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4-6
Tangled History series.
From 1692 to 1694, hysteria took over Salem, Massachusetts; wild accusations of witchcraft led to imprisonment and hangings. This chronological account presents a variety of perspectives, including those of accusers, accused, and others involved in the events. Captioned archival images and full-color photographs enhance the accessible text. A foreword and epilogue provide more context to the religious and political influences. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
U.S. Government: Behind the Scenes series.
Slim but thorough, these titles discuss why each featured governmental agency was created, introduce some key players, and examine how areas of concern and focus change with politics. The clear narratives are logically organized to make the details of complicated bureaucracies accessible to middle-school report writers. Informative sidebars, captioned photos, charts, and diagrams help elucidate the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these U.S. Government: Behind the Scenes titles: The Department of Energy and The Department of Homeland Security
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4-6
Captured Television History series.
This series examines television's impact on major events. Each volume opens with an engaging account of the main topic, grounding readers in the details. Kennedy-Nixon looks at the history of presidential debates, as well as what preceded and followed the first televised debate. Terrorism covers the ways in which Americans were riveted by nonstop news coverage of the 9/11 attacks, and the U.S.'s subsequent war on terrorism. The "4D" feature is an online video portal. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Captured Television History titles: TV Captures Terrorism on September 11 and TV Shapes Presidential Politics in the Kennedy-Nixon Debates
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4-6
Captured Science History series.
This installment in the Captured History spinoff series examines the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear spill in Ukraine and the photographic documentation of it. The chilling photos by Igor Kostin, Volodymyr Repik, and others shook the world when they were released. An engaging and thought-provoking discussion of the disaster's scientific and historical impact is profusely illustrated with these archival images. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
Tangled History series.
This installment covers Jackie Robinson's role in the 1945 dissolution of Major League Baseball's color line. Burgan vividly captures the "guts" this took with anecdotal narratives (some may be apocryphal) of figures on both sides of the issue. Illustrated with archival photos throughout, the volume is good as a report resource or for casual reading. An epilogue offers a bigger-picture overview. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
Tangled History series.
These companion entries analyze World War II with focal points provided by the Holocaust and the D-Day landings. Highly personalized narratives from survivors' perspectives, accompanied by compelling black-and-white photographs, dramatically convey adversity and perseverance. Epilogues offer a bigger-picture overview of the events. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Tangled History titles: Turning Point and Fight for Survival.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| January, 2017
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-5527-6$34.65
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-5531-3$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-5543-6
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4-6
Captured History: Sports series.
These volumes each examine the impact of a single famous sports photograph, starting with an in-depth description of the moment captured. The authors then zoom out to examine surrounding events: civil rights unrest in America during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics (Black Power) and Muhammad Ali's sometimes controversial career (Ali's Knockout). An exciting and unique approach to history. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Captured History: Sports titles: Ali's Knockout Punch and Black Power Salute.
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4-6
History's Worst series.
The life and actions of infamous historical figures are recounted in these engaging but uneven middle-grade biographies. In Hitler, Buckley's use of colloquialisms can be off-putting, and readers will learn little new information. In Ripper, Burgan shares grisly details, but the narrative gets bogged down overviewing the many theories regarding the killer's identity. Ripper lists suggested resources; both books include a timeline and notes. Review covers the following History's Worst titles: Adolf Hitler and Jack the Ripper.
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4-6
Captured Science History series.
Part of the Captured History spinoff series, this installment examines oceanographer Robert Ballard's submarine documentation of Titanic's wreckage and its impact on historical knowledge. An engaging discussion weaves details of Titanic's tragic voyage into an account of the 1985 oceanography expedition, supported by archival photos and intriguing (if understandably muddy) underwater shots. Timeline, reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
Captured History series.
This excellent series examines the history and context of a photo or series of photos and its impact on the culture. Burgan here looks at activist photojournalist Jacob Riis's commitment to exposing the horrible conditions for poor people in late-nineteenth-century America through photography both candid and staged. A thoughtful and compelling angle from which to view the history of poverty. Timeline, reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
Eyewitness to World War II series.
Key tragedies of World War II involving the persecution of Jews and Japanese Americans are analyzed for causation and lasting impact. The books bring the era to life for middle-grade readers via many first-person accounts, period photographs, and illuminating sidebars of additional relevant information. Extensive back matter makes them suitable for both assignments and general information-seeking. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Eyewitness to World War II titles: Japanese American Internment and Kristallnacht.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| January, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-5290-9$33.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-5294-7$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-5298-5
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4-6
Captured History: Sports series.
These books tell exciting sports stories through the lens of photojournalism. The historical backdrops to the featured soccer (1999 Women's World Cup) and hockey (1980 Olympics) heroics and the aftermaths are explored, and biographical information is included on the teams' major players and on the photojournalists, whose photos complement the well-written texts. The books' spacious design is inviting. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Captured History: Sports titles: What a Kick and Miracle on Ice.
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4-6
Tangled History series.
Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is related, day by day, from the compelling perspective of survivors; full-color photographs accompany the narrative. Though Burgan focuses on tracing the escape and rescue of profiled families, he also analyzes the environmental and engineering factors that amplified the storm's destruction of New Orleans. An epilogue summarizes the hurricane's toll and subsequent recovery efforts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
Connect: Discovering the New World series.
In text and accompanying illustrations, both volumes in the curriculum-connection series cover much of the same cursory information about early North American explorers during the Age of Exploration, beginning with Christopher Columbus in 1492. With a running timeline format, Chronology skims through European explorers' paths up to 1700; Story tackles a different explorer with each chapter. Critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Discovering the New World titles: The Story of North America's First Explorers and A Chronology of North American Exploration.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| August, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-5424-8$34.65
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-5426-2$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-5428-6
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4-6
Captured History series.
Each excellent volume focuses on the impact of an iconic photo from a moment in history, here the deadly Kent State Vietnam War protest and the 9/11 terror attacks. In fascinating, engaging detail, each text describes events leading up to the photographed moment before zooming out to describe the larger historical moment, the photographer's background, and the image's ongoing legacy. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Captured History titles: Death at Kent State and Ground Zero.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| August, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-5441-5$34.65
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-5443-9$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-5445-3
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4-6
Captured World History series.
This fascinating volume examines the iconic photograph of the Hindenburg explosion in 1937. With engaging detail, Burgan walks us through the events leading up to the moment of the explosion, the preceding history of airship travel, and the aftermath of the disaster. The photographer's experience and the legacy of the photo are also considered. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
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4-6
You Choose: Spies series.
Follow a Chicago detective, a wealthy female Confederate spy, and a free black man spying for the Union in Civil War. Story lines in World War II feature a wireless operator, a reconnaissance pilot, and a spy in enemy territory. Captioned photos and reproductions enhance these Choose Your Own Adventure–format texts. The information is limited, but readers will glean a sense of espionage's role in war. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these You Choose: Spies titles: Spies of the Civil War and Stealing Nazi Secrets in World War II.
32 pp.
| Capstone
| January, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4914-2138-3$27.32
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4-6
Sports Illustrated Kids: Hockey Superstars series.
Glossy action photographs, brightly colored sidebars, and "Fast Facts" combine with game-detailed, statistics-filled texts to superficially profile two of hockey's most popular players. Ovechkin hails from Russia, where the breakup of the Soviet Union allowed him to play in the NHL. Crosby's narrative begins with his "Golden Goal" to win the 2010 Winter Olympics for Team Canada. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Hockey Superstars titles: Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| January, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-4975-6$33.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-4979-4$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-4983-1
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4-6
What You Didn't Know About the American Revolution series.
These dense, detailed volumes examine specific aspects of the American Revolution. Full-color illustrations, maps, and charts are featured throughout and serve as welcome breaks from the almost-overlong narratives. Still, the books are thoroughly researched and well written and will please young history buffs (and their teachers). Critical thinking questions are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. The review covers the following What You Didn't Know About the American Revolution titles: The Untold Story of the Battle of Saratoga and The Untold Story of the Black Regiment.
64 pp.
| Capstone/Compass Point
| January, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7565-4974-9$33.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7565-4978-7$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-0-7565-4982-4
(4)
4-6
What You Didn't Know About the American Revolution series.
These dense, detailed volumes examine specific aspects of the American Revolution. Full-color illustrations, maps, and charts are featured throughout and serve as welcome breaks from the almost-overlong narratives. Still, the books are thoroughly researched and well written and will please young history buffs (and their teachers). Critical thinking questions are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. The review covers the following What You Didn't Know About the American Revolution titles: The Untold Story of the Battle of Saratoga and The Untold Story of the Black Regiment.