Bøger udgivet af Blank Slate Press

Kevin Killeen's debut novel, winner of a Silver Benjamin Franklin award from the Independent Book Publishers Association, is written with a keen sense of comic timing, and is a sweet, laugh-out-loud look at the innocence of childhood in the leafy Webster Groves suburbs of 1960s Saint Louis. From falling for a girl with no-good-for-sports stick arms and beautiful penmanship to jumping freight trains, smoking cigarettes, robbing the local Ben Franklin--and, in his spare time, trying to get to heaven--Patrick Cantwell is learning all about life at Mary Queen of Our Hearts parochial school. By the time Patrick graduates second grade he's practically a grown-up, complete with a broken heart, a police record, and memories of the Beatles at Busch Stadium.

Set during the brink of the Civil War, this beautifully written novel traces James Turner, a charming, impulsive writer and lecturer; Charlotte, his down-to-earth bride; and Cabot, an idealistic Harvard-educated abolitionist as they are drawn together in a social experiment deep in the Missouri Ozarks. Inspired by utopian dreams of building a new society, Turner is given a tract of land to found the community of Daybreak: but not everyone involved in the project is a willing partner, and being the leader of a remote farming community isn't the life Turner envisioned. Charlotte, confronted with the hardships of rural life, must mature quickly to deal with the challenges of building the community while facing her husband's betrayals and her growing attraction to Cabot. In turn, Cabot struggles to reconcile his need to leave Daybreak and join the fight against slavery with his desire to stay near the woman he loves. As the war draws ever closer, the utopians try to remain neutral and friendly to all but soon find neutrality is not an option. Ultimately, each member of Daybreak must take a stand--both in their political and personal lives.

The antics of Patrick Cantwell and his family, featured in the award-winning Never Hug a Nun, return as they head to Grand Haven, Michigan for summer vacation. After another boy reveals the facts of life--complete with pictures from the encyclopedia--Patrick's entire worldview changes and suddenly the idea of spending a week fishing and playing games with the family seems a lot less appealing. Patrick and his new friend decide to make a bet to see who can kiss a girl before the end of the week. As troublesome little sisters, biker gangs, and parents get in the way, Patrick wonders if he'll have a chance to even talk to a girl, let alone kiss one. With the same endearing humor and energy as Never Hug a Nun, readers will be sure to love Try to Kiss a Girl.