This collection of 21 poems offers perspectives on the ever-changing stages of human life, framed by the famous “Seven Stages of Man” monologue in William Shakespeare’s "As You Like It".
An historical account of extreme weather events and climate patterns, including human events leading up to observable changes, the people involved in studying trends, and the lingering aftermath.
Nineteenth-century poet Walt Whitman employs the language of his day to express a wonder about the world below the sea that is timeless.
An historical account of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the events leading up to the 2002 conflict, the people involved, the political instability and insurgency that arose, and the lingering aftermath.
A biography of South African humanitarian Nelson Mandela, examining his long imprisonment and position as South Africa’s first black president, as well as his emphasis on reconciliation and other social stances.
An historical account of the global refugee crisis, including the events that have triggered ongoing crises, the people involved, the border politics and camp-construction issues, and the lingering aftermath.
There are certain moments in history that are so significant that they become Turning Points, moments that put a bookmark in time and cause the events that follow to be measured by a different standard. From natural disasters caused by extreme climate changes to the rise of social media, from the War in Iraq to the current global refugee crisis, such times are often fraught with conflict and tension. This series puts each event in its historical context and follows the trajectory of its immediate aftermath and continuing global effects today. A timeline adds further historical context, while “Pointing Out” sidebars present related topics and perspectives.
A biography of Albanian-born nun Mother Teresa, examining her position as a leader of the Missionaries of Charity in India, as well as her emphasis on compassion and other social stances.
Although slavery was illegal at the beginning of the twentieth century, segregation was prevalent, especially in the South. Through many uprisings, protests, and demonstrations, segregation was finally abolished and civil rights were established for people of varying colors, races, and genders. Today, we celebrate diversity in our nation because of the Civil Rights Movement of the twentieth century.
Many talented and skilled immigrants came to America from various places in the world and brought with them their own cultures and traditions to enrich the American culture and way of life. Among the famous immigrants whose lives have impacted the twentieth century are Elijah McCoy, Irving Berlin, Father Edward Flanagan, and I. M. Pei.
Lizzie Lane is used to life at the top of the food chain. Her near-perfect life is ruined when Rachel, a girl she socially destroyed, exacts her revenge by getting Lizzie in trouble for cheating on a test. Friendless and facing detention, Lizzie obsesses over finding the perfect revenge. When Stella, Lizzie's strange new neighbor, teaches Lizzie about magick, Lizzie can't resist creating a revenge spell. But she forgets the "rule of three," that whatever spell you cast comes back on you three-fold, and her zit spell backfires with dramatic results. When she asks for help from Stella's Baba, the only advice she gets is to "write the lesson of the zit on her heart." Can Lizzie find a way to teach Rachel a lesson without causing permanent disfigurement to herself?
Emery's neighbor, Richard, is the kind of kid who gets under your skin. When Richard suggests a game of "Nicky Nicky Nine Doors," Emery can't come up with a good excuse not to play. Using chocolate bars as "stunt poo," the boys start playing the classic prank of the burning bag on the doorstep, but this game has a modern twist. They videotape their neighbors' reactions. The naked guy and the man in the apron are highly entertaining, but Emery starts to get cold feet when another neighbor is reduced to tears. Emery wants out, but he's not sure how to stop the game without losing face. Soon the game gets serious, and Emery has a lot more to worry about than his reputation.
Sable wears only black and has always felt that doom is near. Lacey wears pink and seeks beauty everywhere. A sadistic art teacher pairs Sable and Lacey together for their final project. The girls have to get to know one another and select a suitable poem for the back of each other's decorative mirror. Sable is less than thrilled at having to spend time with Lacey, who she believes to be nothing more than a brainless doll. As the project progresses, and Sable gets past her resentment, she learns some surprising truths about who Lacey really is. All of Sable's images begin to change, including the one she holds of herself.
Wilf is convinced his parents want nothing to do with him. When he isn't in school, he is left to his own devices or shipped away to camp. But at fifteen, Wilf is adamant that he is too old for summer camp. When his parents ignore his protests and ship him off anyway, he knows how he will get their attention: He will escape from camp by canoe and spend the rest of his vacation alone in the woods, proving to his parents he deserves his independence. His plan begins to unravel when his cabin mate forces Wilf to take him along. Things go from bad to worse when a younger camper follows them and they all end up in a fight for their lives against the unforgiving river.
As much as life has irrevocably changed since the death of his father, much has stayed the same for Cam. He's always had a great deal of responsibility around the house, but the burden is heavier now in combination with the load of grief he's been carrying. After the man who was driving the truck that killed his father turns up at the end of the driveway, Cam feels pressure to keep his family safe as well. He starts to see the man everywhere: at his work, in stores, at his sister's school. Cam needs to know what the man wants from his family, and he starts following his father's killer in search of answers.
The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain during the 1700s and spread to America in the early 1800s as the colonies formed and grew. Industrialism provided the means for development and expansion in America as life transitioned from rural beginnings to large cities. Industry was a large factor for innovation and employment at the beginning of the twentieth century.
An historical account of the social media boom, including the technological advancements that enabled widespread Internet use, the people involved, how companies such as Facebook and Twitter capitalized on it, and the lingering aftermath.
A biography of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., examining his position as a voice of the movement, as well as his emphasis on nonviolent resistance and other social stances.
A biography of Tibetan Buddhist leader Tenzin Gyatso, examining his position as the 14th Dalai Lama and his exile to India, as well as his emphasis on nonviolence and other social stances.
A historical account of the Human Genome Project, including the events that made genome sequencing possible, the people involved, the competition between public and private sectors, and the ways in which its effects are felt today.
A biography of Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi, examining his position as a leader of nonviolent civil disobedience, as well as his emphasis on fasting and other social stances.
A biography of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, examining his position as the founder of Buddhism, as well as his emphasis on compassion and the lifestyle of the Middle Way.
At the end of The Pirate Captain's Daughter, Catherine and cabin boy William are marooned on Pox Island by the murderous crew of the pirate ship Reprisal. The young lovers see no hope of escape. In Voyage of the Sea Wolf, the continuing saga of Catherine's sea adventures, she and William are rescured from their island prison by the Sea Wolf, a pirate ship pursuing the Reprisal. Catherine worries that these new pirates will send her back to the island once they discover she's a girl. But then, she meets the captain of the Sea Wolf. A Woman! Surely, Catherine thinks, the bloodshed and brutality she and William experienced aboard the Reprisal can't happen again, especially under the leadership of a female captian. But just as things seem to be going their way, the captain takes a liking to William. Catherine is forbidden to see him. If Catherine and William want to stay together, they must find a way to now escape from the Sea Wolf.
An in-depth study of sea monsters, examining legends, popular reports, and scientific evidence that supports or refutes the existence of the mysterious phenomena.
An in-depth study of near-death experiences, examining legends, popular reports, and scientific evidence that supports or refutes the mysterious phenomena.
