Let Me Play

Not long ago, people believed girls shouldn't play sports. That math and science courses were too difficult for them. That higher education should be left to the men. Nowadays, this may be hard to imagine, but it was only fifty years ago all of this changed with the introduction of the historical civil rights bill Title IX. This is the story about the determined lawmakers, teachers, parents, and athletes that advocated for women all over the country until Congress passed the law that paved the way for the now millions of girls who play sports; who make up over half of the country's medical and law students; who are on the national stage winning gold medals and world championships; who are developing life-changing vaccines, holding court as Supreme Court Justices, and leading the country as vice president.

The Promise of Change

In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, fourteen year old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee. At first things went smoothly for the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting the townspeople against one another. Uneasiness turned into anger, and even the Clinton Twelve themselves wondered if the easier thing to do would be to go back to their old school. Jo Ann--clear-eyed, practical, tolerant, and popular among both black and white students---found herself called on as the spokesperson of the group. 

The 2000s Decade in Photos

Middle school readers will find out about the important world, national, and cultural developments of the first decade of the new millennium.

Portraits of 

Hispanic American Heroes

An inspiring tribute to Hispanic Americans who have made a positive impact on the world. This visually stunning book showcases twenty Hispanic and Latino American men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism, and athletics.

Fred Korematsu Speaks Up

Fred Korematsu liked listening to music on the radio, playing tennis, and hanging around with his friends--just like lots of other Americans. But everything changed when the United States went to war with Japan in 1941 and the government forced all people of Japanese ancestry to leave their homes on the West Coast and move to distant prison camps. This included Fred, whose parents had immigrated to the United States from Japan many years before. But Fred refused to go. He knew that what the government was doing was unfair. And when he got put in jail for resisting, he knew he couldn't give up.

El diario de Ana Frank

Ana Frank era una niña Judeo-Alemana. El 12 de Junio de 1942 cumplió 13 años y le regalaron un diario, en él escribió sus experiencias en un escondite, construido en un edificio de oficinas, mientras se ocultaba de los nazis en Holanda, junto con sus padres, su hermana y otros judíos. Miedo tristeza, desesperación, alegría y esperanza son sentimientos plasmados por esta pequeña escritora, quien soñaba con el fin de la guerra y vivir libremente con su familia.