Rebecca Hazell

The Grip of God is the first novel in an epic historical trilogy, The Tiger and the Dove. Set in the thirteenth century, its heroine, Sofia, is a young princess of Kievan Rus. She begins her story by recounting her capture in battle and life of slavery to a young army captain in the Mongol armies that are flooding Europe. Not only is her life shattered, it is threatened by the bitter rivalries in her new master's powerful family, and shadowed by the leader of the Mongol invasion, Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson. How will she learn to survive in a world of total war, much less rediscover the love she once took for granted? Always seeking to escape and menaced by outer enemies and inner turmoil, where can she find safe haven even if she can break free? Clear eyed and intelligent, Sofia could be a character from The Game of Thrones, but she refuses to believe that life is solely about the strong dominating the weak or about taking endless revenge. Her story is based on actual historical events, which haunt her destiny. Like an intelligent Forrest Gump, she reflects her times. But as she matures, she learns to reflect on them as well, and to transcend their fetters. In doing so, she recreates a lost era for us, her readers.

Book One of the Tiger and the Dove

The Grip of God

A beautifully illustrated picture book that tells the classic Buddhist tale of a young servant girl's profound and life-changing encounter with the Buddha--for children ages 5-10. Inspired by Buddhist tradition, this original story tells how Padme, a young servant girl, meets the Buddha as she is sweeping her master’s house. When she laments that she is so busy that she would never have time to meditate, the Buddha gives her the instruction to “sweep and clean.” This simple mindfulness practice transforms Padme’s life, and when she encounters the Buddha many years later, he teaches her how to send compassion out to others. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a wonderful way to introduce children to the power of mindfulness meditation practice.

A Buddhist Tale

The Sweeper

Theresa Heine

Heroic Children brings together the stories of some of the most exceptional young people in the history of the world. Many of these children impressed successive generations with their inventiveness, their vision and their perseverance. Others combined qualities such as kindness and generosity with immense personal courage. Rebecca Hazell tells stories of children who have fought and overcome terrible physical disabilities and prejudices, and gives inspiring accounts of children remaining optimistic and true to their ideals, even when faced with severe suffering and hardship very early in their young lives.

Rebecca Hazell

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