Mary, a humble servant girl, is whisked out of drudgery, to the stately rooms of an aristocratic mansion and thrown into the middle of a conspiracy. She has to learn to pass as a young lady, or go back scrubbing floors... or worse. In this demanding new role she finds friends, allies, enemies, rivals; danger and love. Beyond the story, the book is an insightful glimpse into the mores and politics of the era. The reader can't help but be drawn into the schemes and conflicts of the colorful characters. There is a wicked twist at the end and the happy ending is teetering on the edge. Above...

Mark and Julie are exceptional children who want to solve the troubles of their magical friend: Toab. They experiment, invent, improvise, until they find a solution with a happy ending for all.Their friend and protector, brave Champ helps with happy wagging of the tail and frightening growls at the Whatchamacallits.---------Fiction for children ages seven to ten. Black and white and colour pencil illustrations by Daina Valiulis. A story of co-operation and problem-solving. Text suitable for reading aloud, or independently at Grade 3 level.

- Visiting aliens with an unusual agenda - A Guardian Angel with a peculiar bent - A high-tech trap catches the wrong prey - Obsessing with jealousy can backfire - A time travel villain's unexpected fate - An old man talking to his cat about danger - A driver fretting about safety - Mind before the creation - An unusual TV set averts disaster - A town locked down by robots - A meeting by star crossed lovers - An urban terrorist's unusual targets - A young woman with a troubled past - A mid-life crisis ends well - A search for extraterrestrial intelligence These stories are fiction about the...