Houston, Texas, 1962. In the midst of the Space Race, a young girl and her family listen to President John F. Kennedy give a speech at Rice University. Aligned with curriculum standards, these narrative-nonfiction books also highlight key 21st Century content: Global Awareness, Media Literacy, and Civic Literacy. Thought-provoking content and hands-on activities encourage critical thinking. Book includes a table of contents, glossary of key words, index, author biography, sidebars, and timeline.
For thousands of years, women in many cultures were excluded from or limited in education. This meant that others told their stories for them. This fascinating book shines a light on women writers who broke that mold. These women wrote some of the most intriguing stories ever written, such as Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote the world’s first novel, and Olympe de Gouges, whose political essays helped spark the French Revolution.
Victorian England is riding high. People are so prosperous and smug they imagine themselves the masters of the universe. Then the unthinkable happens: England is attacked by Martians! Panic erupts as the countryside goes up in flames. Is there no way to stop the ghastly, machinelike creatures and their deadly heat rays?
New seventh-grade student Carson Roberts learns the hard way not to cross the school bully, and it's only her first day. Book #1 in the series.
Jake Woods has a small construction business and will be dry walling a five-story building, but he cannot figure out why the basement is smaller than the first floor, so he seeks out his friends the Silvas and, with their help, discovers a sinister plot.
Dracula opens the door to the unknown. Do all superstitions have a basis in reality, or are they just folklore? Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the most feared and most loved tales in literature. From Transylvania to London, the reader explores the dark side of mystery and intrigue riding on the coattails of Dracula's cape, changing from wolf to bat, and living on in the nighttime. Do vampires really exist? Read Dracula and decide for yourself.
Mark Twain allows the reader to live life through the eyes of the mischievous Tom Sawyer- the fear of being in the cemetary at the wrong time, the anxiety of being chased by Injun Joe, the excitement of finding buried treasure, the joy of being carefree, and the guilt of hurting Aunt Polly. Join Tom, Huck, Injun Joe, Aunt Polly, and the others on a roller coaster of emotions and excitement without ever leaving your favorite reading chair!
When young Henry Fleming joins the Union army, he dreams of becoming a great hero. But after running in terror from battle, he must face his cowardice and fight bravely to win back his self-respect. Filled with vivid battle scenese, The Red Badge of Courage is considered a masterpiece of literature about war.
A Christmas Carol is without question one of Charles Dickens' greatest works. This extremely popular story introduces some of the most timeless, internationally known characters such as Scrooge, the unforgettable miser; Bob Cratchit, the underpaid clerk; and Tiny Tim, Cratchit's frail, loving son.
Hester Prynne must be punished. Why won't she name her baby's father? The vengeful Puritans of Boston demand an answer. Can the new doctor in town unlock the mystery of the shameful secret? Hester's gentle pastor seems unable- or unwilling- to give her any help.
Jim and his friends have the treasure map but they're badly outnumbered. Do they have a chance against the bloodthirsty mutineers? Long John Silver says he's on Jim's side. But the one-legged old pirate is clever and wily-- and Jim's very life is at stake!
"The white bar can propel my Time Machine into the future," he explained. "The black bar can send it into the past." As the Time Traveler continues his amazing story, his friends become increasingly suspicious. They can't quite believe his wild story about the evil Morlocks and the beautiful Eloi. Would you believe it?
Searching for a sea monster, a scientist discovers an amazing underwater vessel. At first he's thrilled to be invited aboard the Nautilus. What changes his mind? He discovers that the mad captain plans to stay at sea forever.
The mysterious prisoner is called Marchiali- but is that his true name? And why has an innocent man been imprisoned for so long? The fabled three musketeers suspect a royal conspiracy. But there are deadly dangers in confronting the royal family. The musketeers could be killed- and poor Marchiali could end up wearing an iron mask!
The Civil War battlefields are nothing like Henry Fleming had imagined them to be. Isn't it the duty of every living creature to save its own life? Yet Henry is afraid to return to his regiment. His comrades are sure to sneer at his cowardice.
The young man has only one dream-- join the brave company of the king's musketeers. Will he be clever and daring enough to make his dream come true? He rides into Paris on his old, broken-down horse. A world of adventure is just ahead.
Jane Eyre has had bad luck. In a fit of anger, her cruel aunt sent her off to Lowood, a bleak, charity institution for orphaned girls. There Jane learned to expect little from life. But her new position at a great country estate promises to be far more interesting than she ever dreamed.
Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer, and Frollo, the archdeacon, are both in love with Esmeralda. But the beautiful gypsy has already married another man to save his life- and her heart belongs to an army captain! Poor Quasimodo doesn't have much of a chance. Then an angry crowd cries out for Esmeralda's blood, and Quasimodo proves that true love is eternal.
On the run from his kidnapper, an orphaned boy acquires an unexpected traveling companion. Is Alan Breck the notorious outlaw that people say he is? Or is he really a patriotic hero?
Two young boys discover that they look just alike. But the lives they lead could hardly be more different. What could it hurt to trade places for a while? When the old king dies, they find out in a hurry. Will poor Tom Canty actually be crowned the new King of England?
Lemuel Gulliver has bad luck at sea. A series of shipwrecks lands him in some unimaginable places. First, there's the land of the little people. Next there's the fantastic flying island and the land of the giants. Last but not least, Gulliver visits a nation ruled by intelligent horses!
Uncas and Chingachgook are the last survivors of the once mighty tribe of Mohicans. Their friend, a white scout named Hawkeye, needs their help in the British fight against the French. The odds they face are overwhelming. Magua, a cunning Huron, is determined to see them fail.
Just one family survives the shipwreck. Now the father, mother, and their four young sons find themselves stranded on a remote island. What will it take to stay alive? The odds are against them. But the clever, hard-working Robinsons have what it takes to face the ultimate test.
A bored school teacher seeks adventure as a whale hunter. He has no idea that the mad captain of the Pequod is interested in pursuing only one whale- the enormous white beast that bit off his leg! Now it's too late to turn back. Will Ahab's insane quest for revenge cost the entire crew their lives?
Life is a constant struggle in the frozen wilderness of Alaska. For a wolf-dog called White Fang, every day is a fight for survival-- until he's taken in by a young American mining engineer. White Fang's world turns upside down when his new owner takes him home to California. How does he react? Is it likely that a wild wolf-dog can adjust to civilization?
