Gumluck, a young, naíve wizard, does his best to help the local townspeople (and a small friendly ghost) with his sometimes critical raven sidekick, Helvetica.

"When Raven announces that the Christ child has been born, the birds of Bethlehem bring their gifts to the manger"-- Provided by publisher.

When Elise leaves homeschooling for public school, she copes by speaking as little as possible, but soon her silence becomes an impediment to friendship and to dealing with family secrets.

Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, the reign of Bersun the Brusque has come to an end. In the dizzying heat of midsummer, seven exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists compete to replace him. When one of them is murdered, it falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor's brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer and fight for the throne. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she...

Charlie Carlisle's grandfather is ill. Charlie's friend, Singing Bird, a Teton Sioux, tells him that ravens have curing powers, so Charlie steals a baby bird from its nest. Granddad, a retired naturalist, encourages Charlie to record his observations of the bird and study the effect it has on humans. Charlie just hopes that the raven will make Granddad well.