What Themes Of Resilience And Courage Are Portrayed In 'Matilda'?

I often wonder whether I was cursed as a child since the amount of bad luck in my life seems almost supernatural. I've been called a computer genius, but to most, my true talent remains unknown. I've been called beautiful, but I tend to hide my looks behind tons of insecurities and loose clothing… After I broke up with my cheating boyfriend, my crappy job seemed like the only stable thing in my life… until I lost that last thing as well. The source of my tragedy had a name—Killian Blair. My bad luck stuck again and my high school bully became the newly appointed CEO of the company I worked for. Naturally, his first decision was to fire me and my entire department, ruining my life just like in school. I wasn't sure whether the fact he didn't recognize me was a blessing or a curse, but I was determined never to meet him again. Unfortunately, my fate had other plans… First, Killian managed to save me from an uncomfortable situation with my ex, and a moment later, I was rumored to be his girlfriend! But then the tables turned. The mighty CEO needed to avoid scandals at all costs, even if it meant convincing me to act as if we were in a relationship. “Name your price.” A smug smirk danced on his lips. “Do you want your job back?" “Make me a director in your company. Only then will I act as your loving girlfriend.” I thought he would never agree to my bold demand. I underestimated his determination… “Deal,” he answered simply and fixed his eyes on me. “Just remember, Josephine Clairmont, you can't go back on your word. Once you sign the contract, you belong to me.”

Petal Athena Jones grew up in the MC life. She was royalty there in her father's Club, the Lost Boys. She was the princess along with her best friend Margo. They were treated as such. Coddled, spoiled but often pushed away. Neglected. Women had no power in the Lost Boys. They were expected to take care of the men and bear children. Petal and Margo are only saved by the teachings of Petals Grandma. Then when the girls were 12, the unthinkable happened. The girls know then that their family and club are a death sentence for them. When Petal turned eighteen a month after Margo did, they ran. They knew that their fathers and brothers would never willing let them go. They knew that they were set to both be claimed in a few days. They knew that there was no way out of it.. No one had any idea that the girls were unhappy. No one saw their escape coming and therefore, no one could find them. They were free and finally in charge of their own lives for the first time. What will these bold women do? What will happen when five short years later, they are discovered? How will the boys who have loved them all their lives react when they find that the MC Princesses are now Queens with no need of Kings?

I am in such a rush to pick up my daughter, Ava Pennington, from school that I don't have time to change out of my work attire. At the kindergarten gates, I run into the mother of one of her classmates, Candice Austin. She sizes me up from head to toe and says, "You must be Ava Pennington's mom." I politely nod. Just as I am about to say hello, her expression suddenly sours. "It's no wonder your daughter dresses so skimpily at school. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?" I am so mad that I nearly forgot to respond. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Candice clicks her tongue and grows even more aggressive. "Nonsense? Your daughter wears skirts to school every day. She's distracting my son so much that his grades have slipped." Her words leave me utterly speechless. How is her son's failing grades somehow Ava's fault? When I don't respond, she gets bolder. "Look at you dressed from head to toe in cheap junk; how can you afford to send your daughter to this elite kindergarten? You must have pulled some shady strings to sneak her in through the back door, didn't you?" Has she lost her mind? Since when does Ava need strings to attend the school I built?

My mom is terrified of being laughed at by others the most. Whenever the holidays are here, she will keep repeating one sentence to me—"Don't go around embarrassing me." When my relatives gather around and chat with each other, I accidentally knock a fruit platter over. Mom drags me over and slaps me on the spot. At the holiday feast, I grab extra pieces of steak for myself. Mom responds by kicking my chair over. When it's time for the holiday gifts to be distributed, my aunt, Gabriella Hall, has miscalculated the number of children present among the family. So, she has prepared one less gift for the occasion. Mom doesn't hesitate to kick me out of the apartment, leaving me shivering in the cold corridor in just my indoor clothes. The icy winds chill me to the bone. I keep slamming my palms on the front door while screaming and crying my apologies at Mom, and yet she remains unmoved and silent. Instead, she turns to face Aunt Gabriella with an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm really sorry. I didn't raise my daughter well. It's only fair that you ridicule me." What Mom doesn't know is that I get triggered whenever I hear the word "ridicule" thanks to her so-called parenting lessons. Whenever I hear that word, I want nothing more than to hurt myself uncontrollably. So when I hear the word "ridicule" coming out of Mom's mouth through the front door, I turn on my heel quietly and begin making my way toward the bridge next to the neighborhood that's plunged into darkness. The moment I jump from the bridge, the only thought I have is, "Mom, no one will ridicule you because of me this time."

Lyra's arranged marriage was everything she could have ever dreamed it would be... Until it wasn't. When her dreams turn into nightmares, she wakes up to find reality crashing in on her. Can she find the faith in herself to turn her future around along with the fate of her people? Love gained and lost. Pain, fear, hope, betrayal, torture and more await in this fantasy-based novel focused around a fiery young mage and a quest to save her world.

Maxine A. K. A Max John's is a senior at St John's. She doesn't believe in love nor in mysteries or fate. Her spiritual being feels threatened. For some reason she sometimes dreams about a mystical girl she has never met. She is abused at home, she fights for survival and dignity, but is oblivious of who she really is and where she comes from, or what she'll become. Her existence was declined eon years ago. What if she has a bigger purpose....what if her past caught up with her long ago but never realized it? Until….. Maya is a known kindergarten teacher, she has to start teaching at St Johns. She is a princess in a land oblivious to mankind. Her people are escapees of descendants of a world one can wish to be part of. A city where no man lives. She was chosen to lead her people but doesn't want to. She runs away to live amongst humans. She always wanted to be free and choose her own life, and lover. She dreams about a young girl. She never questioned why? Until...... All calls they return to their homes, humanity is at stake, and they are the only ones to fight who was coming, what had been going on eons ago? What will they do? Duck, or dive?