Esther Ottens Books

When this book was written, it chronicled one death among many in the war in Eastern Ukraine. Following the events of February 24, 2022, it evolved into a narrative of a nation under severe attack. Olesya Khromeychuk recounts the story of her brother Volodymyr Pavliv, killed on the front line in 2017, from the perspective of a civilian woman, highlighting often-overlooked viewpoints in war narratives. Through a blend of personal memoir and essay, Khromeychuk connects readers to the brutal realities of war in Europe and the intimate experience of loss. This updated edition includes new chapters and a Foreword by Philippe Sands, reflecting on the broader impact of the conflict. The book resonates with anyone grappling with grief and the sudden loss of a loved one. Praise for the first edition emphasizes its emotional depth and ability to transcend individual experiences of grief, uniting readers with the collective sorrow of Ukrainians. Critics commend Khromeychuk for her intelligent exploration of complex themes, blending emotional honesty with rigorous analysis. Her vivid prose and unflinching honesty illuminate the silence surrounding the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, making her brother's story both poignant and unforgettable.

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

"Beware of shaking hands with a Sterkarm!" warns a folk saying, reflecting the treachery of a 16th-century Scottish clan known for their left-handedness and hidden daggers. When a 21st-century mega-corporation opens a Time Tube to exploit the ancient English-Scottish border, the CEO's ambitions are thwarted by the fierce Sterkarms, whom he views as primitive. Meanwhile, anthropologist Andrea Mitchell is sent to live among the Sterkarms as the corporation's informant. To her surprise, she finds acceptance and admiration from the volatile yet affectionate clansmen. When her lover, Per, is severely injured during a raid, Andrea convinces Old Toorkild, the chief, to allow Per to be transported to the future for medical treatment. However, when Per awakens in the 21st century, his fear and distrust lead to a dramatic clash between advanced technology and the passionate defense of his people. This richly textured love story, filled with humor and cultural confrontation, has garnered acclaim, including the Guardian Fiction Prize, and is sure to captivate fans of teen fantasy and time travel. (Ages 12 and older)

Focussed and determined - and bruised by a past relationship - he's not looking for distractions. But as pieces of the past start to fall into place, the restoration also brings together Jimmy and Verity, two local teenagers: one falling in love for the first time, the other an incurable romantic, determined to find her fairy-tale hero.

An intelligent computer game with a disturbing agenda. When 16-year-old Nick receives a package containing the mysterious computer game Erebos, he wonders if it will explain the behavior of his classmates, who have been secretive lately. Players of the game must obey strict rules: always play alone, never talk about the game, and never tell anyone your nickname. Curious, Nick joins the game and quickly becomes addicted. But Erebos knows a lot about the players and begins to manipulate their lives. When it sends Nick on a deadly assignment, he refuses and is banished from the game. Now unable to play, Nick turns to a friend for help in finding out who controls the game. The two set off on a dangerous mission in which the border between reality and the virtual world begins to blur. This utterly convincing and suspenseful thriller originated in Germany, where it has become a runaway bestseller. Ursula Poznanski is an award-winning children’s author. She lives in Vienna, Austria.

After modern science turns every human into a genetic time bomb with men dying at age twenty-five and women dying at age twenty, girls are kidnapped and married off in order to repopulate the world.

Laurie Vale receives a call from an unknown aunt, revealing that her family's history is built on lies. Fifty years earlier, a forbidden love and a flood shattered the Vale family in Stepmouth, but now her aunt wants Laurie to uncover the truth.

De liefdesperikelen binnen de Wilde Kippen Club zijn niet van de lucht. Sprotje en Fred hebben twee jaar verkering, Melanie en Willem groeien uit elkaar en Roos wordt verliefd op Willem.

As the 1980's dawn in the sleepy English village of Rushton, Mickey and Fred are next-door neighbours and best friends, in and out of scrapes from the day they're born. They're convinced that nothing will ever keep them apart. But they're wrong. Fifteen years later, Mickey is beginning a new phase of her life, with a small flower shop in London. Meanwhile, Fred's life is also changing: he's set to marry his girlfriend in just a few short weeks. Then he bumps into Mickey for the first time since their worlds fell apart. As they pick up the threads of their friendship, Fred and Mickey relive their glory days growing up in Rushton. But can they ever really overcome the devastating events that once tore them apart? And is it true what they say about first loves being forever? Warm, funny and sad, The Boy Next Door is a story about growing up, falling in and out of love and learning you're never too old to be a kid.