According to Mayan legend, the Xtabentum flower that grows wild on the Yucatan peninsula first appeared on the grave of a free-spirited young woman who was scorned for her passion by the people of her village, but loved by the gods for her kind heart. Xtabentum: A Novel of Yucatan is a story of two young women set in the years following the Mexican Revolution in Merida, Yucatan, one of the wealthiest cities in the world at the time. Amanda Diaz is from the "divine caste," a small group of families of European descent who dominate the politics and economy of the region. Amanda's lifelong...

Emma and Jack are playing in the sandbox while their mother is pushing their baby brother in a nearby swing. They hear a noise. Looking over the bushes, they see a little girl crying. They ask if there is anything they can do to help. She tells them that her name is Princess Florinda Clara Amelia Rafaela Louisa Josefina and that she is waiting for her friends. Lauren, as Princess Florinda Clara Amelia Rafaela Louisa Josefina likes to be called, tells Emma and Jack all about her life in her castle. Emma and Jack can't decide which is more astonishing: that Lauren paints on the walls, that she...

There is nothing more satisfying than to see a friend or family member enjoying a meal you have cooked. This book has a collection of favorite recipes put together by a group of friends, proven to have made their own friends and families happy. This unique collection of recipes from people with diverse ethnic backgrounds has tips, directions and great photos. The book includes ideas that will help you cook for a big party, prepare an authentic Jewish holiday dinner, throw a Mexican fiesta, succeed on Thanksgiving, enjoy a delicious fondue, or just quickly put together an easy-to-cook meal....