Presents readers with the 12 worst shipwrecks of all time. Each chapter provides historical facts, what caused each shipwreck, and why they were the worst. Features full-color photos, compelling text with interesting facts, and a 'Staying Safe' section that covers water safety.
Through twenty-six letters to her friend Nina, twelve-year-old Kasey chronicles the often humorous observations and impressions of her unexpected, month-long stay in a geriatric ward for the treatment of a rare but treatable bone disease ("osteo-something-something-itis"). Kasey tries to make her life less dull by wearing her own nightgowns, surrounding herself with her favorite stuffies and developing an unusual exercise routine. Hospital food, insomnia and the germy communal bath are enduring sources of dread, but some new (and unexpected) friends make her life bearable.
Seventeen-year-old Mark "Shark" Hewitt is good at playing pool. Really good. When he, his mom and sister move to a new town, Mark immediately seeks out the local pool hall. He loves to play, but even more than that, he just loves hanging out with the regulars. It reminds him of good times with his dad, who is no longer in the picture. When one of the patrons notices Mark's natural gift for the game, he forces Mark to use his talent for profit. Now Mark has to find a way to get out from under this sleazeball's thumb and protect his family.
Elle is on the road as an opening act for Johnny James, the biggest star in country music. Touring is everything she's ever dreamed of, but it has unexpected downsides: crazy fans, jealous backup singers, weird rules on the tour bus. But when something goes terribly wrong during a performance, Elle struggles to figure out how she can make things right with her fans, her father, her record company and with her friend Webb. True Blue continues the story that began in Billboard Express.
Jackson knows how to get what he wants. Whether it's sweet-talking his friends into buying lunch or convincing teachers to give him extensions, he feels entitled to take whatever he wants - even a day off school or a new pair of shoes. Now he's set his sights on Abby, a troubled girl fresh out of juvie who only has eyes for Bryce, the go-to dealer of a dangerous new drug called kryptonite.
Fifteen-year-old Natalie is obsessed with ballet and plans to spend the entire summer in dance class with her two best friends. But when her mom gets a job out of town, Natalie gets shipped off to stay with cousins she barely knows. Natalie is thrilled when her cousins invite her to join them at the local dance studio. But it turns out it's not a ballet class; it's Irish dance. Skeptical at first, Natalie is surprised to learn she really enjoys the new dance style and agrees to take part in an upcoming competition. But this new passion could result in Natalie having to leave her ballet dreams behind.
Seventeen-year-old Christina McBurney has led a sheltered life. But when her twin brother, Jonathan, dies of consumption, Christina, unwilling to be farmed out as a nursemaid or teacher, runs away from home and her destiny. In Owen Sound she boards the Asia, a steamship that transports passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes. She doesn't really have a plan other than to get to Sault Ste. Marie. She'll figure things out once she's settled. But a violent storm suddenly rises on Georgian Bay, and the overloaded and top-heavy steamship begins to sink. Christina is tossed overboard. Pulled to safety just before she loses consciousness, she finds herself on a lifeboat, surrounded by a number of bedraggled and terrified passengers and crew. One by one they succumb to their injuries, until only Christina and a brooding young man named Daniel are left alive. The usual rules of society no longer apply - Daniel and Christina must now work together as equals to survive. Big Water is a Fal account of the real-life story of the only two survivors of the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882.
Fourteen-year-old Ava is thrilled when she lands a part in a play based on the true story of orphans sent to Canada in the 1800s to work on farms. But is she good enough to hold her own in a professional production? As the rehearsal pressures crank up, Ava struggles with her character, with the vocal demands of outdoor theater and with the annoying ego of her castmate Kiefer. But as she learns more about the historical Lily on which her part is based, things begin to fall into place. Then one bad decision jeopardizes Ava's chances of being able to perform on opening night.
Going wild. We don't see it as a good thing. And why would we? For most of our time on earth, humanity has been running from lions and other wilderness dangers. We've worked hard to make our local landscapes as safe and convenient as possible. Sometimes that's meant paving over areas that might burst into weeds. Other times, we've dammed rivers for electricity or irrigation. But now pollution, climate change and disruptions to the water cycle are affecting the world in ways we never anticipated. What if the new key to making our lives safer (and even healthier) is to allow the wilderness back into our cities?
As our world's population grows, so to does our need for energy. Scientists seek the next breakthrough in new technology while constantly finding ways to make current solutions cheaper and more efficient. In this title, discover what methane energy is, its history, how we use it today, and how new technologies can contribute to our energy future. Learn how methane digesters work and how they can help people in the developing world, discover ways biogas might replace natural gas, and explore the potential future uses of methane hydrates. Sidebars, full-color photos, full-spread diagrams, well-placed graphs, charts, and maps, stories highlighting innovations in action, and a glossary enhance this engaging title.
After the stock market crash in 1929, America plunged into one of its darkest periods--the Great Depression.
Describes life in United States in the year 1968, including the war in Vietnam, the draft, war protesters, hippies and yippies, the presidential campaign and election, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy.
Describes the first explorers and their expeditions to uncharted lands, discussing their motivations and accomplishments.
This book tells the story behind the developments for people to communicate with one another from across the street to across the country.
Recounts the struggles and triumphs of Jack Trice, the first African American to play football for Iowa State, who died in 1923 of injuries received on the field.
After the Revolutionary War, George Washington had a vision of a school to train soldiers. The book describes the military academy at West Point and the people who attended it.
Describes some of the greatest moments in the history of the Olympic games, including record-breaking performances, unexpected victories, and inspirational performances by athletes struggling against difficult odds.
Describes the deepest part of the ocean, called the abyss, and explains how, with new equipment and technology, humans are beginning to learn more about the abyss and the creatures who live there.
Recounts the struggles and triumphs of nine athletes who have battled illness, accidents, and other disasters on their way to success in their sports, including Lance Armstrong, Gail Devers, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
When gold was found at Sutter's Mill in California in 1849, the lives of thousands of people changed forever.
Explains what early civilizations believed about natural disasters; highlights notable eruptions, earthquakes, fires, floods, droughts, famines, and diseases, as well as two noted military failures; and recounts the end of the ancient world.
Presents a history of aeronautical sports, including ballooning, skydiving, airplane racing, flying circuses, and military dogfights.
Examines the history of ancient Egypt and the many different aspects of ancient Egyptian society, including religion, technology, the pyramids, and home life.
Explains the situations behind the cases of Leopold and Loeb, the Lindbergh kidnapper, the Rosenbergs, the Brown school segregation suit, the Manson family, the Pentagon Papers, and O.J. Simpson, and discusses the trials and aftermath.
Recounts the struggles and triumphs of athletes who have helped to open their sports to participants who are African American or women, or who have disabilities, including Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, and Jim Abbott.
