Sonia Sotomayor became a household name when President Barack Obama nominated her to the United States Supreme Court in 2009. Her confirmation made her the country's first Hispanic Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. But even before that, Sonia was an inspiration to others. Sonia Sotomayor has built a life as a jurist, activist, and mother, committed to the rights and advancement of people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.
Irena Sendler was born into a Catholic family in Poland in 1910. Throughout the German occupation in World War II, Irena worked tirelessly to help save Polands Jews from the Nazi horror. Irena saved at least 2,500 Jewish children from certain death during the Holocaust. By the time of her death in 2008, Irena had been honored by the governments of Poland and Israel, Pope John Paul II, and many of those she had rescued.
With the founding of his own newspaper, Garrison used the paper and his association with other abolitionists to advocate for the immediate and complete freeing of all slaves. Through his editorials, he became a symbol of the abolitionist movement by pointing out the hypocrisy of the countrys actions versus the ideals set out by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Harriet Tubman served as an abolitionist, emancipator of slaves, military spy, and advocate for womens rights. Tubman helped lead more than seventy slaves out of captivity and guide them to freedom along the Underground Railroad. When Civil War broke out, Tubman guided an expedition of Union soldiers on a raid in South Carolina that freed over seven hundred slaves.
John Brown joined the side of free-staters in the conflict in the Kansas Territory, fighting to have Kansas enter the Union as an anti-slavery state. History has shown that his actions and the reactions to them were among the most potent precursors of the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
Sojourner Truth lived a truly remarkable life. She had the ear of President Abraham Lincoln and fellow abolitionists Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and William Lloyd Garrison. One of the most persuasive and influential activists of her day, Truth was also an effective recruiter of African Americans into the Union army during the Civil War.
Born into slavery, Douglass became an eloquent spokesperson for both blacks and womens rights. During and after the Civil War, Douglass became a confidant of presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Douglass also argued for African Americans to be allowed to join the Union army in the fight for their own freedom.
Following the passage of a law that made it a crime to aid in the escape of slaves, Stowe lent her actions and her words to the effort to help slaves and put an end to slavery. She actively aided fugitive slaves and, with the publication of the anti-slavery novel Uncle Toms Cabin, focused the nations consciousness on the inhumanity of slavery.
In the days before performance-enhancing substances, the great Hank Aaron hit a career-record 755 home runs, a mark he held for 33 years. Hammerin' Hank began his baseball career in the Negro Leagues when black players were still banned from Major League Baseball. Hank played for 23 years in Milwaukee and Atlanta and made the All-Star team in both the National and American Leagues for 20 straight years.
Dolores Huerta grew up in a climate charged by political activism. Fueled by her own contact with migrant farm workers, most of them Mexican immigrants with virtually no access to the system of labor laws and conditions under which they lived and worked, Dolores became an outspoken activist and organizer. She founded the United Farm Workers in 1962 with legendary Mexican American labor leader Cesar Chavez, and also worked toward improving the lives of workers, voters, immigrants, and women.
An examination of some of the most prominent people in the ongoing war against Islamic extremists, spotlighting such figures as George W. Bush, Osama bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein.
This title examines the fascinating life of Kanye West. Readers will learn about West's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame, as well as controversies over his outspoken opinions. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores West's early interest in rap and talent in songwriting that led to producing beats for other artists and eventually the release of his albums The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, 808s and Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Watch the Throne. West's Grammy Awards, fashion design, and work as a producer are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Justin Bieber. Readers will learn about Bieber's family background, childhood, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Bieber's music career and the release of his hit albums My World and My World 2.0, his popularity on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter, his personal style, and his fans. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Justin Timberlake. Readers will learn about Timberlake's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Timberlake's early interest in music and acting that led to an appearance on Star Search, his big break on the Disney Channel's popular show The All New Mickey Mouse Club, and the creation of the boy band 'N Sync that released 'N Sync, No Strings Attached, and Celebrity. Timberlake's solo career and the release of his albums Justified and FutureSex/Love Sounds, his acting career, which includes hosting Saturday Night Live and appearing in several movies, including Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, Shrek the Third, The Social Network, and Bad Teacher, his MTV Music Video Awards, his Grammy Awards, his collaborations with other singers, his clothing line William Rast, his record label Tennman Records, and his time spent raising money for charities are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Nicki Minaj. Readers will learn about Minaj's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Minaj's early interest in music and talent in songwriting that led to her successful mixtapes and eventually the release of her albums Pink Friday and Pink Friday...Roman Reloaded. Minaj's music awards, work with charitable groups, and unique style are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Taylor Swift. Readers will learn about Swift's childhood, family, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Swift's early interest in music and songwriting that led to the release of her albums Taylor Swift, Fearless, and Speak Now, how she deals with success, the MTV Awards fiasco with Kanye West, how her songs relate to her romantic relationships, life on the road, acting, modeling, and merchandising jobs, her philanthropic efforts, and future albums in the works. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Jennifer Lopez. Readers will learn about Lopez's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lopez's early interest in music, acting, and dance that led to her breakout role in Selena and eventually the release of her albums On the 6, J.Lo, This Is Me . . . Then, Rebirth, Brave, and Love? Lopez's acting and music awards, philanthropic work, and role on American Idol are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Cee Lo Green. Readers will learn about Green's troubled childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Green's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to group and solo projects and eventually the release of his albums Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, Cee-Lo Green . . . Is the Soul Machine, The Lady Killer, and Cee-Lo Green . . . Is Everybody's Brother. Green's multiple Grammy Awards, flamboyant style, philanthropic work, and role on the television show The Voice are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Eminem. Readers will learn about Eminem's childhood, family, education, rise to fame, trouble with drugs and the law, his time in rehab, as well as controversies over his lyrics and songs. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Eminem's early interest in music and talent in songwriting that led to his freestyle raps and eventually the release of his albums Infinite, The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Encore, Relapse, and Recovery. Eminem's acting debut in the move 8 Mile, his Grammy Awards, and his Oscar for Best Original Song are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Beyoncé. Readers will learn about Beyoncé's childhood, family, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Beyoncé's early interest in music and talent in singing that led to her membership in Destiny's Child and eventually the release of her solo albums Dangerously in Love, B'Day, I Am . . .
This title examines the fascinating life of Jennifer Lawrence. Readers will learn about Lawrence's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lawrence's early interest and talent in acting that led to leading roles in Winter's Bone, X-Men: First Class, and the Hunger Games series. Lawrence's acting awards and work with charitable causes are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Drake. Readers will learn about Drake's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Drake's early interest in acting and rapping that led to his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation, his successful mixtapes, and eventually the release of his albums Thank Me Later and Take Care. Drake's music awards and philanthropic work are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Jay-Z. Readers will learn about Jay-Z's childhood, family, time as a drug dealer, rise to fame, and relationship with Beyoncé. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Jay-Z's early interest in music that led to the release of his albums Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse, The Black Album, Kingdom Come, American Gangster, his record label Roc-A-Fella Records, his clothing brand Rocawear, his Grammy Awards, his time as Def Jam's CEO, which included signing stars such as Rihanna, Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Nas, and the Roots, and his philanthropic efforts. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Kim Kardashian. Readers will learn about Kardashian's childhood, family, education, early interest in fashion, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores the Kardashian family's deal with Ryan Seacrest to film the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians that made the family famous. Kardashian's appearances on popular television shows, including Dancing with the Stars, CSI: NY, and How I Met Your Mother, her thriving career as a model and a spokesperson, and her business ventures are also described. Also discussed are Kardashian's high-profile romances with rap singer Ray J., NFL running back Reggie Bush, NFL wide received Miles Austin, and NBA star Kris Humphries, the charities important to her, and her philanthropic efforts. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
This title examines the fascinating life of Adele. Readers will learn about Adele's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Adele's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of her albums 19 and 21. Adele's multiple Grammy Awards and charitable work are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
