on a mission--along with friends Aidan and Roxy--to find a way to reverse the process and grow up like a regular boy. This astonishing new novel from the author of Time Traveling with a Hamster, told in alternating perspectives by Alfie and Aidan, is a tour de force--a sweeping epic that takes you on an unforgettable, breathtaking adventure and asks big questions about the meaning of life.
  common themes in children's literature: Witchfairy Brigitte Minne, 2017-10 Rosemary is bored of being a fairy. She'd much rather be a witch. Much to the disapproval of her mother she takes off to spend time with the witches in the dark wood. Rosemary thoroughly enjoys her new life as a witch but eventually decides to take the best of both worlds and becomes a witchfairy. A stunning picture book about growing up and finding your own place in the world
  common themes in children's literature: Beasts at Bedtime Liam Heneghan, 2018-05-15 “[A] fresh new look at animal tales, often classic, and how they pertain to the present-day and our often fraught relationship to our environment.” —Jeff VanderMeer, author of the Southern Reach Trilogy Talking lions, philosophical bears, very hungry caterpillars, wise spiders, altruistic trees, companionable moles, urbane elephants: this is the magnificent menagerie that delights our children at bedtime. Within the entertaining pages of many children’s books, however, also lie profound teachings about the natural world that can help children develop an educated and engaged appreciation of the dynamic environment they inhabit. In Beasts at Bedtime, scientist (and father) Liam Heneghan examines the environmental underpinnings of children’s stories. From Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter, Heneghan unearths the universal insights into our inextricable relationship with nature that underlie so many classic children’s stories. Some of the largest environmental challenges in coming years—from climate instability, the extinction crisis, freshwater depletion, and deforestation—are likely to become even more severe as this generation of children grows up. Though today’s young readers will bear the brunt of these environmental calamities, they will also be able to contribute to environmental solutions if prepared properly. And all it takes is an attentive eye: Heneghan shows how the nature curriculum is already embedded in bedtime stories, from the earliest board books like The Rainbow Fish to contemporary young adult classics like The Hunger Games. This book enthralls as it engages. Beasts at Bedtime will help parents, teachers, and guardians extend those cozy times curled up together with a good book into a lifetime of caring for our planet. “Beasts at Bedtime is proof that most kidlit has teachable moments embedded in it.” —Toronto Star
  common themes in children's literature: The Boy in the Painting C. D. John, 2016-08-06 Within the splendour of the Time Shield, six hours is equivalent to a minute on earth; but beware, in the midst of its beauty hides a terrible spell-would you dare to enter? Inquisitive seventeen-year-old Sarah Brown had resigned herself to a quiet summer with her aunt in their town Cherryfield - then she meets Mark Louis. Mark Louis de la Mer is an eighteen-year-old fairy-human hybrid, who, in 1908, was hidden in a Time Shield by his supernatural mother following the murder of his father. Due to the unforeseen presence of a Holding Spell within the shield, Mark has since been trapped. He cannot directly access the spell which is hidden within a maze of terror, but Sarah can ... that is, if she consents to. For Sarah to destroy the spell, she will not only need to undergo intense physical training, but also must face her innermost fears. Destroying the Holding Spell is just one part of the trial that awaits them both. His father's evil killers have been on the lookout for him, and Mark's release would bring the supernatural into Cherryfield; parasite imps, fiendish monsters, and last but not the least, his mother's brother Noel - a formidable fairy-sorcerer hybrid. Ancient magic, superheroines, the realms to Faie, Victorian princes, murder and love ... Welcome to The Time Shield Series.
  common themes in children's literature: Fundamental Concepts of Children’s Literature Research Hans-Heino Ewers, 2009-06-15 This book provides students and professors with a much-needed new system of categories for a differentiated description of children’s literature, systematically analyzing the field of children’s literature and articulating its key definitions, terms, and concepts.
  common themes in children's literature: The Priory of the Orange Tree Samantha Shannon, 2020-02-06 THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERA world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.'Epic' Guardian'Majestic' Daily Mail'The new Game of Thrones' StylistAn enthralling, epic fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons - and the women who must lead the fight to save it.The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction - but assassins are getting closer to her door.Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep...
  common themes in children's literature: Flat Stanley on Ice Lori Haskins Houran, 2017-06-29 It's an ice-cool new adventure for everyone's favourite flat hero in this colour-illustrated early reader. Perfect for children learning to read. Stanley and his brother Arthur are super-excited to go ice-skating on the frozen lake. And as Arthur is slipping and sliding around, it turns out Stanley is an ice-skating superstar. But then cracks start to appear . . . is the ice rink about to disappear? The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It's the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 1 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for new readers who are beginning to read simple stories with help. - Short, simple sentences - Familiar, repeated words - Big, clear type - 1 - 5 lines per page - Bright, fun pictures to help talk about the story All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children's reading. Book band: Green
  common themes in children's literature: Red Rising Pierce Brown, 2018-01-16 Red Rising is the story of a society in a desolate future, riven by class conflict and shaken by the tremors of an impending revolution. But more than that, it's the story of Darrow--a secret revolutionary who is inspired not only by a longing for social justice, but by lost love. It's only when Darrow's beloved wife is executed by the oppressive government that he begins to question the harsh world he lives in. Recruited by an underground revolutionary cell, Darrow is given a perilous mission: infiltrate the academy that educates this elite--and become one of them.
  common themes in children's literature: The Murder Complex Lindsay Cummings, 2015-05-26 An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller—set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate—by Lindsay Cummings, co-author (with Sasha Alsberg) of the New York Times #1 Bestseller Zenith. Legend meets La Femme Nikita in this dark and dangerous bloody thriller. The nonstop action of The Murder Complex kept us guessing at every twist and turn. It's a must for fans of action-packed dystopians like The Hunger Games and Divergent.—Justine Magazine Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision. The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn't know it—one of the MC's programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family? Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.
  common themes in children's literature: Cross-Section of a Human Heart Abi Wurdeman, 2018-12-24 'The first thing I'm going to do with my winnings, ' he said, 'is pay for laser hair removal in your armpits.' He even gestured to my cleanly shaven pits, because if referencing a woman's body hair on a date doesn't awaken her inner vixen, pointing to its location is sure to do the trick.An introverted Midwesterner with big feelings and a shameful people-pleasing streak, Abi Wurdeman hoped her twenties would transform her into one of those fierce, take-charge broads quoted on sassy refrigerator magnets. But somewhere between facing her own demons at a soul-sucking casino job and making the occasional ill-timed confession of love, Abi learned you can't reinvent who you fundamentally are . . . and that the secret to adult tenacity lies not in changing yourself, but in knowing yourself.Ninety percent memoir and ten percent unsolicited advice, Cross-Section of a Human Heart is the story of a floundering journey from mousey young adult to proper grown-ass.
  common themes in children's literature: Save Me a Seat (Scholastic Gold) Sarah Weeks, Gita Varadarajan, 2016-05-10 A new friend could be sitting right next to you. Save Me a Seat joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own. Ravi's family just moved to America from India, and he's finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in.Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.
  common themes in children's literature: Find Layla Meg Elison, 2020-09 A neglected girl's chaotic coming-of-age becomes a trending new hashtag in a novel about growing up and getting away by an award-winning author. Underprivileged and keenly self-aware, SoCal fourteen-year-old Layla Bailey isn't used to being noticed. Except by mean girls who tweet about her ragged appearance. All she wants to do is indulge in her love of science, protect her vulnerable younger brother, and steer clear of her unstable mother. Then a school competition calls for a biome. Layla chooses her own home, a hostile ecosystem of indoor fungi and secret shame. With a borrowed video camera, she captures it all. The mushrooms growing in her brother's dresser. The black mold blooming up the apartment walls. The unmentionable things living in the dead fridge. All the inevitable exotic toxins that are Layla's life. Then the video goes viral. When Child Protective Services comes to call, Layla loses her family and her home. Defiant, she must face her bullies and friends alike, on her own. Unafraid at last of being seen, Layla accepts the mortifying reality of visibility. Now she has to figure out how to stay whole and stand behind the truth she has shown the world.
  common themes in children's literature: The Kid and the Chameleon Sleepover (The Kid and the Chameleon: Time to Read, Level 3) Sheri Mabry, 2019-04-01 Tessy is so excited to have a sleepover with Newton, full of midnight snacks and bedtime stories and pillow fights. But Newton just wants to sleep! Can the friends find a way for both of them to have fun?
  common themes in children's literature: When I Feel Angry Cornelia Maude Spelman, 2000-01-01 Everyone feels angry sometimes, but there are always ways to feel better! Join a bunny rabbit and her family as she learns to manage angry feelings. With a focus on identifying the causes of an emotional reaction, and coming up with ways to start feeling calm and happy again, this book explains simple strategies to help kids understand and take care of their emotions.
Common (rapper) - Wikipedia
Lonnie Rashid Lynn[7][8][9] (born March 13, 1972), known professionally as Common (formerly known as Common Sense), is an American rapper and actor. The recipient of three Grammy …

COMMON Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of COMMON is of or relating to a community at large : public. How to use common in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Common.

COMMON Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
Common definition: belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in question.. See examples of COMMON used in a sentence.

COMMON | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
COMMON meaning: 1. the same in a lot of places or for a lot of people: 2. the basic level of politeness that you…. Learn more.

COMMON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Common is used to indicate that someone or something is of the ordinary kind and not special in any way. Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride. Common decency or …

Common - definition of common by The Free Dictionary
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good. 2. Widespread; prevalent: Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew. 3. a. Occurring frequently or …

What does Common mean? - Definitions.net
The common, that which is common or usual; The common good, the interest of the community at large: the corporate property of a burgh in Scotland; The common people, the people in …

common - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
May 26, 2025 · common (comparative more common or commoner, superlative most common or commonest) Mutual; shared by more than one. The two competitors have the common aim of …

common adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
Definition of common adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

common, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford …
There are 35 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word common. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. How common is the word common? How is the …

Common (rapper) - Wikipedia
Lonnie Rashid Lynn[7][8][9] (born March 13, 1972), known professionally as Common (formerly known as Common Sense), is an American rapper and actor. The recipient of three Grammy …

COMMON Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of COMMON is of or relating to a community at large : public. How to use common in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Common.

COMMON Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
Common definition: belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in question.. See examples of COMMON used in a sentence.

COMMON | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
COMMON meaning: 1. the same in a lot of places or for a lot of people: 2. the basic level of politeness that you…. Learn more.

COMMON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Common is used to indicate that someone or something is of the ordinary kind and not special in any way. Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride. Common decency or …

Common - definition of common by The Free Dictionary
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good. 2. Widespread; prevalent: Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew. 3. a. Occurring frequently or …

What does Common mean? - Definitions.net
The common, that which is common or usual; The common good, the interest of the community at large: the corporate property of a burgh in Scotland; The common people, the people in …

common - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
May 26, 2025 · common (comparative more common or commoner, superlative most common or commonest) Mutual; shared by more than one. The two competitors have the common aim of …

common adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
Definition of common adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

common, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford …
There are 35 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word common. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. How common is the word common? How is the …