Connected Lives, a contemporary nonfiction series for teens, features the fascinating life stories of popular artists. Each book presents two singers in a similar musical genre who have lived extraordinary lives, exploring how their lives interconnect and how they are different. As similar as these artists may seem, their rise to fame may have been very different. Multiple musical genres are represented across the series, including pop, hip-hop, jazz, and country. Graphic elements, such as timelines, charts, and Venn diagrams, are featured in every chapter.
The student body of Dawson High study hard, date, root for the home team, hold down part-time jobs, succeed and fail, just like most American teenagers. Would Braden betray a friend to get the car that he desperately wants? Braden must find a summer job. If he doesn't, he will lose out on the car of his dreams. His father will only help with the payments if Braden gets a part-time job. But the competition for summer jobs is fierce. How far will Braden go to beat the competition?
The student body of Dawson High study hard, date, root for the home team, hold down part-time jobs, succeed and fail, just like most American teenagers. It's time to elect a new class president. Cory and Eli quickly enter the race, although Jazz and Key aren't so sure that either of them would make a good president. After Jazz agrees to vote for his friend, Cory, he realizes he would like to run himself. Will Jazz turn out to be Cory's friend or foe?
The student body of Dawson High study hard, date, root for the home team, hold down part-time jobs, succeed and fail, just like most American teenagers. When opposing teams stay at the same motel, the coaches give the players strict rules to follow. Be polite and keep to yourselves. At first Rick appears to be cooperative, but Cole begins to question his actions. When Garrett goes missing, Rick acts strangely. What has he been up to?
Carter High is a typical high school. The students of Carter attend classes, participate in sports and drama, cram for exams, and go on field trips. During rehearsal, someone wearing a clown costume is seen next to the ticket money box. Soon, Mrs. Scott realizes that the money is missing. Did the clown take it? Did someone else? Logan's dream of being the star fades, as many at Carter High believe he took the ticket money. Can he prove that there was more than one person in a clown costume that day?
Carter High is a typical high school. The students of Carter attend classes, participate in sports and drama, cram for exams, and go on field trips. Just one day before the Carter High art show, Paige can't find her painting. She remembers putting it in room 19, or did she? Will Paige find her painting in time to enter it in the art show?
In the year 2329, the Green Death has wiped out most of the human race. Those in the Domed City try to control any survivors. Rex and Lena are among the few who are immune to the disease. The twins long to live on their own terms. But what will they do when something from their past causes them to question everything they've known?
On planet Zera, Andon's dream is to work for the Space Center, just like his parents. He is convinced that something is destroying planets, and he wants to find out what it is. When Andon's family travels to Earth, the journey puts them in more danger than they can imagine. Can Andon discover the true danger lurking? Or will it be too late for Earth and the people of Zera?
At Carmichael High, the bullies always get their way. Would it be a different story if their victims joined forces?
Super-critical Professor Walter Dudley should have retired long ago. Everyone hates his history class. But even his unhappiest students wouldn't have done him any harm... or would they? Tony Young resolves to find out what really happened to the cranky old man.
In graphic-novel format, this brief biography of Martin Luther King Jr. discusses his childhood, his protests and marches, and his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Using the graphics, students can activate prior knowledge--bridge what they already know with what they have yet to learn. Graphically illustrated biographies also teach inference skills, character development, dialogue, transitions, and drawing conclusions. Graphic biographies in the classroom provide an intervention with proven success for the struggling reader.
The pitching machine hurled the first pitch. It was just like at the cages. Carlos was comfortable. He lifted his left leg slightly. Then he turned his hips to the ball. He swung the bat. Crack!
Terrance thought about football. He was sore from practice. That was good. Coach Fisher said his blocks were better. He'd get to play in the game! Coach was right about football. You've got to have something to work for. It makes you work at everything.
Meet the Dark Man. He is a hero who lives in the shadows. A man with secret powers. The only man who can fight the evil Shadow Masters. The Dark Man touches the girl's fingers. There is a flash of light. He sees she is very ill.
Mark just can't settle into his new life. He misses his friends and has trouble connecting with new classmates. Walking through his neighborhood, he sees an open window. Instantly, everything changes. Maybe he can pretend to be someone else and live a different life ... if only for a moment.
Finally! Derek's Mom said he could go to summer camp. No parents allowed! But Camp Rainbow? It sounded girlie and lame. Time away from home was too awesome to turn down. And the crime he uncovered was epic.
Diego isn't scared easily. Not even when his parents buy the creepiest house in town. He's used to moving. A lot. His parents flip houses for a living. Then he finds something odd in the basement. And it's alive.
Girls rule! That's what Jasmine Le thinks. And girls can do anything boys can do. But can they play tackle football? Heck yes! Jasmine takes on her whole town to prove that girls can run, jump, and catch a pigskin just as well as boys.
Koji's world is like any boy's. He loves sports. Goes to school. Studies hard. Dreams big. But childhood ends quickly. Rebel forces enter his village. They ransack the school. Their teacher is beaten. Maybe even killed. The boys line up, guns to their backs. Koji's group goes one way. His best friend's another. What's happened to his family? They are all dead, says a rebel. And you will be too if you don't do what we say. They march for hours. Days. One boy drinks too much water. He is hit again and again. Then murdered. The boys watch and learn. That will not be their fate. It's kill or be killed. So they kill.
Victor, a Mexican American teenager known for being a fast runner, deals with racism at school but finds strength in his family, his future, and romantic interest in Tiffany, the most popular girl in school.
Ty, a great high-school football player, doesn't like being compared to his father, who left Ty and his mother after getting another woman pregnant. But Ty finds the strength to continue playing, even against his half-brother's team.
Dale Curtis, the rookie on the Jackson Eagles basketball team, struggles between his commitment to the team and loyalty to his ex-con brother.
Wallace, having messed up at his old school, is determined not to give up basketball, but he worries that bullies are going to interfere with his second shot at success. The plot contains profanity and drug use.
It's the school holiday break, and Iggy is going to Las Vegas to spend time with her dad and stepmom Tiffany. How exciting! Her dad must be planning something big. The Strip. Amusement parks. Thrilling roller coaster rides. But that's not what happens. Iggy is stuck at home in suburbia with Tiffany while her dad works. Then she meets Lucas. His mom is a showgirl, and his dad is an Elvis impersonator. Their house is loud. Colorful. One night Iggy sneaks out and goes with Lucas on an adventure. Her seemingly meek stepmother boldly rescues them when the kids' plan goes awry.
