During the Middle Ages, your position in life was based on birth. This position would follow you throughout your life. To make it easy for others to know your social class, rules about what you could wear—or not wear—were created. Such rules, called sumptuary laws, determined colors of clothing, types of fabric and trims, length of garments, types of sleeves, and types of furs. The laws also regulated shoe lengths and height, hat height, types of buttons, and even the number of buttons you could wear. People were to dress according to the class in which they were born. In this way, just by looking at someone, you could tell if they were important or not.
Eighteen-year-old Cayenne barely remembers her mother, who died of breast cancer when Cayenne was four. The women in her family have a history of dying young. Cayenne figures she'll meet the same fate, so she might as well enjoy life now, engaging in death-defying risks like dodging trains and jumping off cliffs with her boyfriend. When Cayenne receives a series of video messages her mother made for her before dying, she isn't sure she wants them. Her aunt Tee has been her true mother figure. But then Aunt Tee tests positive for a BRCA gene mutation—the one that doomed Cayenne's mom—and decides to get a mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing cancer. As Cayenne helps her aunt prepare for the surgery, she finds herself drawn to her mother's messages, with their musings on life, love, and perseverance. For the first time, Cayenne starts to question what it truly means to live life to the fullest, even when death might be written into her DNA.
A suspenseful and heartfelt story about an era whose uncertainties, controversies, and dangers will seem anything but distant to contemporary readers. If thirteen-year-old Marty Rafner had his way, he'd spend the summer of 1953 warming the bench for his baseball team, listening to Yankees games on the radio, and avoiding preparations for his bar mitzvah. Instead, he has to deal with FBI agents staking out his house because his parents—professors at the local college—are suspected communist sympathizers. Marty knows what happens to communists, or Reds, as his friends call them: They lose their jobs, get deported...or worse. Two people he's actually met, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, have been convicted of being communist spies, and they're slated to be executed in two months. Marty just wants everything to go back to normal, but that's impossible thanks to the rumors that his parents are traitors. As his friends and teammates turn on him and federal agents track his every move, Marty isn't sure what to believe. Is his family really part of a Red Menace working against the United States? And even if they're simply patriotic Americans who refuse to be bullied by the government, what will it cost them?
Max and his sister Lily are staying with relatives while their mom is away getting her own emotional help. Max and Lily are being teased and bullied at school. Their Aunt Eileen calls the Helper Hounds, and soon Robot, an endearing Rottweiler who knows all about bullies, comes to give support. A lot of people think Rottweilers are bullies, but that's because they don't really know how cuddly they can be. Robot and his handler Samuel help the kids at Max and Lily's school deal with bullies while Max and Lily gain new friends.
Come along to the beach. How many letters of the alphabet can you find in the sand and sun? Remember your sunscreen!
Scott Schroeder dreams of a day when he and his father can have a home of their own. Following an accident that took his mother's life eight years before, doctors discovered Scott was suddenly deaf. Blessed with being an accomplished gymnast and skilled at signing and reading lips, Scott's biggest challenge is convincing others he is able to do all the same things as those in the hearing world. Picking up on conversations he observes along the way, Scott figures out a big family secret concerning his father and uncle and makes his mind up to play a part in their reconciliation.
Follow along as dinos travel over the river and through the woods to join together with family. They enjoy favorite activities, including a corn maze, a televised parade with giant balloon creations, and of course a football game between the Redscales and the Snackers! The dinos share in not one but two feasts—one for the carnivores and another for the veggie-saurs. Join in the fun as the dinos find much to be thankful for on this special holiday!
Growing up on Chicago's South Side, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson loved school and her family. Driven by her parents' passion for education and her own desire to succeed, she graduated first from Princeton and then Harvard Law School and landed a job at a prestigious law firm, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Barack Obama. While raising their two young daughters, Michelle Obama committed herself to public service. She kept that commitment as her husband's political career soared and worked hard to continue serving the public when her family landed in the White House. Follow Obama's journey from Chicago school kid to history-making First Lady and beyond as she continues to make her mark as an inspiring speaker, bestselling author, and agent for positive change.
Mary's new in town. She’s worried about starting classes at her new school. That's why her mom calls the Helper Hounds—and why Sparkplug, the wildly handsome, wickedly smart, card-carrying, world-famous Helper Hound is on the scene. Sparky knows a thing or two about moving. He moved four times as a puppy, and learned to make new friends along the way. Sparky knows he can teach Mary all his best tricks and help her meet new friends, too. At least Sparky thought he could until he met Custard, Mary's persnickety cat. Will Sparky's best tricks be enough to win over Custard and show Mary making friends is nothing to fear?
Portia has overcome a lot in life. Born with Down syndrome, Portia has been through many surgeries, lots of doctor's appointments, and strange looks from people who want to limit what she can do. Inside herself, Portia knows she can do anything—including getting over her fear of dogs. But when Penny shows up at Portia's house, she isn't so sure. After all, Penny is a pit bull—the scariest dogs of all, right? Good thing Penny has a few tricks of her own to win Portia's trust.
On December 18, 2019, Donald Trump became the third president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives. He was later acquitted by the Senate. Earlier that summer, Trump held a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. An unknown whistleblower raised concerns about the call, claiming that Trump had improperly pressured Zelensky to get involved in US politics. Over the following months a dramatic impeachment inquiry unfolded. Fraught hearings played out on television while Democrats and Republicans traded interpretations, arguments, and even insults. Faced with suppressed information and conflicting accounts, the nation tried to discover the truth. In over two hundred years Congress has gathered only a handful of times to debate what makes an impeachable offense. What events led to Trump’s impeachment? How does the impeachment process work? What other presidents have been impeached, and why? Learn the history, mechanics, and milestone events behind impeachment, and discover how the most recent one may affect US politics for years to come.
Follow the spectacular shots, thrilling comebacks, and monumental moments of basketball's most exciting games. Readers learn about the history and greatest players of the NBA (National Basketball Association) and WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Finals.
Fuel up for an exciting look at Formula 1 racing! Readers will learn about the history of the sport, some of the most well-known racers, and more with the aid of exciting photos and thrilling facts!
Enter the thrilling world of stock car racing! Readers will discover the history of stock car racing, what a typical race day looks like, who the hottest racers are, and more.
The first official Paralympic Games were held in 1960 in Rome with 400 athletes competing from 23 countries. Then in 1976, the first Winter Paralympic Games were held in Sweden. The 2018 Games in Pyeong Chang were the biggest Winter Games ever with over 500 athletes from nearly 50 countries. Like the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games showcase super strength and stamina both individually and through teamwork.
Start your engines and get in gear! Exciting photos and facts will have readers turning the pages to discover the history of drag racing, what a typical race day looks like, and more about the sport.
Ninja of the past learned to climb, dodge, and sneak. But how do modern ninja tackle intense obstacles? This title takes a fun look at ninja training, including martial arts techniques readers can try.
Center Joel Embiid racks up points for the Philadelphia 76ers. Readers will learn how this All-Star National Basketball Association (NBA) player stays at the top of his game and how he spends his time off the court.
At the Olympics, the best athletes in the world compete for the gold medal. No matter the event, there are sure to be surprising moments. Someone who has never placed first can soar past the competition to win the top prize. Learn about the biggest upsets in the history of the Olympic Games!
Sometimes, a baseball team with an average season record can go on to win the World Series! Experience the thrill of professional baseball's biggest upsets, from unexpected wins to shocking errors made on the baseball diamond.
Anything can happen in a hockey game! A player can race through a field of opponents, scoring a goal just as the buzzer marks the end of the game. Explore some of professional hockey's biggest surprises and history-making moments, from memorable plays to Stanley Cup upsets.
Explore the excitement of the Summer Olympics through stories of the greatest gold-medal moments in the history of the event, from Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10.0 gymnastics score to barefoot marathon runner Abebe Bikila's surprising triumph.
Discover the different uses for redstone ore in the hit game Minecraft. Readers will learn all kinds of tips and tricks! STEM sidebars connect game play to real-world applications.
Explore the ins and outs of making and using maps in the super popular game Minecraft. Tips and tricks help game-lovers master the craft while sidebars that highlight STEM and coding round out the experience.
Talented kid musicians describe how they achieved their dream careers! Real-life success stories will inspire music lovers. Back matter includes tips for readers to get started on their musical adventure.
