History For Teens

Nonfiction master Russell Freedman illuminates for young readers the complex and rarely discussed subject of World War I. The tangled relationships and alliances of many nations, the introduction of modern weaponry, and top-level military decisions that resulted in thousands upon thousands of casualties all contributed to the “great war”, which people hoped and believed would be the only conflict of its kind.

In the mid- to late-19th century, a burgeoning science called electricity promised to shine new light on a rousing nation. Inventive and ambitious minds were hard at work. Soon that spark was fanned, and a war was under way to be the first to light - and run - the world with electricity. Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of direct current (DC), engaged in a brutal battle with Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, the inventors of alternating current (AC). There would be no ties in this race - only a winner and a loser - and the prize was a nationwide monopoly in electric current.

In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner, as well as acting as a critical member of the US gold-medal-winning women gymnastics team. In this personal autobiography, Gabrielle tells her story of faith, perseverance, and determination, demonstrating you can reach your dreams if you let yourself soar.

Berlin, 1961. Rudi Möser-Fleischmann is an aspiring photographer with dreams of greatness, but he can't hold a candle to his talented, charismatic twin brother Peter, an ambitious actor. With the sudden divorce of their parents, the brothers find themselves living in different sectors of a divided Berlin; the postwar partition strangely mirroring their broken family.

Where Memories, Miracles, and Faith Collide After a devastating car accident, Wes Williams finds himself reliving moments from his childhood—memories filled with warmth, love, and the wisdom of his grandfather and his group of old friends at the Donut Shop. But as he lingers between life and death, Wes begins to realize that these aren’t just memories; they’re lessons, guiding him toward a deeper truth. Legends of the Donut Shop is an unforgettable Christian fiction novel that explores the power of faith, the beauty of forgiveness, and the unseen miracles that shape our lives. Legends...

The Kings have been in the creepy old place - their new home - for only a few days, but they’ve experienced enough terror to last a lifetime. And the mystery is growing even more baffling. Shadowy and shifting, the big house conceals doors into other worlds that blur the line between memories and dreams - and the slightest misstep can change history forever.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Eddy Okubo, a Japanese American teenager, is more determined than ever to prove his loyalty and worth as an American soldier. Graham Salisbury poignantly pens the historically accurate but fictional account of the special mission given to 26 Japanese American soldiers in the midst of WWII and a young man’s struggle between heritage and patriotism.

On 5th September, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

This entertaining history blends anecdote, incident, and analysis as it chronicles the story of our national pastime. Alexander covers the advent of the first professional baseball leagues, the game’s surge in the early 20th century, the Golden 20s and the Gray 30s, the breaking of the color line in the late 40s, and the game’s expansion to its current status as a premier team sport. He describes changing playing styles and outstanding teams and personalities, but also demonstrates the many connections to society.

The real monsters are men. London 1888, and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing the people of the city. Evelyn, a young woman disfigured by her dangerous work in a matchstick factory, with nowhere to go, does not know what to make of her new position as a maid to the Elephant Man in London Hospital. Evelyn wanted to be locked away from the world like he is, shut away from the filth and dangers of the streets. But in Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man, she finds a gentle kindred who does not recoil from her and who understands her pain.

It is 1939, Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings.

Long before she was one of the Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals was a warrior. Frustrated by the laws that kept African Americans separate but very much unequal to whites, she had questions: Why couldn't she drink from a whites-only fountain? Why couldn't she feel safe beyond home - or even within the walls of church? Adults all told her: Hold your tongue. Be patient. Know your place. But Beals had the heart of a fighter - and the knowledge that her true place was a free one.

Learn how to write characters readers will love. Has an industry professional told you not to dump character history at the beginning of your story? If so, you aren't alone. But what's the solution to this common advice? Most writers take the time to design interesting characters with troubled pasts. They long for readers to care about the characters' lives. However, the sad truth is on page one, readers don't care—yet. That's why industry gurus tell writers to stop overusing character history, also called backstory, at the beginning of stories. Have you ever wondered... How to use ...

C.S. Forester, creator of the beloved Horatio Hornblower series, takes young readers on an exciting adventure to the shores of Tripoli in North Africa. That's where, more than 200 years ago, the United States was threatened by "pirates" who snatched American merchant ships and imprisoned sailors - and the country's young, untested navy took on the task of fighting the pirates in their home waters.

Systemic oppression has been the foundation of the continued uprising of white supremacy as well as white privilege. For centuries, the act of oppressing a certain group of people was by design and has been the founding contributor to PTSD within the Black race. Although some aspects of racism have shifted, many areas remain the same and are not getting any better. Dr. LaShonda M. Jackson-Dean and her book, Seed to Seeds sheds light on the PTSD epidemic suffered by the Black race and steps for conquering and not succumbing. Seed to Seeds Systemic Experiences Evoking Disruption to Succeeding...

Step into the pages of history and embark on a captivating journey through the lives and reigns of the kings and queens of England. From the early medieval period to the present day, these regal figures have left an indelible mark on the nation and shaped the course of its destiny. "Majesty and Legacy: A Journey Through the Reigns of England's Monarchs" invites you to delve into the captivating stories, triumphs, and challenges of the rulers who sat upon the throne, painting a vivid portrait of their contributions to the nation's rich tapestry. Within these pages, you will encounter ...

After surviving her otherworldly adventure, Lily wakes up on her nana's farm having forgotten everything. Her sun prince, her travels to Egypt, and her journey to the Afterlife are all distant memories. But Lily is not the girl she once was. Her body is now part human, part lion, and part fairy. And if that isn't bad enough, she must harness this power of three and become Wasret: a goddess destined to defeat the evil god Seth once and for all.

The Klondike gold rush, which occurred between 1896 and 1899, was one of the strangest outbreaks of "gold fever" ever to take place. With news of California's rush still fresh in their minds, thousands of men with get-rich-quick dreams hurried to stake out claims in the Yukon. But they did not count on the murderous weather...or the severe mountain passes that protected the gold.

The American settlers believed the native American Indians were savages. The Indians believed the settlers were invaders trying to take their land. Lewis Wetzel continues his escapades as a one-man army but runs into trouble he can’t get out of. Knotche’s dwindling band continues to fight a just cause. The British cede the Indian land of the Ohio country to the Americans at the end of the Revolutionary War even though the Indians on the American frontier, allies of the British, had been triumphant in their battles with the Americans. When the Indians refused to relinquish their claim to...

Jem Coulter thinks his family is just on a sightseeing trip to the big city of Sacramento. Then, armed bandits hold up the stagecoach for the secret stash they’re carrying: gold for the Union Army fighting the distant Civil War! Suddenly, war isn’t so far away; it’s right there on the road to Sacramento, with Jem’s father, the sheriff of Goldtown, fighting against the rebel army’s Knights of the Golden Circle.