Showing results by narrator "Christopher Gebauer" in All Categories

From the award-winning author of Hidden Talents, two remarkable short-story collections - Kidzilla and The Witch's Monkey - together for the first time. Plus several brand-new stories. Each hilarious and harrowing. A substitute teacher finds out she has some monsters for students. A group of kids attempts a levitation trick with hair-raising results. A neighborhood is so boring the grown-ups are turning into...well...you know. And dozens more.

At Jonesville High, casual misogyny runs rampant, slut-shaming is a given, and school athletes are glorified above all else. Best friends Suze, Nikki, Ani, and Lydia swear they'll always have each other's backs against predatory guys - so when Suze suddenly starts dating wrestling star and toxic douchebag Tarkin Shaw, it's a big betrayal. Turns out, it's not a relationship - it's blackmail. At first, Suze feels like she has no choice but to go along with it, but when Tarkin starts demanding more, she enlists the help of intelligent misfits DeShawn and Marcus....

No one thought that MacTrump - Lord of MacTrump Towers, Son of New York - would ascend to the highest position in the kingdom. Yet with the help of his unhappy but dutiful wife Lady MacTrump, his clever daughter Dame Desdivanka, and his coterie of advisers, MacTrump is comfortably ensconced in the White Hold as President of the United Fiefdoms, free to make proclamations to his subjects through his favorite messenger, McTweet. The Democrati, mourning the loss of their cherished leader O'Bama, won't give up without a fight.

The dark truth behind the Johnstown Flood of 1889 - one of the greatest calamities our country has ever experienced - is revealed in a beautiful, harrowing story, told in luminous verse.

Katie was Jude's favorite person in the world. And not many brothers say that about their sister and mean it. But to Jude, Katie was everything - the person who made him learn how to say "I love you" in every language, who performed dramatic readings of Romeo and Juliet, who obsessed over every item on the diner menu looking for the most authentic diner meal. The one who called him "Jude Banks, Superhero," because to her, Jude was the best.

Karina Chopra would have never imagined becoming friends with the boy next door - after all, they've avoided each other for years and she assumes Chris is just like the boys he hangs out with, who she labels a pack of hyenas. Then Karina's grandfather starts tutoring Chris, and she discovers he's actually a nice, funny kid. But one afternoon something unimaginable happens - the three of them are assaulted by a stranger who targets Indian-American Karina and her grandfather because of how they look. Her grandfather is gravely injured and Karina and Chris vow not to let hate win.

Perfect bedtime listening, this wonderful anthology features brand new stories and poems from well-loved and exciting new Puffin authors. Plus, rediscover carefully curated extracts from Puffin's classic family favourites! And with quotes and motivational pieces from brilliantly inspiring leaders, scientists and actors on their own big dreams, there is something magical for everyone to enjoy.

Eugene Guterman’s junior year in high school is off to a rocky start. No love life, no new theater production, and if his mother has her way, no more of his favorite comfort food—donuts. Eugene would just as soon spend the year playing small, but that’s hard to do when you’re the biggest kid in your class. Things change when he accidentally tackles the school’s star quarterback and Coach sees the possibilities and recruits the plus-size playwright onto the varsity football team. Eugene is suddenly catapulted into the world of the “The Pops,” the exclusive clique of popular athletes.

15-year-old Dylan has always felt like an outsider in his small town. Isolated when he was younger as the result of his unpredictable, now absent mother and feeling like a disappointment to his grandfather who has stepped in to raise him, Dylan finds relief in the woods behind his grandfather's auto shop. Amidst the cool quiet of the trees, Dylan thrives on bird watching and writing poetry. But one afternoon after spotting an injured hawk, Dylan finds himself pushing out of his comfort zone to track down help for the bird—and ends up rescuing a part of himself in the process.

Quinn of Haldon is at the end of his journey. He must travel to lands unknown and fight off the abominations that seek to destroy his world. He will have to grapple with horrifying truths and old enemies before he can reach the thrones and finally put a stop to the invasion once and for all.

When Little Hippo decides to play doctor, he comes across some patients who are cooperative and others who are not. But his most difficult case is Lion, who doesn’t want to play this game at all. Rrrrrroar! It’s a good thing Mama Hippo knows how to play doctor just right.

Meet Little Hippo! Today, he’s a firefighter, racing to an imaginary four-alarmer. But pedaling his fire truck is a challenge. Luckily, Little Hippo has lots of friends to help out. But what’s he to do when he finds a real fire? Firefighter Hippo thinks quickly and does exactly what a brave little fireman should.

Meet Little Hippo! Today he’s playing truck driver, racing to make a surprise delivery. Until—oh, no!—Truck Driver Hippo encounters a pack of grazing zebras blocking his path. Munch, crunch. Then, a huge train stops Little Hippo. CHOO-CHOOOOOOO! It’s a good thing this little truck driver has friends to help him along his way. But when Truck Driver Hippo almost crashes into Lion—yow-wee!—only his own bravery and kindness can save him…

Meet Little Hippo! Today he’s playing shopkeeper, pulling his wagon filled with treats throughout the jungle. He is determined to earn enough coins to buy someone a very special gift. On his journey—oh, no!—Shopkeeper Hippo is splashed by Giant Crocodile! SPLOOSH! Then, a giant gust of wind nearly blows him away. Whoosh! But when Shopkeeper Hippo meets a very hungry Lion who frightens him—yikes!—it looks like Little Hippo may not meet his goal. Will this little shopkeeper find the bravery to continue?

Welcome to the Woofmore, where the water bowls are always full and there’s kibble on every pillow! Rufus and his boss, Ms. Coco, work hard to make every guest at the Woofmore feel like a VIP (Very Important Pooch). It’s the grand opening of the hotel, and Rufus and Ms. Coco want everything to be pawfect. Especially for their VIP guest, movie star Greta Garbark. But how can Rufus keep the puparazzi from hounding Ms. Garbark? And what will Ms. Coco do when a (very itchy) problem hits the hotel?

Georgina watches me. She doesn’t try to poke me or pull my tail. She doesn’t push her face into mine, and she speaks very softly. “Welcome,” she says. Most shelter animals dream of going home with a forever family. But for Elvis, being chosen by Mrs. Pemberton is a nightmare. He’s been taken away from his sister, Etta, and is determined to get back to the shelter to find her.

Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1930s, Benjy Puterman and Tommy Anspach have always done everything together. It never mattered that Benjy was Jewish and Tommy was of German heritage. But as Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party come to power in Germany and war brews in Europe, everything changes. Tommy is sent to Camp Nordland, a Nazi youth camp for German Americans, where he quickly learns that Jews are the enemy.

Frank and Sunny’s humans are bringing home their nibling for a visit. But what exactly is a “nibling”? Frank says it’s a small bite of something, and Sunny thinks that sounds delicious. But then there is a knock on their door, and this nibling is a far cry from what they expected! Nelly has strong ideas about how to play and what constitutes fun, including a nauseating basket ride around the house and a mandatory play wedding—with costumes!—between Frank and Captain Keith, the parrot.

In Rye, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, people work hard, kids go to school, and football is big on Friday nights. An eighth-grade English teacher creates an assignment for her class to debate whether Rye’s mascot should stay or change. Now six middle schoolers get involved in the issue that already has the suburb turned upside down with everyone choosing sides and arguments getting ugly. At the center of this story about human rights and Native sovereignty, there are six young people.

A talented cellist with a promising future, Jack daydreams about two things: leaving his isolated village of Massena, New York, to become a professional musician and kissing Emaline Durham—a Gentile girl he knows he can never be with. But when Emaline’s little sister, Daisy, disappears in Paradise Woods, a seething lie turns Jack’s world into a living nightmare.