Baylor University Press

[close] Today we find ourselves in an anomaly in human history: many of our lives are empty of animals. Those of us who live in urban and suburban areas often have pets or watch documentaries on Animal Planet, but, for the most part, the lives of all the other species on our planet are invisible. Few of us really know how they live today, and, sadly, as Laura Hobgood-Oster reveals, many of them are not living very well at all.

[close] Whether related by biology, marriage, circumstance, or choice, aunts embody a uniquely flexible familial role. The aunt-niece/nephew relationship—though often overlooked—is critical and complex, one that appears at the core of a resilient, healthy family life.

In this engaging book, Laura Ellingson and Patricia Sotirin construct a consideration of “aunts” that moves from noun to verb. “Aunts” is more than a group of people or a role; instead, “to aunt” is a practice, something people “do.” Some women “aunt” as second mothers, friends, or mentors, while others play more peripheral roles. In either case, aunts nonetheless significantly impact their nieces and nephews’ life choices.

[close] One of the most beloved stories in history, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series topped the best-seller charts, inspired the highest-grossing film series of all time, and has now become a $250 million Universal Studio theme park. What is it about this story that has ignited such fandom and struck such a chord with people around the world? As English professor, culture critic, and Potter devotee Greg Garrett explains, these novels not only entertain but teach deeply held truths about ourselves, others, and the world around us. Unlocking the textual intricacies behind the Harry Potter narrative, Garrett reveals Rowling’s magical formula—one that, he contends, earns her a place right next to the literary giants of old.