Cary Hite

You may think that the story of the saxophone begins with Dexter Gordon or Charlie Parker or on a street corner in New Orleans. It really began in 1840 in Belgium with a young daydreamer named Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax, a boy with bad luck but great ideas. Coretta Scott King Honoree Lesa Cline-Ransome unravels the fascinating history of how Adolphe's once reviled instrument was transported across Europe and Mexico to New Orleans. Follow the saxophone's...

Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball's all-time-greatest players-an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African-American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was black. One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public,...

Young Neil deGrasse Tyson was starstruck when he first visited the sky theater at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. He couldn't believe the crowded, glittering night sky at the planetarium was real-until a visit to the country years later revealed the impossible. That discovery was like rocket fuel for Neil's passion about space. His quest for knowledge took him from the roof of his apartment building to a science expedition in northwest Africa,...

"The Big Cheese is the best at everything, and brags about it, too. When the annual Cheese-cathlon comes around, the Big Cheese is prepared to win, as always. But what happens when the quiet new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, comes out on top? Is a slice of humility all the Big Cheese needs to discover that some things are better than being the best?"-- Provided by publisher.

"Off a small island, a boy and his grandfather set sail in their beloved fishing boat. They ride the waves, catching wants and wishes and seeing the wonders of the ocean. But soon the boy is sailing the boat himself, drifting further from shore as the waters grow muddied and turbulent. When a storm washes him ashore, he sees home in a new light. He decides to turn the tides of his fortune, cleaning the island's waters and creating a new life with...

Mona Lisa Cunningham never thought she'd find romance again. It took everything she had to escape a life of fear and abuse and remake herself as an independent, confident woman. She has a successful career, a new life in Seattle, and a devoted fiancé. But Mona's fresh start is plagued by an overwhelming deception. To keep William safe, Mona refuses to set a wedding date, using every excuse but the truth.

"Dixyn Greene has it all. She is a hustler's wife, the mother of a beautiful daughter, and she owns a town house and a nice car--she's living the life. But when the feds arrest her man, Dixyn's whole world begins to crumble. Quickly things go from bad to worse--as the bills begin to mount, her ability to continue to maintain her lavish lifestyle is put to the test. Strapped for cash, her good intentions lead to bad decisions. Enter Brian Winters,...

The love triangle among Shan, Nick, and Briggen escalates in the wake of Shan's transfer back into Redbone; while Dark's efforts to take over Detroit are threatened by Joy's possession of The List.

''It's the penthouse or the morgue.''

This is the philosophy adopted by Keshawn Wilson, a.k.a. ''K-Dawg,'' self-proclaimed lord of the streets. Keshawn is the youngest of five kids and one of only two that doesn't belong to his mother's husband. As a little boy he feels the distance between he and his stepfather, and life becomes increasingly difficult for him as the years pass. His childhood and young adult years are spent in a home for

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"The Diamond family has survived murder, deceit, and betrayal. Through it all, they're still standing tall, and a new era has begun. After surviving an attempt on her life, Breeze has moved into the queen's position by Zyir's side. Zyir has taken over the empire and locked down Miami's streets; the world is in his hands. But there is always new blood ready to overthrow the throne. Young Carter has retired and moved away from the madness -- that is,...