New Releases by Dean Hughes

Inhaling smoke is a short book of poems by Ryan Hughes. Discussing topics such as love, heartbreak, and his personal battle through depression. Ryan Hughes has been writing since the age of 15, and he has gained influence from some of his favourite poets, names Rudy Francisco, Sabrina Benaim and Casey Bailey. Inhaling Smoke captures the authors journey from being a victim of bullying, heartbreak and depression, to now, recently married and a happy survivor from his traumatic past.

"Best-selling Latter-day Saint author Dean Hughes writes a historical novel about the Prophet Joseph Smith''s experiences in Liberty Jail"--

In this gripping and eye-opening novel, two Syrian refugee teens trying to make a living on the street corners of Beirut must decide how far they’re willing to go to make a home for their family in an unwelcoming country. Thirteen-year-old Hadi Saleh and his family are displaced. At least that’s what the Lebanese government calls them and the thousands of other Syrian refugees that have flooded into Beirut. But as Hadi tries to earn money to feed his family by selling gum on the street corner, he learns that many people who travel the city don’t think they’re displaced—they think that they don’t belong in this country either. And as he faces the insults day after day, Hadi hardly dares to dream anymore that this might change. But then Hadi meets Malek, who has been instructed to work on the same corner. Malek, who talks about going to school and becoming an engineer. He makes Hadi wonder if more might be possible. But Malek is new to the streets, and soon Kamal, the man who “oversees” many of the local street vendors, tells Malek he must work the corner…alone. And people who don’t follow Kamal’s orders don’t last long. Now Hadi is forced to make a choice between engaging in illegal activities or letting his family starve. Can the boys find a way out of their impossible situation, or will the dream of something greater than their harsh realities remain stubbornly out of reach?

From the author of Soldier Boys and Search and Destroy comes an “immersive and inspirational” (Booklist, starred review) page-turner based on the little-known history of the Japanese Americans who fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Yuki Nakahara is an American. But it’s the start of World War II, and America doesn’t see it that way. Like many other Japanese Americans, Yuki and his family have been forced into an internment camp in the Utah desert. But Yuki isn’t willing to sit back and accept this injustice—it’s his country too, and he’s going to prove it by enlisting in the army to fight for the Allies. When Yuki and his friend Shig ship out, they aren’t prepared for the experiences they’ll encounter as members of the “Four-Four-Two,” a segregated regiment made up entirely of Japanese-American soldiers. Before Yuki returns home—if he returns home—he’ll come face to face with persistent prejudices, grueling combat he never imagined, and friendships deeper than he knew possible.

Three tense, action-packed, and thought-provoking war stories from acclaimed author Dean Hughes are together for the first time in a collectible boxed set. In Soldier Boys, Spencer Morgan and Dieter Hedrick are on opposite sides of World War II and fighting for the same thing. Search and Destroy finds Rick Ward enlisting with the Charlie Rangers special unit in Vietnam. He wanted to go to war—but this war is far bigger, scarier, and more complicated than anything he ever could have imagined. And in Missing in Action, Jay Thacker works hard to convince everyone, and maybe even himself, that his dad—who is missing in action as he fights in World War II—is really a POW and military hero, and not gone forever. These three stand-alone stories take a searing look at war and its consequences, examining what it means to be a hero, what it means to be a friend, and what it means to be a man.

Dirty. Lazy. Good-for-nothing. Jay Thacker is used to being called names because his dad is half Navajo. But things are different after he and his mother move to a small town in Utah to stay with his grandparents during WWII. Jay makes friends and earns money working the fields for his well-respected grandfather—but he encounters a problem in Ken, a fellow worker who’s from the nearby Japanese internment camp. Ken’s a Jap. And Jay’s dad, who’s been fighting for the navy out in the Pacific, is missing in action. This moving story about an unlikely friendship deftly addresses themes of prejudice and intolerance, providing readers a glimpse of the past that enlightens the present.

Norma Hayes has always tried to make Christmas special for her family, but Christmas 1944 is especially difficult with her soldier son Glen away in Europe, and rationing and lack of money don''t help. Teenage Dennis tries to buy his mother a special gift for Christmas as a symbol of times gone by and hope for the future, while Glen is reminded of home by the scent of lavendar on a battlefield.

In this concluding volume to the Come to Zion series Will and Liz, 19th century Mormon pioneers, leave Nauvoo, Illinois and cross the plains to reach the Salt Lake Valley. Meanwhile Jeff and Abby, living in the 21st century Midwest, face decisions about moving from Nauvoo to go to graduate school.

Will and Liz struggle to deal with their new life in Nauvoo, Illinois as they witness important events in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Meanwhile Jeff and Abby, living in 21st century Nauvoo, face their own challenges as they learn about Jeff''s ancestors.

SUB TITLE:Take Me Home

SUB TITLE:So Much of Life Ahead

Recent high school graduate Rick Ward, undecided about his future and eager to escape his unhappy home life, joins the army and experiences the horrors of the war in Vietnam.

SUB TITLE:Coming in First Across the Wrong Finish Line

SUB TITLE:Diane''s Story

The year is 1943, and Andy Gledhills months of training as a paratrooper have culminated in his being assigned to the 89th Airborne. But he soon learns that the government has other plans for him. The newly formed Office of Strategic Services needs soldiers with language talents like Andys to drop into Europe behind enemy lines and help fight the war from the inside out. Andys new life of deception and sabotage is worlds away from his upbringing in sleepy little Delta, Utah. But even that town is changing, as the nearby Topaz relocation camp ignites racial tensions. And Whisper Harris, the girl Andy left behind, is caught in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions brought on by the war. Should she release Andy from the promises theyve made, as he seems to have released her? Or should she keep on hoping?

Two boys, one German and one American, are eager to join their respective armies during World War II, and their paths cross at the Battle of the Bulge.

"Young Gene Thomas, son of Alex and Anna, has everything going for him: his natural good looks, his family''s prosperity, and his reputation as the best athlete at East High in Salt Lake City. But now that world events are affecting his family, things may not be so rosy after all."--Jacket.

A natural at bat, Wilson is winning nearly every game. But his hitting streakends when he depends on other people''s advice.

When Trent''s best friend Robbie and another teammate on the Scrappers begin bragging about their baseball abilities, Trent worries that it will affect the team''s play.

Just as Thurlow feels that he may be able to lead the Scrappers single-handedly to the season championship, an injury sidelines him and threatens to take away their victory.

Having been hit in the face by a ball during a previous game, Tracy tries to deal with her fear of its happening again as the Scrappers approach the baseball championship.