Genre Practice 1

The Hard Way Out by Terry Vaughn

In this novel, Brian is struggling. After losing both of his parents in a tragic car accident, Brian is living at his Aunt's house and sharing a room with his cousin. Basketball is his only escape. But after getting benched for low progress report grades, Brian's world shatters. Does he have it in him to improve his grades? Will Brian come to peace with his emotions? Can anyone help him?

Newton's Law by Morton Mallon

After a life of studying the nano-transportation sciences, Professor Melton stumbles upon a major breakthrough. On April 20th, 2042, Melton discovers a way to transport particles at light-speed across fixed distances. Now he can teleport from one location to another. But Professor Melton soon discovers that there is no such thing as a free lunch. He learns that the body ages relative to the distance travelled, not just the time. This means that a teleporting body ages very rapidly. Can Melton solve this problem before his time is up?

Intermediate Math Problems for Students by M. Colwell

This workbook explains how to perform basic mathematical operations, like double-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also explains fractions and decimals.

"If a Tree Falls" adapted by Stan Tanner

This is the very short story of a buck. The buck was admiring his horns in the water's reflection and feeling bad about his skinny legs. Then a hunter tries to kill him. As the buck tries to escape, his big horns get stuck in some tree branches, but his skinny legs manage to pull him free. The moral is that what is truly valuable is often unappreciated.

The Tinfoil Key by Rob Burnside

When young Ian Bradley accidently switches suitcases with an intergalactic space explorer, he ends up going on the trip of a lifetime. Now that he's left holding the bag, Ian must deliver it to the light scientists on Gamma Outpost 9 in time. Every life-form in the galaxy is unknowingly depending on the success of Ian's efforts.

Seeing More, Being More by Fletch Carpenter

"Dr." Fletch gives readers a dose of hard medicine. He believes that most people cause their own problems. Fletch teaches readers to solve problems such as bullying, insecurity, and relationship troubles. He does this with a three-step strategy: letting go of ego, seeing the "real" reality, and finding a role. Some readers find Carpenter's ideas to be refreshing. Others find them to be offensive.

Bronze Star by Irwin Keene

World War II has been hard for Mama Conner. While her husband and three sons have been away at war, Mama Conner has had to fend for herself. She keeps the house together, raises money, and provides for Baby Maple. The mood in town suddenly darkens when her neighbor Betsy loses one of her loved ones in battle. At Mama Conner's ladies club, several upstanding ladies of the town are on edge. They heard a garbled news report announcing that a man from their town was lost in battle. But the man's name went unheard and the women are left to speculate. This novel ends in a surprising twist.

Rapunzel adapted by Craig Hooper

Once upon a time a young girl named Rapunzel was running an errand for her mother. An evil witch kidnaps Rapunzel and imprisons her in the tower of a castle. After years in the tower, Rapunzel grew long, beautiful hair. Having seen nobody but the evil witch her whole life, Rapunzel is very lonely. One day a prince wanders by and climbs up her hair. The witch doesn't like this and action ensues. Eventually the prince and Rapunzel live happily every after.

"Buy a Blammer-Blap" by Blammer-Blap Inc.

Part squirtgun, part boxing glove, Blammer-Blaps are the hottest new toys on the street. This is a script for a radio commercial that gives kids 10 reasons why they must own a Blammer-Blap. Fart sounds accompany reasons such as "You just gotta get one." Kids will be moved to the point of purchase by these compelling arguments.

The Science of Black Holes by Dr. Kent Cartwood

Black Holes are theoretically so dark that nothing can escape them, not even light. That makes them hard to see, if they exist at all. Dr. Cartwood joins both sides of the debate as he evaluates the science of black holes and what we know (and don't know) about them.