Early Fiction

Before Langston Hughes and his literary prowess became synonymous with American poetry, he was a seventeen-year-old on a train to Mexico City, seeking funds to pursue his passion. His early poems, beloved verses like “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” were written without formal training, often on the back of napkins and envelopes, and were inspired by the sights and sounds of Black working-class people he encountered in his early life. Blues in Stereo is a posthumous collection of these early works, in which we see Langston Hughes like we’ve never seen him before.

Discover the Magic of Learning Through Adventure in This Enchanting Children's Chapter Book! When the morning air starts wiggling and wobbling on Maple Street, young readers know something magical is about to happen! Join Imani, Tommy, and Maya—three best friends who've mastered the art of turning ordinary days into extraordinary adventures—as they tumble through a golden portal into the most wonderfully topsy-turvy village imaginable. Perfect for Young Independent Readers (Ages 6-9) This delightful 3,000-word chapter book combines the excitement of fantasy adventure with valuable life ...

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Peppa Pig: Bedtime Stories by Ladybird, read by John Sparkes. A collection of 10 newly recorded audio stories based on Peppa Pig, the hit TV show!

Welcome to the McAlpine Lodge: a remote mountain getaway, it's the height of escapist luxury living. Except that everyone here is lying. Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves. Then one night, Mercy McAlpine—until now the good daughter—threatens to expose everybody's secrets. Just hours later, Mercy is dead. In an area this remote, it's easy to get away with murder.

1911. As Emma packs her trunk to join the ocean liner Olympic as a stewardess, she dreams of earning enough to provide a better life for both her sisters. With their photograph tucked away in her luggage, she promises to be back soon - hoping that sickly Lily will keep healthy and wild Ruby will behave. But neither life at sea nor on land is predictable, and soon the three sisters’ lives are all changed irrevocably.

It's a day like any other for security chief Tracy Waterhouse, until she makes a purchase she hadn't bargained for. One moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy's humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn.

Dead Amy Speaks by Steven DetmersA paranormal fiction novel set in Herefordshire during the early 20th century. Lauren Carlton's world is shattered when his beloved fiancée, Amy Nugent, dies suddenly. Overwhelmed by grief and desperation, Lauren finds himself drawn into the enigmatic world of Spiritualism, seeking any means to communicate with Amy once more. As she delves deeper into séances and supernatural claims, Lauren grapples with his faith, the boundaries of reality, and the profound impact of her loss. Discover the emotional depth of Lauren's journey as he navigates a path fraught...

Once upon a time, a young woman attended a Ball hosted by a Prince. Although she was attired in a fancy gown, and wearing glass slippers, by midnight she would flee in rags and missing a shoe. As the tale of olde goes, she marries the Prince, however, this story doesn't end in Happily Ever After, because her name isn't Cinderella. No, this woman is called Pandora, and this is certainly no fairytale.

JoAnne's Gift by Steven Detmers is a paranormal and upernatural drama set in Long Island and New York City during the early 20th century.JoAnne Westburg's life is marked by her extraordinary gift of clairvoyance, a power that allows her to see and hear things beyond the ordinary. From the moment she was born, JoAnne's mother sensed something different about her, and this difference becomes more apparent as JoAnne grows older. JoAnne's Gift unfolds in the bucolic setting of Long Island, where JoAnne's childhood is filled with mysterious encounters and vivid memories. As she navigates the ...

Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most popular series. In book 11, the Famous Five are on an adventurous holiday in horse-drawn caravans. They discover a ruined castle that looks deserted. But is that a face at the window? Or is it a trick of the light? Just who is hiding in the castle?

She's 33, unmarried, and stuffed into a Bubble-Yum-pink bridesmaid dress. And the whole town wants to fix her up with anyone with a dental plan.... Who's going to rescue Sadie Hollowell now? Everyone in Lovett, Texas, knows Sadie has always been a "notional" kind of gal. She got a notion to leave town ASAP and never visit her daddy (bless his heart) again. Now she's back and got the notion to invite a good-looking, hard-muscled, total stranger to her cousin's wedding.

"Memoirs of a Disguise" is a rich Literary Fiction book set prominently in New York City and various locations during the early 20th century. The tale commences with the introduction of Kerry Mackintosh, a man burdened by his failing music shop. This plight leads to the fateful encounter with Horatio Bottomfield - a compelling stranger seeking employment, marking the inception of an intense and complicated narrative. Join the JourneyFollowing his hiring, Bottomfield embarks on a dynamic journey through the harsh realities of life in the early 20th century, filled with intriguing characters,...

A historical fiction book set in San Francisco during the early 20th century. Colonel Rupert Winter first encounters young Cary Mercer under dire circumstances in 1903. Cary, embroiled in financial turmoil following a stock market crash, is found dead in his college dorm room. Years later, in 1906, Colonel Winter meets Mercer's brother, who becomes central to an unfolding plot involving deception, danger, and high-stakes financial drama. Colonel Winter returns to the United States from the Philippines in 1903 and visits a Harvard dormitory where he encounters the aftermath of a tragic ...

Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most popular series. In book four, the Famous Five stay at the large old house at Smuggler's Top. They discover secret hiding places and underground tunnels, and one night they catch people signalling out to sea! Are there still smugglers at Smuggler's Top?

Well past his prime, Robert Fallon now fights the battles of politics to save the country he cherishes from civil war. It is 1832, and the high tariffs that protect northern industry are crippling the South. President Andrew Jackson thinks force is the answer to the South's threats of secession. Robert must pay a final-hour visit to Washington, as an appeal to Jackson and Congress to pass a compromise tariff before the country is torn apart.

In Earth Triumphant, Conrad Aiken's first major book of poetry, he took on a significant subject: What is the ultimate source of the human spirit? When the young human spirit loves, rages, strives, plays, where does that energy come from? When the old human spirit sees that time has passed and death is coming, where does that spirit find rest?

Samsee Secretsby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a mystery novel set in central Florida during the early 20th century. Ned Mackey, a naturalist and zoologist, embarks on a summer assignment to collect specimens in the dense, shadowy forests and meandering rivers of the Samsee River valley. His quiet life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Edith DeCoster, the spirited niece of the wealthy Carl DeCoster, owner of the grand Swampy Krags estate. As Ned is drawn into the DeCoster family's enigmatic world, he learns of an old legend about a sunken treasure guarded by a monstrous sea creature. The ...

Shipwrecked Dreamsby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a gripping historical fiction adventure set in the early 20th century North Pacific. Follow the perilous journey of Jimmy Farquhar, a young and ambitious second mate, as he navigates the treacherous waters of the North Pacific in search of fortune and redemption. As Jimmy embarks on a challenging voyage aboard a mail steamboat, he encounters a series of unforeseen challenges that test his resolve and courage. From battling fierce storms to confronting the harsh realities of maritime life, Jimmy's journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty. ...

Hap Collins looks like a good ol’ boy. But even in his misspent youth, his best pal is Leonard Pine, who is Black, gay, and the ultimate outsider. Inseparable friends, Hap and Leonard climb into the boxing ring, visit their families, get in bar fights, and just go fishing - all the while confronting racists, righting wrongs, and eating a whole lot of delicious food.

First to a Million explores the many advantages of FI, while explaining the secrets of investing, living frugally, and maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset. Treating your finances differently than the average teenager will put you miles ahead of your peers, and with time (and compounding) on your side, you can win the game before it even starts!