family relationships

"When ten-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he must navigate a new neighborhood, a new school, and his grandmother's illness all by hiimself. It isn't easy for Liam. Walking his dog one day, Liam discovers an old stone gargoyle in a rundown church, and suddenly he knows that his life is about to change forever. The gargoyle has the ability to come to life, acting out stories that Liam imagines. For the first time in his life, Liam discovers the power of storytelling to help deal with things that are really tough to talk about. Unfortunately, Liam also learns that stories can sometimes be dangerous. When one of the bullies at school is seriously injured in a way that sounds suspiciously like what happens in a story he made up, Liam decides to stay away from the gargoyle for good. But his grandmother's illness is getting worse, his mom is having trouble coping, and his sister is skipping school. What if the gargoyle--as dangerous as it may be--is the only thing that can save Liam's family?"--Dust jacket.

Fifteen-year-old orphan Ana Cortez has just blown her last chance with a foster family. It's a group home next--unless she agrees to leave East Los Angeles for a farm trainee program in Northern California. When she first arrives, Ana can't tell a tomato plant from a blackberry bush, and Emmett Garber is skeptical that this slight city girl can be of any help on his farm. His sister Abbie, however, thinks Ana might be just what they need. Ana comes to love Garber Farm, and even Emmett has to admit that her hard work is an asset. But when she inadvertently stirs up trouble in town, Ana is afraid she might have ruined her last chance at finding a place to belong.

A mother's account of the courage and perseverance of her son, who, at times, was hindered by the very people who were supposed to be helping him with his OCD disorder.

On May 13, 2008 Isabella Maria was born, the eighth child of Rick and Karen Santorum. While the family rejoiced, they were also saddened. Isabella was born with a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18, or Edward's Syndrome. She had an extra eighteenth chromosome in every cell in her body, making a genetic code doctors call "incompatible with life". Only ten percent of children born with this condition are born alive, and ninety percent do not make it to their first birthday. The Santorums refused to accept this fact, and made plans for Isabella's life with her family. During the next seven years, the Santorum family adjusted to life with a special-needs child and watched her transform their lives. Bella was a joy to live with and she became an inspiration to everyone around her.