Most Popular Books by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters. That is, without questioning them much - if you don''t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle - who already has six wives - Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

As the tragic death of her older brother devastates the family, teenaged London struggles to find redemption and finds herself torn between her brother''s best friend and a handsome new boy in town.

Living with their mother who earns money as a prostitute, two sisters take care of each other and when the older one attempts suicide, the younger one tries to uncover the reason.

From PEN Award–winning author Carol Lynch Williams comes a “haunting read” (Booklist) in this coming-of-age tale about a girl who can talk to the dead—even if she would rather not. Evie Messenger knows that her family is different from other families. But it isn’t until her fifteenth birthday that the Messenger gift is revealed to her. Evie has the family’s gift—a special power. Soon she realizes she is able to see and talk to the dead—ghosts—often with no idea who the person was. Or as Evie says: “I see Dead People. It’s a Messenger gift.” That doesn’t necessarily mean she wants the Messenger gift. So Evie tries to ignore it but soon she finds she cannot. Can Evie find a way to live her life without letting her power take over?And what if the dead person is someone close to Evie’s family?

Now that Laura is 12 years old, she realizes that everything about her mother is totally embarrassing. Like the way she yodels at the top of her lungs while she works (okay, she calls it singing). And plays really old music so loud the neighbors can hear (can’t she listen to normal music?). And walks around in clay-covered pajamas (yes, she is a sculptor, but still . . . ). But things are about to get much, much worse. Laura has noticed that her mother is getting a little bit, well, fat. Then one night over dinner (at a restaurant, since she almost burned down the house trying to cook), her mother announces that she’s going to have a baby. Now all the neighbors, including the gorgeous boy Laura has a crush on, will know her parents have been doing it. Maybe even in the house! There must be some way Laura can change her mother before her own life is completely, utterly ruined!

For as long as she can remember, Sarah’s family life has revolved around her twin sister, Annie—the pretty one, the social one, the girl who can do anything. The person everyone seems to wish Sarah—with her crippling shyness—could simply become. When Annie suddenly chops off her hair, quits beauty pageants, and gains weight, the focus changes—Annie is still the star of the family, but for all the wrong reasons. Sarah knows something has happened, but she too is caught in her own spiral after her boyfriend breaks up with her and starts hanging out with one of Annie’s old friends. Annie is intent on keeping her painful secret safe. But when she and Sarah start spending time together again for the first time in years, walls start to break on both sides … and words that had been left unsaid could change everything.

For the teens at The Haven, the outside world, just beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises, is a dangerous unknown. It has always been this way, ever since the hospital was established in the year 2020. But The Haven is more than just a hospital; it is their home. It is all they know. Everything is strictly monitored: education, exercise, food, and rest. The rules must be followed to keep the children healthy, to help control the Disease that has cast them as Terminals, the Disease that claims limbs and lungs—and memories. But Shiloh is different; she remembers everything. Gideon is different, too. He dreams of a cure, of rebellion against the status quo. What if everything they''ve been told is a lie? What if The Haven is not the safe place it claims to be? And what will happen if Shiloh starts asking dangerous questions? Powerful and emotional, The Haven takes us inside a treacherous world in which nothing is as it seems. "Imagine Anna Quindlen or Sue Miller turning her attention to writing a young adult novel, and you have an idea of what Carol Lynch Williams has done for early teen readers." (Audrey Couloumbis, author of the Newbery Honor Book Getting Near to Baby)

"Imagine Anna Quindlen or Sue Miller turning her attention to writing a young adult novel, and you have an idea what [Williams] has done for early teen readers..." --Audrey Couloumbis, author of the Newbery Honor Book Getting Close to Baby Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother''s ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control.... "No one can get inside the head and heart of a 13-year-old girl better than Carol Lynch Williams, and I mean no one," said James S. Jacobs, Professor of Children''s Literature at Brigham Young University, of her breakout novel, The Chosen One. Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them.

In trying to reunite with her mother who left 10 years ago to find fame in Hollywood, 14-year-old Winston discovers the many meanings of family and finds friendship in an unexpected place in this coming-of-age novel from the acclaimed author of "Waiting."

Fourteen-year-old Carolina has been through a terrible loss. As she struggles to speak openly to her new boyfriend and to relate to her distant, sad mother, the reader slowly realizes the nature of their shared tragedy. Through letters to her sister and by using her father''s camera, Carolina tries to see the past clearly and find a path to an uncharted future. Though she feels she cannot bear any more pain, her strong character sees her through the wrenching changes in her life. Carolina''s clear vision and sense of humor help her to find her way and connect to her boyfriend, her mother, and a life with new purpose and hope. "Williams''s story of family, friendship, and romance is heartfelt and sympathetic. . . . Illustrates the complexities of relationships, especially how appearance and reality can differ." -- "Booklist "This is a finely crafted novel in which Williams''s spare, lyrical prose depicts an adolescent blossoming into a thoughtful, caring young woman." -- "School Library Journal

Caity and her sister Kara get along well, considering their home life. By sticking together and keeping out of their mother''s way, they eat, go to school, and protect each other from their mother''s terrifying and seemingly random verbal and physical attacks. Some friends help and make a difference. But when their mother storms off with a suitcase and doesn''t return, the girls realize they can''t cope on their own for long. Yet, as Caity comes to realize, there is a lot they can do to take control of their future.

In this next adventure, George and Gracie travel back in time to Hershey, Pennsylvania—1907. Their mission: to return an antique rug and rescue their parents. When the time machine lands them smack dab in the middle of a barn, George turns into . . . something pretty weird. And Gracie drives a car into a fence. They meet Milton Hershey, the chocolate king, who invites them to be his chocolate tasters. But when George and Gracie discover a plot to steal Mr. Hershey’s perfect—and secret—chocolate recipe, they put themselves in danger to stop the thieves. Meanwhile, the evil villain, Crowe, is two steps from catching them and their time machine—and he''s closing in!

Set in the 1970''s, Marciea''s mother attracts a black family to their church and she is able to share with the father the revelation that all men can receive the Priesthood regardless of race or color.

Sixth grade is over and Elyse Donaldson is ready for a perfect summer. She''s going to read her favorite books and write her first novel. She''s even determined to get along with her older sister, Jordyn. But her plans quickly unravel. Granny''s Alzheimer''s is getting worse. So she moves in with Elyse, Jordyn, and their mom, and the girls watch over her while their mother is at work. Sometimes she''s fine, but sometimes she slides into the past and doesn''t even recognize Elyse. It''s frightening to realize that her beloved grandmother is slowly slipping away. Then Elyse gets involved in a neighborhood newspaper, and her mom starts dating for the first time since her father died. Elyse doesn''t think she can stand any more changes, any more loss, but she''s a lot stronger than she knows. This is the summer she''ll learn to stand up for herself and to help the grandmother who has always helped her. "From the Hardcover edition.

Eleven-year-old Leah ultimately comes to terms with her younger sister''s death. A warm, funny, family story that deals with overcoming grief and finding inner strength. To 11-year-old Leah Orton, Adeline Street was the best place on earth to live. But since her sister Kelly''s death, the old neighborhood only reminds her of better times. Recent additions to Adeline Street, like the new church and its stern preacher, seem like intrusions. So do many of Leah''s confusing new emotions, like her changed feelings for her best friend, Tom, and her sudden understanding of her friend Vickie''s frightening secret. Yet as Leah reaches out, she is surprised to find comfort and some good laughs in unexpected places.

Eleven-year-old Leah has a summer of outrageous adventures in her small Florida community, some involving her free-thinking grandfather but all shared with her younger sister Kelly, until an unexpected loss changes their lives.

While living in Nauvoo, Illinois, in the mid-nineteenth century and enjoying the friendship of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, Anna struggles to make her family see the importance of her gift for drawing.

During the Utah statehood celebrations in 1896, Esther, after being rejected for the lead role in her father''s play, finds herself helping the girl who is chosen for the lead to rise to the occasion.

Directions for twenty-four games that can be played on a checkerboard.

Fifteen-year-old Sage is enthusiastic about submitting her historical romance novel to the school creative writing contest, but her would-be boyfriend George thinks that it is awful and tries to stop her.

De dertienjarige Kyra is opgegroeid in een zeer geïsoleerde gemeenschap. Haar vader heeft drie vrouwen, zijzelf heeft twintig broers en zussen, en er zijn zelfs nóg twee kinderen op komst. Over haar leefomgeving heeft Kyra zich nooit iets afgevraagd. Totdat ze langzaamaan steeds meer in contact komt met de buitenwereld. In het geheim bezoekt ze de Boekenbus om verboden boeken te lezen. En ze ontmoet Joshua, op wie ze verliefd wordt, terwijl Kyra haar geliefde eigenlijk niet zelf mag kiezen. Als Kyra vervolgens moet trouwen met haar zestigjarige oom die al zes vrouwen heeft staat Kyra voor een wanhopige keuze. Hierbij wordt ze geconfronteerd met geweld en haar eigen angst om haar familie voor altijd te verliezen. Een krachtig en hartverscheurend boek over liefde en hoop. Het schrijnende verhaal van een meisje dat worstelt om zichzelf en uiteindelijk de waarheid te vinden. Meg Cabot

"When twelve-year-old Libby''s grandfather dies of a heart attack, it''s up to her--and his spirit--to find a way to help her father overcome his grief and for their family to find peace."--

Ceiling posters, customized T-shirts, letter boxes, or writing your own novels? What more could sisters ask for? WIth more than 30 fun and engaging activities Sister, Sister engages girls in productive and creative fun together while building memories that last a lifetime. Activities include: movie nights sister salon days scrapbooking picture magnets making ceramic mugs customized calendars and much more! All activities include material lists and information on how to have a great time—as sisters!

A shy, small-town girl learns the true meaning of loyalty, love, and beauty through her friendship with a classmate who is suffering from a rare, life-threatening illness.

On üç yaşındaki kız, altmış yaşındaki öz amcasıyla yedinci karısı olarak evlendirilmek isteniyor. Çünkü Peygamber onu seçti. On üç yaşındaki Kyra, izole bir toplulukta babasının üç karısı, yirmi erkek ve kız kardeşleri ve iki tane de anne karnında kardeşi ile gerçekleri sorgulamaksızın büyümüştü. Yani, eğer siz onun yasak kitapları okumak için Gezici Ironton Kasaba Kütüphanesine gizli ziyaretlerini ya da onun için seçilmiş bir erkeğe sahip olmak yerine kendi için seçmeyi umduğu Joshua ile buluşmalarını saymazsanız, sorgulamaksızın diyebilirsiniz. Fakat Peygamber, şimdiden altı karısı olan altmış yaşındaki öz amcası ile evleneceğini açıkladığında, Kyra bu zorbalığı dikkate alıp boyun eğmek ve sonsuza kadar ailesini kaybetmek korkuları arasında çaresiz bir seçim yapmak zorundadır. "Seçilmiş Kişi, kalp atışınızın hızlanmasına, dişlerinizi gıcırdatmanıza ve boncuk boncuk terlemenize neden olacak." -GregoryMaguire

Charming, clever, and heart-warming. Carol Lynch Williams'' novelization of the motion picture Once I Was a Beehive is sure to be a family favorite. ***2018 Whitney Award Finalist*** Sixteen-year-old Lane Speer spends her family vacations camping in the mountains, taking the memories for granted until she loses her father to an unexpected bout with cancer. One year later, as Lane is still reeling from her father''s death, her mother remarries a guy who Lane hardly knows. To top it off, he''s a Mormon. Worst of all, while her mom and new stepdad are on their honeymoon, they arrange to have her stay with her Mormon step-aunt who takes her to a bible-themed girls camp with a bunch of Mormon girls. Confronted with memories of camping with her family, Lane tries to find peace with her new surroundings as she deals with the death of her father. ABOUT CAROL LYNCH WILLIAMS: Carol Lynch Williams, who grew up in Florida and now lives in Utah, is an award-winning novelist with seven children of her own, including six daughters. She has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College, and won the prestigious PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. The Chosen One was named one of the ALA''s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and Best Books for Young Adult Readers; it won the Whitney and the Association of Mormon Letters awards for the best young adult novel of the year; and was featured on numerous lists of recommended YA fiction. Carol''s other novels include Glimpse, Miles From Ordinary, The Haven, Waiting, Signed, Skye Harper, and the Just in Time series.

When Laurel and her younger brother narrowly escape death during a massacre of new Mormon converts, they begin an adventurous journey farther west.

When a self-centered famous movie star builds a mansion near her family''s diner in an isolated part of Florida, twelve-year-old Honey develops a friendship with the younger daughter that helps Honey realize how special her own family is.

Eleven-year-old Laura Terry meets the LDS missionaries and begins a joyful yet sometimes confusing struggle to accept the gospel and all that comes with being a young member of the church.

April 8, 1942 was a dangerous day. That''s what the note said. The one from Mom and Dad. George and Gracie find it in their parents papers but they don t have a clue what it means.

During the coldest winter ever, George and Gracie land in Menlo Park, New Jersey, 1879—near Thomas Edison’s famous laboratory. Mr. Edison has just invented a long-burning light bulb, but he’s keeping a huge secret: he’s also discovered time travel. In fact, he built his own time machine. The kids get an even bigger surprise when a young Mr. Crowe walks into Edison’s laboratory—as his assistant! The older and dangerous Mr. Crowe is sneaking around Menlo Park, too, with plans to destroy the time machine. If he does, George and Gracie will be stuck in 1879 . . . forever. The twins need Mr. Edison’s help. But can they stop Crowe in time?

Dover, Delaware 1776: George and Gracie need to rescue their parents. Instead they find themselves time-traveling into the middle of the American Revolution. Not only that, but one of the twins changes into an animal with each time travel. This time Gracie is a horse. They end up helping Caesar Rodney make his famous ride into Philadelphia to vote "yes" for the Declaration of Independence. But time is running out to rescue their parents.

Living with her Mormon family in Farmington, Utah, in 1878, thirteen-year-old Caroline hears a secret which causes her to change her mind about wanting to become a famous spy.

Carol Lynch Williams, the award-winning author, introduces the collection with this wonderful series about a very extraordinary latter day girl who lived during a crucial period of our pioneer history, 1857-58. Her name is Tish, and her story begins in Iowa. Follow her and her family as they set out on the Golden Trail to the west.

When Sarah was a baby, her mother died; now she thinks her father needs a new wife, and in their search, they discover both a wife and the Mormon Church.

Twins George and Gracie travel back in a time machine to Delaware during the Revolutionary War, trying to rescue their stranded parents and in the process they help Caesar Rodney to cast Delaware''s crucial vote for independence.

Forced to leave their home in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846, Catherine and her parents join other Mormon families on a journey westward led by Brigham Young.

Events from Joseph Smith''s life are related as newspaper stories.