Set in the Kaw River Valley where Paretsky grew up, Bleeding Kansas is the story of the Schapens and the Grelliers, two farm families whose histories have been entwined since the 1850s, when their ancestors settled the valley as antislavery emigrants.
Today, the Schapen family, terrified by the lawlessness of the 1970s-when Lawrence was the most violent college town in the nation-has turned to that old-time religion for security. The Schapens keep a close eye on all their neighbors, most especially the Grelliers. They maintain careful track of everyone's misdeeds, printing the most egregious on their family website. When Gina Haring, a Wiccan, moves into an empty farmhouse and starts practicing pagan rites, the family members are so outraged that they begin an active harassment campaign against the Wiccans.
The Schapens worry, too, about who stands better with the Lord: their family or the Grelliers. When a Schapen cow gives birth to what may be a "Perfect Red Heifer"-needed if the temple is ever rebuilt in Jerusalem-the Schapens feel convinced that God is indeed smiling on them.
Despite parental cautions, the Grelliers' teenagers are enraged by the Schapens. All their short lives, they and the young Schapens have fought. One particularly angry confrontation causes Chip Grellier to be expelled from school and consequentlyto join the army. Chip's death in Iraq is the catalyzing event for momentous changes in the lives of not only both the Schapens and the Grelliers but of all the families in the valley. The powerful, climactic scene at Gina Haring's Samhain bonfire will forever haunt the reader.
Today, the Schapen family, terrified by the lawlessness of the 1970s-when Lawrence was the most violent college town in the nation-has turned to that old-time religion for security. The Schapens keep a close eye on all their neighbors, most especially the Grelliers. They maintain careful track of everyone's misdeeds, printing the most egregious on their family website. When Gina Haring, a Wiccan, moves into an empty farmhouse and starts practicing pagan rites, the family members are so outraged that they begin an active harassment campaign against the Wiccans.
The Schapens worry, too, about who stands better with the Lord: their family or the Grelliers. When a Schapen cow gives birth to what may be a "Perfect Red Heifer"-needed if the temple is ever rebuilt in Jerusalem-the Schapens feel convinced that God is indeed smiling on them.
Despite parental cautions, the Grelliers' teenagers are enraged by the Schapens. All their short lives, they and the young Schapens have fought. One particularly angry confrontation causes Chip Grellier to be expelled from school and consequentlyto join the army. Chip's death in Iraq is the catalyzing event for momentous changes in the lives of not only both the Schapens and the Grelliers but of all the families in the valley. The powerful, climactic scene at Gina Haring's Samhain bonfire will forever haunt the reader.
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Used availability for Sara Paretsky's Bleeding Kansas
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
September 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas (Charnwood) Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-84782-351-3 / 9781847823519 (UK edition) Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-340-83911-2 / 978-0-340-83911-9 (UK edition) Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-399-15405-1 / 978-0-399-15405-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Putnam Adult Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4104-0318-1 / 978-1-4104-0318-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Thorndike Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2007 : Hardback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky Publisher: PUTNAM PUBLISHING GROUP Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
April 2009 : Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-340-96374-3 / 978-0-340-96374-6 (UK edition) Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-451-22448-5 / 978-0-451-22448-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Signet Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-59413-268-2 / 9781594132681 (USA edition) Publisher: THOMSON GALE GROUP Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Perfect Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-451-22445-0 / 978-0-451-22445-3 (USA edition) Publisher: PENGUIN Group (USA) Inc. Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2008 : Perfect Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-340-83913-9 / 978-0-340-83913-3 (UK edition) Publisher: Hodder And Stoughton Ltd. Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
December 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-340-83912-0 / 978-0-340-83912-6 (UK edition) Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Audio Editions
October 2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1988-5 / 978-1-4233-1988-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Value Priced Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
August 2008 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-7531-3162-5 / 978-0-7531-3162-6 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Audio Books Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
August 2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 0-7531-3163-3 / 978-0-7531-3163-3 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Audio Books Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
January 2008 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1979-6 / 978-1-4233-1979-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio Unabridged Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1980-X / 978-1-4233-1980-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio Unabridged Lib Ed Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1981-8 / 978-1-4233-1981-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1982-6 / 978-1-4233-1982-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged Lib Ed Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : MP3 CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1983-4 / 978-1-4233-1983-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Corporation Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : MP3 CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1984-2 / 978-1-4233-1984-9 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD Lib Ed Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-4233-1987-7 / 978-1-4233-1987-0 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
2008 : Audio CD
| Title: Bleeding Kansas - on Playaway Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-60640-084-3 / 9781606400845 (USA edition) Publisher: Playaway Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
Other Editions
October 2008 : Unknown
| Title: Bleeding Kansas [With Headphones] (Playaway Adult Fiction) Author(s): Sara Paretsky ISBN: 1-60640-586-1 / 9781606405864 (USA edition) Publisher: Playaway Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2008 : Kindle edition
| Title: Bleeding Kansas Author(s): Sara Paretsky Publisher: Putnam Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
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