Early Fiction

Before Jack Kerouac expressed the spirit of a generation in his 1957 classic On the Road, he spent years figuring out how he wanted to live and, above all, learning how to write. Atop an Underwood brings together more than sixty previously unpublished works that Kerouac wrote before he was twenty-two, ranging from stories and poems to plays and parts of novels, including an excerpt from his 1943 merchant marine novel, The Sea Is My Brother. These writings reveal what Kerouac was thinking, doing, and dreaming during his formative years and reflect his primary literary influences.

April 18, 1906 – A devastating earthquake rocks San Francisco and Templeton Morehouse fears her husband is lost forever. A powerful and compelling story from USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby Chances were a million to one that a girl born and raised in Philadelphia would encounter a stranger from California on the trolley and fall madly in love, but that’s what happened. Templeton was not only taken with John Morehouse, but also with his tales of life in San Francisco. As an aspiring fashion designer, the dazzle of a city called the Paris of the West, with its towering ...

Surviving and finding a safe place to lay her eggs is difficult for Hypsilophodon with dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex around. When she falls into a mysterious pool and finds herself on a modern farm there are still problems. Finally she finds a safe place to hatch her babies, but how can she keep thirteen baby dinosaurs safe and secret? When the farmer catches one - Hector - and plans to take him to the vet, it's up to Hypsilophodon and her fiesty daughter, Henrietta, to get him back.

Lois Ehlert is the celebrated author of numerous best-selling picture books. Would you believe that Ralph the dog can talk? Yip, yip, yip - it's true. With Ehlert's simple, funny, call-and-response text, this fresh, engaging book is sure to get little ones laughing (and talking to their dogs!).

Willie, a silly worm who hates dirt and mud, changes his thinking after an accident.

When Nancy's parents win an all-expenses-paid vacation, Nancy and JoJo get to sleep over at their neighbor's home, Mrs. DeVine's. But JoJo is a little nervous to sleep at someone else's house; luckily Nancy is an expert on sleepovers and can help prepare her little sister. The big night arrives, and JoJo and Nancy have a blast at Mrs. DeVine's. But when it's time for bed, it turns out Nancy wasn't as prepared as she thought. Good thing there is nothing better than a sister to make you feel better.

Sister Bear is a super soccer player. She’s fast on her feet. She kicks the ball with the power of a cub twice her size. She’s should be a shoo-in at soccer tryouts...except for one little problem. Sister Bear is too small. Will Sister make the team despite her size? This engaging audio chapter book features all your favorite Berenstain Bear family and friends. Sister is fast on her feet. She kicks the ball with the power of a cub twice her size. Yet, even Mama, Papa, and Brother think she has set her sights too high because the other kids are all bigger than Sister. Is Sister Bear too small to make the team?

The Riddle of Plumfieldby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a captivating mystery novel set in early 20th century rural America. When young Betsy Rosten and her family inherit a sprawling estate under the peculiar conditions of her eccentric Grand-Aunt Nelson's will, they are thrust into a complex web of secrets and puzzles. Betsy and her brother Mark must unravel a cryptic riddle to find the hidden treasure that secures their inheritance. The stakes are high, and their only clue lies in a mysterious verse left by their Grand-Aunt. As they explore the old mansion and its surrounding grounds, they ...

Ballet has never been fancier! Fancy Nancy loves going to ballet class with her best friend, Bree. But when she realizes that her dad and the rest of her family have a lot to learn about ballet, she has a fabulous idea! What if she opened her own ballet school?

Nancy's class is going on a trip to the museum, and Nancy wants to be extra fancy for the occasion. After a bumpy bus ride, she doesn't feel very well. Luckily for Nancy, her teacher, Ms. Glass, has a few fancy tricks of her own. Nothing can keep Nancy from making this trip magnifique! (That's a fancy French word for great!)

Ooh la la - Fancy Nancy is so lucky! She and her reading buddy, Violet, read together every Monday. But when a few Mondays go by without being able to meet, Nancy begins to miss her new friend. Will Violet and Nancy find a way to read together even if they're not at school?

Nancy absolutely must have her first tooth fall out at school. That way she will be sure to receive the special tooth-holder necklace from the school nurse. But when Nancy's tooth starts wiggling at home, she is worried she might lose it before class. How can Nancy make sure her loose tooth falls out at school?

The year is 1902, and the world is changing with the new century. Twenty-one-year-old Ava Stanley, the daughter of two celebrated Arcane Taxonomists, has much to live up to—however scarce her magical abilities may be. While her parents draw power from spectacular birds and megafauna, Ava’s connection to the natural world is much smaller, stemming from the microscopic. This is useful in her quest to become a doctor, as she studies the burgeoning links between bacteria and disease, but it means Ava’s power itself is also smaller.

The Grind by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is a gripping psychological fiction novel set in the industrial heart of America. This poignant story delves into the harsh realities of factory life, exploring themes of human endurance, social justice, and the complex interplay between workers and their environment. Step into the bustling world of the Norman Mills, where the relentless grind of machinery mirrors the unyielding struggles of the workers. Witness the harrowing journey of Dana Wilson, a young nurse who becomes entangled in the lives of factory workers, revealing the stark contrasts between...

Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Topsy and Tim: The Complete Audio Collection by Jean and Gareth Adamson, read by Daniel Weyman and Kate Rawson. Topsy and Tim are always finding fun adventures in the real world, and this collection of stories is perfect for young children having first experiences of their own. A collection of 26 audio stories with fun sound effects and music.

Leo Walden acaba de vivir uno de los peores años de su vida. Su padre se ha marchado de casa, su anterior relación fue un desastre y no ha conseguido una beca que podría haberlo arreglado todo. Roberto Real solo quiere centrarse en su trabajo y olvidar los problemas del pasado. No quiere que le recuerden que su vida es un desastre, darle vueltas a lo que pasó en verano o convertirse en la comidilla de la oficina. Sin embargo, el destino les tiene preparada una sorpresa.

Step into a world where each whispered promise and stolen glance could be a scandal. Dive into a tale of forbidden romances set against a backdrop of strict societal norms and heart-wrenching choices. Experience the thrill and heartache of love that dares to defy the rules. Are you ready to discover if they will dare to love despite it all? Unlock the secrets of the past and begin a journey of passion and peril

Georgia Douglas Johnson was a key contributor to the Harlem Renaissance - hosting an influential salon, breaking new ground as a Black playwright, and playing an important role as an anti-lynching activist. Her poetry, however, is what first brought her to national attention, and in the early works collected here, her wide-ranging talents are already quite evident. In The Heart of a Woman, Johnson’s exquisite verse captures the full emotional terrain of womanhood. These are poems about love and disillusionment, empowerment and fulfillment, loneliness and joy.

What if you discovered yourself alone in the wilderness on the Overland Trail in 1857, wounded, weaponless, helpless? How would you react if, when you came to the following day, you found a young Shoshone medicine man and a cute Indian shaman girl tending your wounds? Connal Lee woke up that morning to a new life as a white Shoshone boy. Homesick for his brother and sister, his circumstances dictated he stay with the Shoshones until he made it to Great Salt Lake City. Raised in the Ozarks, educated while pushing a handcart across the country, the intelligent young teen adapted to another ...

Two New York girls, Maria Mezza and Alice Doe, wake up one November morning in 1906. Their lives are about to change forever. Maria is heading to her first job in a shirtwaist factory wishing she was heading to the country side. Alice is leaving New York to find a new family in Illinois country side. Three years later, the paths of the two girls will converge once more. Gone is the innocence of youth yet both girls are desperately hoping their lives will improve. Maria is caught up in the Shirtwaist Strike while Alice is on the run for her life.`