Addison Addley hates math. He hates public speaking too. Actually, he hates anything that involves work, but he only has a couple of weeks to write and memorize his grade five speech. The problem is, he can't think of a single topic. When he finally comes up with an excellent idea for a speech, it almost writes itself, but it's his poor math skills that make speech day unforgettable.
Addy has worn hearing aids for as long as she can remember. Her mother tells her this makes her special, but now that Addy's in grade six, she wants to be special for what she's done. When Addy joins the school running club to keep her best friend, Lucy, company, she discovers she is a gifted runner. Lucy isn't, which is problematic. Further troubles surface when Addy gets paired on a school project with Sierra, a smart, self-assured new classmate who wears a cochlear implant. Addy is surprised to discover hearing loss is all they have in common and a shared disability is not enough of a foundation for a friendship. True friends support each other, even if they have different passions and dreams. More importantly, Addy comes to understand that she is defined by more than her hearing loss. She has the power to choose how people will see her, and she does.
Dickon wasn't happy in his old home or his old school. He hopes that in his new neighborhood he will meet children who never knew his old, hyper self, who will like him for who he is now. And he hopes for a dog of his own. Dickon's mother calls him Birdie. She feeds him milk from a teddy bear mug. She worries if he's out of her sight for a moment and she knows how filthy and vicious dogs can be. Dickon is delighted to discover that the Humane Society is right on the other side of the fence behind the new house, but only by disobeying his mother will he ever get close to a real dog.
Socialism developed as a reaction to the capitalistic ideals of competition and profit. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels created a communist form of socialism in which the change would take place quickly. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
Democracies began in ancient Athens and Rome in the sixth century B.C. These early democracies were the models for American democracy, which became the model for other modern democracies. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the geography, history, resources, culture, and people of Brazil. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the history and responsibilities of the executive branch of the United States government which includes the president, vice-president, cabinet, and other agencies and councils. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the political parties, the democratic process, and elections in the United States. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book discusses the Vietnam War, its effects on America, and how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was conceived. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
Although women had participated in previous wars, World War II was the first war that officially allowed women to serve in the armed forces. Women in the military attended boot camp, took classes, and were trained for military jobs. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book discusses the history, daily life, and religion of ancient Greece. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
At the start of the Middle Ages, governments were practically nonexistent. Leaders couldn't organize their subjects or protect their borders. Feudalism evolved to bring the leaders and nobility together. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book explains how the Vikings were a civilization of extraordinary explorers and creative craftspeople who influenced much of Western history. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the geography, history, resources, culture, and people of Australia. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book takes a scientific look at telescopes and the exploration that uses this technology. Reading Essentials in Science.
This book takes a look at the microscopic organisms, including mold and bacteria, discusses the causes of allergies, and looks at the invention of the microscope. Reading Essentials in Science.
Climate is the normal weather in an area. It includes factors such as temperatures, precipitation, winds, sunlight, and humidity. Climates create habitats such as rain forests, deserts, and tundra. Reading Essentials in Science.
This overview of volcanoes looks at how they form, the destruction they cause, and how scientists are learning to predict eruptions. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the history, organization, and responsibilities of the legislative branch of the United States government. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book discusses the formation and development of tornadoes, including what scientists study about them, the destruction they cause, and the technology people use to help prepare for their wrath of destruction. Reading Essentials in Science.
Water is constantly changing form and moving around the environment in the water cycle. Water exists in three forms. It changes from one form to another as it moves from the ground to the air and back to the ground again. Reading Essentials in Science.
This book looks at the geography, history, resources, and people of the Southwest region of the United States. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
This book looks at the history, organization, and responsibilities of the judicial branch of the United States government. Reading Essentials in Social Studies.
The immune system is a group of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend a body against invasion by harmful microbes. Reading Essentials in Science.
Scientists have discovered that stars are not equal. They vary in size and color. Variable stars change in brightness over the course of hours, days, weeks, or years. Reading Essentials in Science.
