Mrs. Ravenbach’s Way
William M. Akers
A funny, satirical first novel about a dictatorial teacher and the irresistible boy who stands up to her.
Set in a fourth-grade classroom, William Akers’s sharp, funny debut novel is a brilliant satire of a dictatorial teacher who bullies her students and a charming portrait of a young boy who stands up to her.
Mrs. Ravenbach, a vaingloriously German woman, teaches fifth grade at the McKegway School for Clever and Gifted Children and loves order, “beautiful, delightful order. Nothing is more important than the order. The order, and the discipline.” But when a new student, Toby Wilcox, arrives he disrupts her neatly ordered universe. Events spiral as Toby conspires to reveal the tyranny of Mrs. Ravenbach.
In alternating sections Akers brings to life these unforgettable characters. Mrs. Ravenbach’s increasingly venomous chronicles of her efforts to rein in Toby reveal a woman unhinged. Toby’s journal entries and cartoons are a window into the spirit of a young boy—the humor, the imagination, the loneliness, and the resilience. This deft, highly original debut will appeal to readers young and old.
Mrs. Ravenbach's Way is the first book in The Amazing Escapades of Toby Wilcox series.
“An edgy, subversive revenge fantasy in which kids speak truth to power.”
—Kirkus
Matthew Kenney is a chef, entrepreneur, and the founder of Matthew Kenney Cuisine, an integrated lifestyle brand focused on plant-based cuisine and wellness. Kenney graduated from the French Culinary Institute and developed a number of restaurants in New York City before focusing his career entirely on plant-based foods. His distinctive culinary style utilizes the highest quality local and seasonal ingredients coupled with innovative techniques and a vibrant, creative approach influenced by Southern California, where he lives and works. Kenney has received a number of awards, including Best New Chef in America by Food and Wine Magazine, two nominations for Rising Star Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation, and VegNews Chef of the Year, and has appeared on numerous talk shows, as well as in two highly viewed TEDx talks on the topic of plant-based cuisine.
Resources
TODAY—Cecil the Lion's Death: What Really Happened:
https://www.today.com/video/cecil-the-lion-s-death-what-really-happened-1240012355751
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC—Meet the Man Who Knew Cecil the Lion Best:
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/meet-the-man-who-knew-cecil-the-lion-best/
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC—An Inside Look at Cecil the Lion’s Final Hours:
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/wildlife-watch-cecil-trophy-hunting-andrew-loveridge/
CBC RADIO—Cecil the lion 'died in agony' 10 hours after being shot by hunter, says zoologist:
USA TODAY—Cecil the lion 'suffered incredible cruelty' for hours, new research claims:
WASHINGTON POST—Cecil the lion ‘suffered incredible cruelty for at least 10 hours,’ new book says:
NEW YORK POST—Horrifying details surface about Cecil the lion’s gruesome death:
CBS NEWS—Cecil the lion suffered for hours before his death, researcher claims:
CBS NEWS—Video: Author Andrew Loveridge talks with CBS News New York:
PEOPLE—New Book Explores Cecil the Lion's Murder, Claims Big Cat Was Left in Agony for 10 Hours:
NEWSWEEK—CECIL THE LION ENDURED 10 HOURS OF CRUELTY AHEAD OF DEATH, NEW BOOK SUGGESTS:
http://www.newsweek.com/cecil-lions-death-animal-cruelty-stories-cecil-lion-book-835098
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY—Cecil the Lion: His Life, Death, and Effects on Conservation:
THE REVELATOR—Book of the Month: