Marie Lafrance

Hector, a retired wizard, lives happily and quietly with his cat, Poison, in a dilapidated house at the edge of the forest, until a noisy new neighbor moves into the abandoned house across the road, and things are never the same again.

When Anna Swan came into the world, people chattered. They whispered over tea and gossiped across fences. Because even when she was small, Anna was... tall. By the time she was four, she'd risen higher than a rain barrel. At six, she was taller than her mother. By ten, she towered over her father. And still she grew, always feeling she did not fit into her world. But Anna had dreams that matched her height -- she imagined a life of travel and adventure....

One beautiful fall day, Fern opens her mailbox and finds an envelope. After much worrying about what it could possibly contain, her friend Fawn encourages her to open it. Inside, she finds an invitation to a super-special surprise at the museum ― but Fern doesn’t like surprises! Luckily, Fawn offers to come with her to the party. What could possibly happen, he asks. Along the way, Fern voices her worries: What if they can’t make it in time?...

"Anneliese and her little brother Peter have been forever changed by the war that took their father's life. One day, while wandering the ruined streets of Munich in search of food, they stumble upon a book exhibit. The great hall is filled with more books than Anneliese can count! Here, Anneliese and Peter meet the lady with the books, who will have a greater impact on their lives than they could ever imagine.The Lady with the Books is based on the...