Back Cover Description:Heather Moore was "living the dream" in sunny California until her father's death catapulted her back home to Michigan, where she faced an impossible choice. Either settle her dad's chaotic estate and support her schizophrenic—but unmedicated—mother, or walk away. Caught between her desire to be a loyal daughter and her anger and frustration over her mother's bizarre and occasionally abusive behavior, Heather became a reluctant advocate for h...

"Sid the Kid" Crosby may be a young athlete, but he has packed a lot of ice hockey action into his years. This title begins with Crosby first lacing up his skates at the age of three and his natural skills for the game. But this kid is more than simply talented. Readers will learn about Crosby's dedication to the game through hard work and long hours of training on and off the ice, as well as his giving nature. Any reader will come away from this lively resource without a doubt about the l...

In 2008, the United States witnessed a milestone: Barack Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, became the first African American to be nominated for the presidency by a major political party. His subsequent election suggested that American society had finally surpassed some of the racial divisions that had plagued the country. But racial inequality persists and issues such as financial disparities between African Americans and other groups and protracted prejudice and discrimination s...

Amerigo Vespucci, the presumed namesake of the continents of North America and South America, is a controversial figure in the history of European exploration. The number of voyages he took to the New World is in dispute, but among his accomplishments, he found a rough method of calculating longitude, made notes on the indigenous peoples he encountered, and published theories proving that Columbus had not landed in India. This volume separates the fact from fiction, the man from the myth, ...

Most readers will recognize the name, but their information might be limited to Thomas Alva Edison's most famous inventions, including the light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera. This brief introductory biography introduces young readers to Edison's extraordinary life and brilliant mind. Beginning with his younger years, this book guides readers through his school and work experiences, highlighting his inspirations and other talents, such as salesmanship. An overview of his many...

Take a deep breath and dive right into the ins and outs of what keeps us breathing: our lungs. This bright and informative book offers a lively yet straightforward overview of the parts of the body involved with breathing and how they all work together to keep us alive and kicking. It is filled with vibrant photos and diagrams to help explain the different parts of the respiratory system and show how breathing happens. This book also includes helpful information about how to keep our lungs...

Agricultural engineering is more important than ever in a world that is striving to find more efficient ways to produce food and use natural resources. This vibrant book introduces readers to the importance of agricultural engineering. Each new spread clearly explains another way that agricultural engineers are making a difference in the world and emphasizes the variety of work available in this field. Readers will get excited about new and industrious ways engineering can be used to creat...

Alligators were once in danger of becoming extinct, but readers will learn about how these scaly beasts were rescued from the brink of becoming another sad story. Brimming with colorful photographs, readers will learn basic scientific facts about alligators, including the all-important characteristics that distinguish alligators from crocodiles. Readers will learn how caring individuals, along with the government and other organizations, cooperated to make alligators a conservation success...

Computer programming can be intimidating for anyone, particularly a beginner. Making that task a bit easier is Ruby, an open-source programming language that is becoming increasingly popular among middle school and high school students. Readers are introduced to the many facets of Ruby, including the language's history, the basics of operation, and implementation of the system's application framework, Ruby on Rails. Discussions of less than optimal aspects of the system and user concerns e...

Forests fascinate readers and hikers alike. And the deciduous forest, perhaps the "classic" forest biome, fills our stories and is the go-to spot for many outdoor activities. This informative book describes the forest many think they know, presenting the abundant life within, including trees, animals, plants, and even moss. Readers will learn about its iconic four seasons, as well as why trees drop their leaves and change from green to the brilliant hues of autumn. Thought-provoking sideba...

Cell phones and GPS gadgets abound, but there is no substitute for learning the tried and true method of using an atlas. In this concise volume, readers learn how atlases came to exist and how they have evolved over the years. Exercises and fact boxes throughout the book engage readers in hands-on activities to familiarize them with using an atlas and its features. This instructive volume supports Common Core Standards (such as using glossaries and indexes, interpreting charts, and drawing...

The science of archaeology--the study of the remains of the human past--pairs the thrill of the treasure hunt with the mystery of detective work. Readers will learn all about the different types of archaeology, as well as how archaeologists collect, analyze, and synthesize data. In this insightful volume, readers discover archaeologists' goals as they dig up discoveries and the training needed to get a foothold in the field. This book lays out the rich stages of archeological history, and ...