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Mr. Otter's Books

Otter's husband, Douglas Rees, is an author of books for young people.

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LIGHTNING TIME
When Theodore Worth's parents hide the abolitionist John Brown overnight, Theodore is impressed by the man's courage. Brown wants to free the slaves— by any means necessary— and, in 1857, this makes him a wanted man. Two years later, Theodore runs away to join Brown and his men at Harper's Ferry. Brown has a daring plan that, if it works, could end slavery— and if it doesn't, may kill them all. Lightning Time's seamless blend of history and action will rivet readers. "This historically accurate, richly detailed novel perfectly captures Theodore's angst as he stands on the verge of manhood, yearning to act." — School Library Journal
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Hardcover
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VAMPIRE HIGH
Cody Elliot's new school, Vlad Dracul, is a little weird. The principal is seven feet tall and has a pet wolf. The students are tall and silent and wear sunglasses in the winter. When he sees a kid's fangs, the truth sinks in: Cody's classmates are vampires. The vampires--or jenti, as they call themselves--have lived in New Sodom, Mass., for centuries. They are superstrong and supersmart, but water is dangerous for them. They need a few human kids for the water sports the state requires. Cody doesn't have to do any homework or even go to class. If he just plays water polo, he's guaranteed straight A's. What a perfect high school! Or is it? No homework, no classes--nothing Cody does matters. Most of the jenti openly despise him--but so what? Why is it bugging him so much? Cody upsets the status quo when he befriends two jenti kids and starts trying to do the impossibly hard homework for real grades. When he gets slightly heroic and donates a little blood, he's really in hot water! Cody is making waves that could change Vlad Dracul forever, in this sharply funny, sly satire about honor, friendship, love--and how to survive high school.
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Amazon.com
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Hardcover
Paperback
Coming in Spring 2005

LYCÉE DRACULA
French translation of Vampire High
Une histoire délirante et fantastique dans le monde des vampires. Une manière originale d'aborder la mixité des peuples… Cody rentre chez lui avec un carnet de notes catastrophiques. Son père décide de le placer dans une école très réputée : Le Lycée Vlad Dracul. D'emblée, l'école frappe par sa magnificence : immense campus, très beau parc, bâtiments de marbre. Le premier entretien avec le directeur est très bizarre. C'est un grand costaud à la carrure d'athlète, avec un loup comme un animal de compagnie, qui ne s'intéresse qu'à une seule chose : Cody sait-il jouer au water-polo et accepte-t-il de faire partie de l'équipe de l'école ? Cody accepte, mais comprend vite que son nouveau lycée n'est pas comme les autres. Tous les élèves ont une force quasi surnaturelle, ils fuient la lumière, et ont des dents monstrueuses. Pas d'erreur : ce sont bien des vampires. Les humains sont acceptés dans l'école uniquement pour constituer l'équipe de water-polo (les vampires ne supportent pas l'eau) ; en effet, l'État ne donne le droit d'enseigner qu'aux établissements pratiquant des sports aquatiques. Tout va bien tant que Cody reste à sa place d'humain. Les choses se compliquent lorsqu'il ne se contente plus de faire joujou dans la piscine et qu'il se lie d'une véritable amitié avec deux vampires (un garçon et une fille). Il accepte même de donner son sang à l'un d'eux… Dans un style drôle et alerte, Douglas Rees renouvelle singulièrement le genre des histoires de vampires. Ici, pas de cris, pas de fuite éperdue dans la nuit, pas de crocs menaçants. La cohabitation vampires-humains ne génère pas la peur, mais l'interrogation et la réflexion. En effet, ce texte est un récit sur la différence et l'intégration : comment deux espèces (humains et vampires) ont coexisté sans se mélanger, et comment la survie d'une des populations dépend de ce mélange… À méditer !
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Amazon France

Alapage.com

GRANDY THAXTER'S HELPER
Grandy Thaxter is very busy. She has laundry to hang, children to watch, and dinner to cook.
She's much too busy to take a break for anyone....
A clever reworking of a classic folk theme that proves the importance of staying busy, Grandy Thaxter's Helper will have readers rooting for Grandy to outsmart her guest!
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SMOKING MIRROR:
An Encounter With Paul Gauguin
Art Encounters series
This action-packed South Sea adventure is about a young sailor, Joe Sloan, and his mission to avenge the death of his friend, Robert. Joe searches for Robert's girlfriend, a Tahitian girl named Tehane, to deliver the sad news personally. He doesn't have to go far before fate reunites him with his friend's killer, the Marquesan warrior, Gun, and his evil master, a man known as the White Wolf. As Joe navigates the unknown territory of Tahiti and its people, he finds an unlikely ally in French artist Paul Gauguin. In the course of the story, readers are introduced to Gauguin and his work, the artist's relationships with the Tahitian natives, and his artistic temperament.
Buy it!
Amazon.com

Addall.com

	LIGHTNING TIME When Theodore Worth's parents hide the abolitionist John Brown overnight, Theodore is impressed by the man's courage. Brown wants to free the slaves— by any means necessary— and, in 1857, this makes him a wanted man. Two years later, Theodore runs away to join Brown and his men at Harper's Ferry. Brown has a daring plan that, if it works, could end slavery— and if it doesn't, may kill them all. Lightning Time's seamless blend of history and action will rivet readers. "This historically accurate, richly detailed novel perfectly captures Theodore's angst as he stands on the verge of manhood, yearning to act." — School Library Journal	Buy it! Amazon.com Addall.com Hardcover Paperback
	VAMPIRE HIGH Cody Elliot's new school, Vlad Dracul, is a little weird. The principal is seven feet tall and has a pet wolf. The students are tall and silent and wear sunglasses in the winter. When he sees a kid's fangs, the truth sinks in: Cody's classmates are vampires. The vampires--or jenti, as they call themselves--have lived in New Sodom, Mass., for centuries. They are superstrong and supersmart, but water is dangerous for them. They need a few human kids for the water sports the state requires. Cody doesn't have to do any homework or even go to class. If he just plays water polo, he's guaranteed straight A's. What a perfect high school! Or is it? No homework, no classes--nothing Cody does matters. Most of the jenti openly despise him--but so what? Why is it bugging him so much? Cody upsets the status quo when he befriends two jenti kids and starts trying to do the impossibly hard homework for real grades. When he gets slightly heroic and donates a little blood, he's really in hot water! Cody is making waves that could change Vlad Dracul forever, in this sharply funny, sly satire about honor, friendship, love--and how to survive high school.	Buy it! Amazon.com Addall.com Hardcover Paperback Coming in Spring 2005
	LYCÉE DRACULA French translation of Vampire High Une histoire délirante et fantastique dans le monde des vampires. Une manière originale d'aborder la mixité des peuples… Cody rentre chez lui avec un carnet de notes catastrophiques. Son père décide de le placer dans une école très réputée : Le Lycée Vlad Dracul. D'emblée, l'école frappe par sa magnificence : immense campus, très beau parc, bâtiments de marbre. Le premier entretien avec le directeur est très bizarre. C'est un grand costaud à la carrure d'athlète, avec un loup comme un animal de compagnie, qui ne s'intéresse qu'à une seule chose : Cody sait-il jouer au water-polo et accepte-t-il de faire partie de l'équipe de l'école ? Cody accepte, mais comprend vite que son nouveau lycée n'est pas comme les autres. Tous les élèves ont une force quasi surnaturelle, ils fuient la lumière, et ont des dents monstrueuses. Pas d'erreur : ce sont bien des vampires. Les humains sont acceptés dans l'école uniquement pour constituer l'équipe de water-polo (les vampires ne supportent pas l'eau) ; en effet, l'État ne donne le droit d'enseigner qu'aux établissements pratiquant des sports aquatiques. Tout va bien tant que Cody reste à sa place d'humain. Les choses se compliquent lorsqu'il ne se contente plus de faire joujou dans la piscine et qu'il se lie d'une véritable amitié avec deux vampires (un garçon et une fille). Il accepte même de donner son sang à l'un d'eux… Dans un style drôle et alerte, Douglas Rees renouvelle singulièrement le genre des histoires de vampires. Ici, pas de cris, pas de fuite éperdue dans la nuit, pas de crocs menaçants. La cohabitation vampires-humains ne génère pas la peur, mais l'interrogation et la réflexion. En effet, ce texte est un récit sur la différence et l'intégration : comment deux espèces (humains et vampires) ont coexisté sans se mélanger, et comment la survie d'une des populations dépend de ce mélange… À méditer !	Buy it! Amazon France Alapage.com
	GRANDY THAXTER'S HELPER Grandy Thaxter is very busy. She has laundry to hang, children to watch, and dinner to cook. She's much too busy to take a break for anyone.... A clever reworking of a classic folk theme that proves the importance of staying busy, Grandy Thaxter's Helper will have readers rooting for Grandy to outsmart her guest!	Buy it! Amazon.com Addall.com
	SMOKING MIRROR: An Encounter With Paul Gauguin Art Encounters series This action-packed South Sea adventure is about a young sailor, Joe Sloan, and his mission to avenge the death of his friend, Robert. Joe searches for Robert's girlfriend, a Tahitian girl named Tehane, to deliver the sad news personally. He doesn't have to go far before fate reunites him with his friend's killer, the Marquesan warrior, Gun, and his evil master, a man known as the White Wolf. As Joe navigates the unknown territory of Tahiti and its people, he finds an unlikely ally in French artist Paul Gauguin. In the course of the story, readers are introduced to Gauguin and his work, the artist's relationships with the Tahitian natives, and his artistic temperament.	Buy it! Amazon.com Addall.com