Search Results: 109 books from 10 publishers. Learn more

My Hood

Linda Oatman High (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781630784638

Tyrone's mom tells him not to wear his hoodie at night. It could get him killed by the police. Too many black sons are dying.

Misty Copeland: Prima Ballerina

C.L. Laney (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988137

Misty Copeland has faced many challenges in her life. From starting dance at a late age and not having a typical dancer’s body type to growing up with abuse and poverty, her journey to becoming the American Ballet Theatre’s first Black prima ballerina has not been easy. Driven by her passion for dance, Copeland continues inspire change in the world of ballet.

Heads Up

Melanie Siebert (author) Belle Wuthrich (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459819122

Featuring real-life stories of people who have found hope and meaning in the midst of life’s struggles, Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health is the go-to guide for teenagers who want to know about mental health, mental illness, trauma and recovery. This book shines a light on the troubled history of thinking about and treating mental illness and tells the stories of courageous pioneers in the field of psychiatry who fought for more compassionate, respectful and effective treatments. It provides a helpful guide to the major mental health diagnoses along with ideas and resources to support those who are suffering. The book also explores how mental health is more than just “in our heads” and includes the voices of Indigenous people who share a more holistic way of thinking about wellness, balancing mind, body, heart and spirit. Highlighting innovative approaches such as trauma-informed activities like yoga and hip-hop, police mental health teams, and peer support for youth,

What World is Left

Monique Polak (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459833043

A pampered child used to having her own way, Anneke Van Raalte lives outside Amsterdam, where her father is a cartoonist for an Amsterdam newspaper. Though Anneke's family is Jewish, her religion means little to her. Anneke's life changes in 1942 when the Nazis invade Holland and she and her family are deported to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Not only are conditions in the camp appalling, but the camp is the site of an elaborate hoax: the Nazis are determined to convince the world that Theresienstadt is an idyllic place, and that European Jews are thriving under the Nazi regime. Because he is an artist, Anneke's father is compelled to help in the propaganda campaign, and Anneke finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her sense of what is right. What World is Left was inspired by the experiences of the author's mother, who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt during World War II.

Pride

Robin Stevenson (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459821255

Like the original version, this new edition of Pride: The Celebration and the Struggle celebrates the LGBTQ+ community's diversity and the incredible victories of the past 50 years—but it also has a larger focus on activism, the need to keep fighting for equality and freedom around the world and the important role that young people are playing. The new edition has been updated and expanded to include many new Proud Moments and Queer Facts as well as a profile of LGBTQ+ refugees from Indonesia, a story about a Pride celebration in a refugee camp in Kenya and profiles of young activists, including teens from a Gender and Sexuality Alliance organizing Pride in Inuvik and a trans girl from Vancouver fighting for inclusion and support in schools. There is also a section on being an ally, a profile of a family with two gay dads (one of them trans) and much, much more!

Dreaming in Color

Melanie Florence (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459812918

Jennifer McCaffrey has been working hard on her art for years and is thrilled when she is accepted to a prestigious art school. The school is everything she always thought it would be, mostly. There is one group of kids who seem to resent her and say she only got in because of her skin color. Jen, who loves to create new pieces of artwork that incorporate her Indigenous heritage, finds herself a target when the group tells her to stop being “so Indian”. The night before the big art show at school, Jen’s beading art project is defaced. Jen has to find a way not to let the haters win.

Picking Up the Pieces

Carey Newman (author) Kirstie Hudson (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459819979

Picking Up the Pieces tells the story of the making of the Witness Blanket, a living work of art conceived and created by Indigenous artist Carey Newman. It includes hundreds of items collected from residential schools across Canada, everything from bricks, photos and letters to hockey skates, dolls and braids. Every object tells a story. Carey takes the reader on a journey from the initial idea behind the Witness Blanket to the challenges in making it work to its completion. The story is told through the objects and the Survivors who donated them to the project. At every step in this important journey for children and adults alike, Carey is a guide, sharing his process and motivation behind the art. It’s a personal project. Carey’s father is a residential school Survivor. Like the Blanket itself, Picking Up the Pieces calls on readers of all ages to bear witness to the residential school experience, a tragic piece of Canada’s legacy.

Up North

Jeff Ross (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459814578

This is the second story featuring Rob and Adam Maclean after Coming Clean Rob Maclean and his mom have moved to a small community in northern Ontario in order to be closer to Rob's imprisoned brother, Adam. One night after a rowdy party, Rob and some friends end up in a van speeding through a First Nations reserve. The driver of the van has a deep hatred for Indigenous people, and he lobs rotten fruit at a group of young men gathered in front of a community center. The young men chase them down, and Rob's friend Alan is injured and ends up in a coma. Now the police are pressuring Rob to identify their prime suspect.

Blood Sport

Tash McAdam (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459824379

Jason is sure his sister, Becca, was murdered, but he’s the only one who thinks so. After finding a photograph Becca kept hidden, he decides to infiltrate a boxing gym to prove that she didn’t die accidentally. As a transgender kid, Jason’s been fighting for as long as he can remember, and those skills are going to come in handy as he investigates. Quickly invited into the inner circle, Jason must balance newfound friendships with the burning hate that drives him. Jason soon feels torn between two worlds, determined to discover what happened to his sister but struggling with the fact that this is the first time he’s ever felt like he belonged somewhere.

Racing Hearts

Melinda Anne Di Lorenzo (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459825277

To honor the death of her best friend, teen Sienna signs up to do a triathlon and finds a connection with an unexpected training partner in this body-positive romance exploring first love, grief, perseverance and trusting in yourself. Five months ago, Sienna Shoring lost her best friend, Stacey, to suicide. Now Sienna's back at school, struggling—and failing—to find her new place in the social hierarchy. Awkward and alone, Sienna is still dealing with her grief. When a package arrives for the “Try It Triathlon,” which Stacey signed them up for as a joke, it’s like receiving a message from the grave. Sienna has no experience with running or biking. And she doesn’t even own a swimsuit. But she decides to take on the challenge in honor of her best friend, despite being a “fat girl.” And when mysterious jock Blake Romano approaches her unexpectedly and offers to train with her, she can hardly say no. He seems to understand her in a way no one else does. But Blake has a secret that might just break Sienna’s heart, even as he’s winning it.

Baby Drag Queen

C.A. Tanaka (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459835337

Transgender teen Ichiro enters a drag contest in hopes of earning enough money to live off the grid. Ichiro is a transgender youth in his final year of high school. He has a job as a dishwasher to earn money to help support his single mother. But it's not enough. Ichiro dreams of buying a camper van for the two of them so they can escape and live off the grid and not have to worry about money anymore. A budding drag queen, he takes a second job performing drag at a local club and learns of an upcoming contest where the prize money would be enough to pay for a camper van. But nobody knows he does drag. So when some of his friends find out what he’s really doing in the evenings, Ichiro is worried about what they will think of him. Will they still accept him?

Malala Yousafzai: Education Activist

Myra Faye Turner (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988977

Growing up in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai’s life was turned upside down by the Taliban. It forbade girls her age from going to school, but Malala refused to accept this. Speaking out nearly cost the young activist her life. Still, she didn’t give up. Today, Malala continues to fight for a free, safe education for all girls around the world.

Chris Gardner

Myra Faye Turner (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988960

After a difficult childhood, Chris Gardner promised he would be a good father. He also vowed to become successful. When he found himself homeless as a single dad, Gardner didn’t give up. Instead, the Navy veteran put all his energy into becoming a stockbroker and building a happy life. Today Gardner inspires people to keep reaching for their dreams.

Sal Khan: Education Innovator

Myra Faye Turner (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988984

When his cousin struggled in school, Salman “Sal” Khan decided to help. Since they couldn’t get together, Khan tutored her by computer. Soon he posted lessons online for others too. Seeing the need for online learning, he started the Khan Academy. Through the academy, Khan continues his quest to provide a world-class education to anyone who wants one.

Looking Up

PJ Gray (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781630784713

Wes notices that his neighbor can't use her treehouse because she's in a wheelchair. What will he do to help her?

Martin Luther King Jr.

Saddleback Educational Publishing (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781602915909

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.

Dolores Huerta

Alexis Davis (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988236

Growing up, Dolores Huerta saw few people in power who looked like her. But her desire to help farm workers drove her to become a leader. After cofounding a labor union in 1962, Huerta helped improve the lives of countless farm workers. Her message of working together for change continues to inspire people around the world.

Chien-Shiung Wu

Alexis Davis (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988953

Born in China, Chien-Shiung Wu moved to the U.S. in 1936. Her dream was to become a physicist. But at the time, there were few women scientists. Discrimination was an issue too. Still, Wu did not give up. With hard work, she not only changed the field of physics, but also blazed a trail for women in science.

Ellen Ochoa

Monika Davies (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988649

As a girl, Ellen Ochoa didn’t dream of going to space. But then she saw Sally Ride do it. This role model inspired Ochoa to apply at NASA. With hard work and perseverance, Ochoa became the first Latina to go to space. Now Ochoa is working to ensure diversity in the next generation of space explorers.

She Represents: 44 Women Who Are Changing Politics...and the World

Caitlin Donohue (author)

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group ISBN: 9781728401638

Whichever side of the political aisle you lean toward, it can seem like the only people in power are white men. But the balance is beginning to tip. Women are being elected at record rates and government is beginning to more accurately reflect the people it represents. Read these profiles of forty-four women in leadership from both sides of the US political spectrum and from around the world to learn about their paths to power, their achievements and missteps, and their lasting legacies. This book will show you what the road to power looks like for women in modern times. By showing up and representing women in the decisions that make or break a country, these leaders pave the way for future female politicians.

Wilma Mankiller: Chief of the Cherokee Nation

C.L. Laney (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988199

Wilma Mankiller knew firsthand the hardships facing the Cherokee people in the mid-20th century. After growing up in poverty, she got involved in the Native American rights movement of the 1960s and resolved to fight for change. As the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, her hard work and determination improved health care, education, and living conditions for her tribe. Mankiller’s legacy of compassion and dedication continues to inspire people in the American Indian community and beyond.

Temple Grandin: Autism and Animal Welfare Activist

C.L. Laney (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988144

At age two, Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Though this led to many challenges throughout her life, Grandin views her disability as a gift. ASD allowed her to see the world in a different way and make a connection between two seemingly unrelated areas: animal welfare and autism. Today, Grandin works to educate people on animal behavior and humane treatment. She is also a renowned advocate for people with ASD.

Tyler Perry: Media Mogul

C.L. Laney (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988168

Despite a rough childhood and many setbacks early in his career, Tyler Perry’s spirit never broke. He has since come to dominate Hollywood, even building and operating his own film studio. Through sheer determination, Perry has risen to the top and become an advocate for people in underrepresented groups in the film industry. He now uses his influence and wealth to create opportunities for underdogs like himself.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader

C.L. Laney (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781645988120

As a minister and an activist, Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to helping others. He fought for equality during a time when Black people in America experienced great injustice. His life and legacy continue to inspire others to push for change.

Gender and Race in Sports

Duchess Harris (author)

Publisher: ABDO ISBN: 9781532158193

Gender and Race in Sports examines the historical successes and struggles of female athletes of color. From pioneers to today's stars, women of color have been examples of courage and strength as they fought to overcome barriers unique to their race and gender. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.