In imperial China, people moved away from the gender they were assigned at birth in different ways and for many reasons. Eunuchs, boy actresses, and clergy left behind normative gender roles defined by family and procreation. “Stone maidens”—women deemed physically incapable of vaginal intercourse—might depart from families or marriages to become Buddhist or Daoist nuns. Anatomical males who presented as women sometimes took a conventionally female occupation such as midwife, faith healer, or even medium to a fox spirit. Yet they were often punished harshly for the crime of “masquerading in women’s attire,” suspected of sexual predation, even when they had lived peacefully in their communities for many years. Exploring these histories and many more, this book is a groundbreaking study of transgender lives and practices in late imperial China. Through close readings of court cases, as well as Ming and Qing fiction and nineteenth-century newspaper accounts, Matthew H. Sommer examines the social, legal, and cultural histories of gender crossing. He considers a range of transgender experiences, illuminating how certain forms of gender transgression were sanctioned in particular social contexts and penalized in others. Sommer scrutinizes the ways Qing legal authorities and literati writers represented and understood gender-nonconforming people and practices, contrasting official ideology with popular mentalities. An unprecedented account of China’s transgender histories, this book also sheds new light on a range of themes in Ming and Qing law, religion, medicine, literature, and culture.

In an effort to rescue her uncle, Corinne confronts a mysterious baron who turns out to be as infamous as he is legendary. Why would this stranger kidnap Uncle Jonas? Could it have anything to do with Corinne's brother Matthew's reckless efforts to "heal the world"? Matthew may be the country's newest superstar and prophet, but he has put his entire family in the spotlight and in danger! In this compelling final book of the Family of the Fox trilogy, Corinne must protect herself –and the world!– from powerful relatives past and present who refuse to play by the rules. Can she right the wrongs committed by her ancestors centuries ago while safeguarding her own future? What will be the ultimate legacy of the Family of the Fox?

NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH "This stunning tale of betrayal, trickery, and friendship takes the reader on a wild ride." —School Library Journal Ocean's Eleven meets The False Prince in this thrilling heist story for young readers, in which five kids with unusual talents are brought together to commit an impossible crime. Failure is unacceptable ... but success could be deadly. From the bestselling author of the Blackthorn Key series, this magic-infused fantasy brings together a ragtag group of kids to pull off a crime so difficult, countless adults have already tried and failed. Lured by the promise of more money than they've ever dreamed of, five young criminals are hired to steal a heavily guarded treasure from the most powerful sorcerer in the city. There's Callan the con artist, Meriel the expert at acrobatics (and knives!), Gareth the researcher, Lachlan who can obtain anything, and Foxtail, whose mysterious eyeless mask doesn't hinder her ability to climb walls like a spider. Though their shadowy backgrounds mean that they've never trusted anyone but themselves, the five must learn to rely on each other in order to get the job done. But as Callan has been warned most of his life, it's best to stay away from magic. It can turn on you at any moment, and make you think you're the one running the con game, when in reality you're the one being fooled. Faced with these unsurmountable odds, can the friends pull off this legendary heist, or has their luck finally run out?

Renard the Fox is the first modern translation into English of one of the most important and influential medieval books. Valued for its comic spirit, its high literary quality, and its clever satire of feudal society, the tale uses animals to represent the members of various classes. This lively and accessible translation will be welcomed for courses in medieval literature and history, gender studies, and humanities, and will be a treat for the general reader as well.

Mason Harris, an FBI agent forever transformed by both physical and emotional scars, has all but settled into the daily motions of a life unlived, until his latest undercover assignment delivers him to the sweltering city of New Orleansand to a fiery redhead. Masons assignment to quietly probe into the doings of a dangerous Russian mafia family soon leads him to Ruby, a bartender at The Red Fox, the club the Nolikovs own and allegedly use as a front for all their business. Immediately mesmerized by Rubys sensual spell, Mason attempts to focus on his surveillance operation and remain undiscovered, but it is not long before he falls hard for her. As the Nolikovs continue down an evil path, now all Mason has to do is determine whether Ruby is really the woman of his dreams or the object of his undoing. But what he does not know is that very soon, their destiny will be decided during one final showdown with the Russians. The Fox and the Firefly is the riveting tale of an FBI agent as he navigates through the uncertain waters of his passionate relationship with a fiery bartender while attempting to take down a Russian mafia family.