Koncocoo

Best Teen & Young Adult Ancient History

Augustus Caesar's World
Considered the innovator of "horizontal history," Genevieve Foster became frustrated when her two school-aged children complained about the boring presentation of history in their school texts. Foster will then take her readers all over the world to learn what was happening at this same time in China, Persia, India and so on. Every year this grows more urgent, as increasingly rapid communication integrates world events more closely and the impact of foreign affairs on our own lives becomes more serious and immediate."
Reviews
"I'm reading this book to my junior high World History class."
"a wonderful book!"
"Great approach to world history."
"Great book!"
"Outstanding view on history of old."
"What a fantastic view into history."
"this book was in great shape and shipped quickly."
"Genevieve Foster books are good for History even w/o a guide."
Find Best Price at Amazon
The Thousand Year War in the Mideast: How It Affects You Today (An Uncle Eric Book)
"The Thousand Year War in the Mideast" explains how events on the other side of the world a thousand years ago can affect us more than events in our own hometowns today. The events of the Thousand Year War have been the cause of great shocks to our economy and investment markets, including: the oil embargoes, the Iranian hostage crisis, the Iraq-Kuwait war, and the Caucasus Wars over the Caspian Sea oil basin. These shocks are likely to remain so for decades to come. Learn about the Russians, Serbs, Croats, the Balkans, Kosovo, the Ottoman and Mongol empires, Turkey, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Russia, Oman, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan, and more. You must understand where this war is leading to manage your career, business and investments, as well as to reach an informed opinion regarding U.S. involvement in Mideast affairs. Can be used for courses in world history, European/Mideast history, international affairs, government, economics, business, finance, and current events. Some Economics of the Thousand Year War. 27. The New Wars in Chaostan. Appendix. A Brief History of the Iraq-Kuwait War. Chaostan. Loose Cannons. Bibliography and Suggested Readings. While certain statements, and the tone of the book in general, may strike some as outlandish and inflammatory, the author's research is sound and he does not confuse the facts. Instead, he uses them to promote his belief that the Middle East, or, rather, "Chaostan," a term coined by "Uncle Eric," is headed for a major world war.
Reviews
"Even if you are a middle-eastern scholar and want to call Maybury’s perspective “overly-simplistic”, the great insights he shares in such an understandable way from his lifetime of research can only broaden one’s understanding!"
"The American republic had hardly emerged from its cradle when it gave up its neutrality and sided with the Europeans against the Moslems on “the shores of Tripoli.”. During the U.S. conquest of the Philippines, General Jacob Smith told his troops to take no prisoners. In Vietnam, the U.S. dropped 1,000 pounds of explosives for each man, woman and child in the country. At one time American troops risked their lives fighting for liberty, then it was degraded to democracy and now it is interests. President Clinton bombed and killed 2,000 Iraqis on December 16, 1998 the day before his impeachment was to be voted on. Yet the U.S. had to use fully half its non-nuclear military force and spend tens of billions of dollars in a single month. In a single battle, at Stalingrad in WWII, more people were killed than America has lost in all the wars it has ever fought. The Soviet Socialists murdered millions of Moslems in conquering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. Once bureaucrats, police and troops are embarrassed to be part of the institution, their morale drops, they quit doing their jobs. If you really want to fight back against the ruling elite, compile a list of jokes about them and pass them around."
"However, The Thousand Year War is a very different issue, and all the positive reviews worry me because I fear the readers are dangerously misinformed. Islam's early spread was accomplished by jihad, holy war, after which survivors might choose to convert or die. In the desolate southern desert ancient Arabs couldn't live off the land, so they raided villages and caravans, murdered, robbed, raped, pillaged and took slaves. Exactly 100 years later his followers had conquered all of the Middle East, most of Asia Minor, all of Northern Africa, Spain and half of France. As they raced across the continents, they left a swath of bodies behind them, raping, pillaging, taking everything of value as booty and then burning buildings and crops to the ground -- as well as the irreplaceable Library of Alexandria. Over the next 1,100 years Islam's various empires continued their jihad into Central Asia as far north as Kazakhstan; to the east, India, into China as far as the Huang Ho River; southeast into the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, including Malaysia, Indonesia and even the Celebes; half of Africa, Byzantium, Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and half of Austria. Jihad, on the other hand, is an unlimited religious obligation that continues through one generation to the next and the next until the entire world submits to Islam. And in an annual public ceremony, as a reminder of their status, they had to pay a poll tax called the jizya. He says that many Muslims who had fled the Crusades and the Inquisition were living in the Gulf of Sidra, a large bay in the Mediterranean adjoining Libya's northern border. These "innocent victims" of the Crusaders and Inquisition were "levying a tax on European vessels sailing along the African coast." As pirates do, they stopped and boarded merchant vessels, killed the sailors except for the few they kept as slaves, took the ship, its cargo and anything else of value. These pirates were so daring that they not only ravaged the Mediterranean for centuries, but they also sailed north along the European coast, often up inland rivers for long distances. They treated villages just as they did ships, and in fact they began a highly successful trade in white slaves, capturing and selling over a million of them. Finally, Maybury makes a number of statements so preposterous that I must include a few: On page 54, he says, "Members of all three groups have lived in the Holy Land continuously since Biblical times.""
Find Best Price at Amazon
Pyramid
Through concise text and richly detailed black and white illustrations we come to know the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt. "David Macaulay's brilliant Pyramid shows, detail by detail, how the great pharaohs' burial places were conceived and constructed .
Reviews
"This book is not a story as I was expecting but it was still pretty interesting to read about how they think the pyramids were made."
"Macaulay is the master of simplifying complex topics."
"Classic."
"Great starter for young people interested in the monutmental projects of the ancient world."
"Classic book that I love."
"Just when I thought I had finished chapter One, I discovered I had finished the entire book!"
"The four books: Pyramid, Mill, City and Castle."
"Read this book with my fifth grade son while we studied ancient Egypt."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Anthropology

No god but God: The Origins and Evolution of Islam
Adapted for young readers from No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam , this exploration of Islam by Reza Aslan, internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religion, delves into the rituals and traditions of a religion that is largely misunderstood by the West. Because all religions are bound to the social, spiritual, and cultural landscapes from which they arose and in which they developed, prophets must be understood as reformers who redefine and reinterpret the existing beliefs and practices of their communities. On the contrary, by Muhammad's own admission, his message was an attempt to reform the existing religious beliefs and cultural practices of pre-Islamic Arabia so as to bring the God of the Jews and Christians to the Arab peoples. As unique and divinely inspired as the Islamic movement may have been, its origins are undoubtedly linked to the multiethnic, multireligious society that fed the Prophet's imagination as a young man and allowed him to craft his revolutionary message in a language that would have been easily recognizable to the pagan Arabs he was so desperately trying to reach. In the arid, desolate basin of Mecca, surrounded on all sides by the bare mountains of the Arabian desert, stands a small, nondescript sanctuary that the ancient Arabs refer to as the Ka'ba: the Cube. Then, in a remarkable ritual--the origins of which are a mystery--the pilgrims gather as a group and rotate around the Ka'ba seven times, some pausing to kiss each corner of the sanctuary before being captured and swept away again by the current of bodies. The Ka'ba, like the Pyramids in Egypt or the Temple in Jerusalem, may have been constructed as an axis mundi: a sacred space around which the universe revolves, the link between the earth and the solid dome of heaven. The only thing scholars can say with any certainty is that by the sixth century c.e., this small sanctuary made of mud and stone had become the center of religious life in pre-Islamic Arabia: the time known as Jahiliyyah. Traditionally, the Jahiliyyah has been defined by Muslims as an era of moral depravity and religious discord: a time when the sons of Ismail had obscured belief in the one true God and plunged the Arabian Peninsula into the darkness of idolatry.
Reviews
"And the struggles between the different belief streams are as present now as they were 14 centuries ago in the early years of the religion."
"This book is a good basic biography of the life of the prophet Mohammed, clearly written for the non-specialist who wishes to know more about the events of Mohammed's life and the environment in which Islam developed."
"Please note that this book, published under Random House's "Ember" imprint, is an abridged version of author Reza Aslan's original book, edited for teen readers."
"I bought it because of Asian's book on Jesus (Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth)."
"Perhaps the processes are "over simplified" but Aslan makes the Islam's internecine warfare somewhat more comprehensible."
"It is an excellent start to one's understanding of a faith with deep roots to Judaism and Christianity."
"UPDATE: Just read some of the other reviews and realized this is the abridged version... Well that's just frustrating... I read Zealot and enjoyed that and was interested in seeing what Aslan brought to a history of Islam. I wanted to understand both the history and beliefs of islam better. I know there is a balance (ie it would have been a SLOW book if every sentence was marked as history or koran).. but a chapter or two saying which was which would have been great.. 2. Very little attention is paid to how modern Islam came about (for example, s***e and sunni are mentioned, but not followed through on... seems like these are sort of a big deal in modern islam, right?)."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Architecture

The Future Architect's Tool Kit
Children with dreams of designing buildings will discover how architects actually work in this workbook, which builds on the concepts introduced in The Future Architect’s Handbook. Barbara Beck is a licensed architect in Annapolis, Maryland.
Reviews
"The book explains how to create plans and a model for a house, including site plans and floor plans and elevation. The imaginary clients at the end seem a bit too silly, but when I handed the book over to my future wildlife rehabilitator, he happily designed a dream home with rooms for possums."
"The author explains what "drawing to scale means, how building codes affect a house, and how to design a house using the parameters and a bubble design to help you get started with your design along with graphs and charts to aid in drawing to scale."
"Designing a house is more than just grabbing a pencil and paper, and this kit leads the way through the basic concepts, concerns and how-to tips. The hard cover version of The Future Architect's Handbook immediately catches the eye, but it doesn't take long to see the side compartment holding simple architect's scale, a pencil and a white eraser, as well as the pad of graph paper tucked in with the book. There's quite a bit of information packed in the pages, and the illustrations and examples come from basic architectural design. This is what also makes it interesting for curious adults; the information doesn't really talk down to the kids, but gives an honest, quick overview into the world of basic architecture in a way they can understand."
"What an excellent book!!"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Archaeology

Mummies: Dried, Tanned, Sealed, Drained, Frozen, Embalmed, Stuffed, Wrapped, and Smoked...and We're Dead Serious (National Geographic Kids)
Kids will clamor to read this book in the classroom or at home—and they’ll absorb science, ancient cultures, geography, and more, as freaky photos and intriguing stories keep them glued to every page. A bibliography of adult material and three websites are included, but there are no suggestions for further reading that might list Sandra Markle's fine Outside and Inside Mummies (Walker, 2005), Shelley Tanaka's more difficult Mummies: The Newest, Coolest & Creepiest from Around the World (Abrams, 2005), Kelly Hall's more tightly focused Mysteries of the Mummy Kids (Darby Creek, 2007), or, on a different slant altogether, Philip Manning's intriguing Dinomummy: The Life, Death and Discovery of Dakota, a Dinosaur from Hell Creek (Kingfisher 2007).
Reviews
"My 4year old son LOVED this book when we borrowed it from our library."
"Hilarious book."
"For example: The Ice Man, the Bog bodies of Denmark (many of whom met a very grisly fate), King Tut, the Warrior Woman of Peru, and some celebrity mummies reach out to us from the past. After reading MUMMIES, young readers will have a better awareness of the science underpinning this fascinating field, as well as enjoying the thrill of having read something slightly "shocking.""
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Asian History

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)
Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. In this Young Readers Edition of her bestselling memoir, which has been reimagined specifically for a younger audience and includes exclusive photos and material, we hear firsthand the remarkable story of a girl who knew from a young age that she wanted to change the world -- and did. "Although her efforts to attend school, and the subsequent attack she endured, make for a powerful story, Yousafzai writes just as vividly about her daily life as a child in Pakistan.... Yousafzai's fresh, straightforward voice creates an easily read narrative that will introduce a slew of younger readers to both her story and her mission. [Yousafzai's] strong voice and ideals come across on every page, emphasizing how her surroundings and supportive family helped her become the relevant figure she is today....― SLJ.
Reviews
"My 11-year old son read this and was so touched and inspired by Malala's story."
"Her voice is very clear, and my students felt like they "got to know her" well."
"This is such an uplifting book to read."
"I found "I AM Malala" to be very well written and full of detailed information about her previous life, her school, friends and family times before she was shot by the Taliban."
"***********NO SPOILER REVIEW**********. What a sad, hopeful, beautiful story this is."
""I Am Malala" tells the story of a young woman who yearned for knowledge and education in Pakistan, a country where the Taliban persecutes the education of women, and who almost paid for these things with her life. Although the story of Malala's life and the history of the country are definitely worth reading, the flow of this book is hard to follow at times. Moreover, even though this is Malala's memoir, it seems that the book tells more about Pakistan and her extended family, which can leave the reader questioning if this book should truly be called a memoir for about half of the book."
"I feel moved for malala's goal of making education more accessible in some countries because this is a goal that aims to change so many social problems."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult African History

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina
The extraordinary memoir of an orphan who danced her way from war-torn Sierra Leone to ballet stardom, most recently appearing in Beyonce’s Lemonade and as a principal in a major American dance company. There is plenty of ballet detail for dance lovers to revel in, and the authors achieve a believable, distinctive teenage voice with a nice touch of lyrical description." “From her earliest days as an orphan in Sierra Leone to the stages of world-renowned theaters, Michaela’s incredible determination to not only survive, but triumph in the face of unthinkable adversity is an inspiration to anyone who has fought for a dream.
Reviews
"I am amazed, excited, thankful and even relieved that she adopted by parents who helped each one of their children prepare for their future no matter the cost: physical, emotional or financial."
"Reading her story has really helped me see what it means to push through the bad times and that hard work and dedication will pay off even if at the moment it doesn't seem like it."
"This was a great book for all ages."
"Her beginning with her birth parents was beautiful but then the harsh realities of war, illness and culture took center stage, devestating her young life."
"The story of this extraordinary young woman's life speaks and delivers hope."
"Her parents are an inspiration to all of us, and Michaela's courage, hard work, and innate artistry are an example of what can be achieved when a gifted child is given the opportunity to let her spirit truly Take Flight."
"It's quite fascinating to have a first-hand perspective on a child's life in Africa, how she ended up in America, and how she acheived her dream of becoming a professional Ballerina through the support of her adoptive family."
"I will be reading this book again and again in the days to come, and to every person out there who is reading my words, "Buy this book and treasure it!""
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Modern History

Flags of Our Fathers: A Young People's Edition
In this unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history, James Bradley has captured the glory, the triumph, the heartbreak, and the legacy of the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. In Flags of Our Fathers , James Bradley draws on those documents to retrace the lives of his father and the men of Easy Company. Only James Bradley's father truly survived, displaying no copy of the famous photograph in his home, telling his son only: "The real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn't come back." In the winter of 1945, on the tiny island of Iwo Jima, a ferocious, epic battle was fought, resulting in the loss of more than 48,000 lives and producing what was to become one of the most recognizable symbols of World War II: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the peak of Mount Suribachi.
Reviews
"He brings the reader along on a hunt for clues to the iconic flag raising photo's soldiers."
"Flags of our fathers was an insightful book following the six men who raised the American flag at Iwo Jima. Bladley follows each of the men on their journeys up to the time of the flag raising Bradley wrote flags of our fathers as his father James Bradley was one of the six men to raise the American flag on that heroic mountain."
"Simply put, "Flags of our Fathers" is one of the most powerful and moving books I've read in a very long time. Not only does this book give a chilling account of the world at war, a thought a 27 year old like myself could never truly comprehend, it also paints an equally powerful picture of America of yesteryear. Although I initially thought the book was a bit lengthy (I'm not even sure of the final count as I read the Kindle version), after seeing the considerably edited feature film version I instantly knew that the book was absolutely right to tell every single detail that it did."
"Flags of Our Fathers is well worth reading, for at the end one will have experienced the total range of emotions that can only happen in the battlefield, where only the bravest offer sacrifices that include their lives, for the sake of their fellow men and their nation."
"Thank you James Bradley for sharing your father's story of the raising of the flag on Mount Surabachi in 1945 at Iwo Jima."
"How my childhood barber, who was in the "Death March of Batan", could be such a gentle man is hard to understand."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Holocaust History

Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz
A New York Times bestseller. “This book is published as narrative nonfiction for young readers, but the equal measures of hope and hardship in its pages lend appeal to an audience of all ages . “A wrenching, shocking, and ultimately inspiring memoir, a tale of unrelenting optimism and resilience that is no less than miraculous . “Enhanced by meticulous archival research, Bornstein’s story unfolds in novelistic form . Although listed for ages 10 – 14, it also makes excellent adult reading.” ― Jewish Book Council , starred review. “The most memorable part of this extraordinary nonfiction work is the hope amidst tragedy and the ways individuals and families banded together despite unimaginable odds, including the challenges to rebuild after breaking free from the concentration camps only to find a world still filled with hatred and fear.” ― VOYA. An ideal follow-up selection for students who have read The Diary of Anne Frank .” ― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. The book is written in a soothing tone, which helps balance some of the grim details of Jewish life under the Nazi regime .
Reviews
"So now I read my two chapters and contemplate on the struggles these Jewish people had to endure during the Nazi take over of Poland."
"I was actually lucky enough to listen to him speak at a conference here in Iowa where he went to school and met him."
"I listened to an interview with the authors and knew I had to read this book."
"This story is different from other survivor stories in that the voice of a child recalls the events."
"The subject matter told from the perspective of such a small child who survived draws you in."
"This is a very remarkable story of survival in the death camps of World War II."
"Very good ."
"It is difficult to believe what terrible things people can do to each other."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Mexican History

History of the Americas 1880-1981: IB History Course Book: Oxford IB Diploma Program
- Cover the new syllabus in the right level of depth, with rich, thorough subject content from across the Americas for topics 10-17 for Paper 3. - Developed directly the with IB for the new syllabus first examined 2017. - Truly engage learners with topical, relevant material that convincingly connects learning with the modern, global world. - Streamline your planning, with a clear and thorough structure helping you logically progress through the syllabus. - Build the advanced-level skills learners need for Paper 3, with the student-led approach driving active skills development and strengthening exam performance. - Integrate Approaches to learning with ATLs like thinking, communication, research and social skills built directly into learning. Alexis Mamaux, David Smith, Mark Rogers, Matt Borgmann, Shannon Leggett and Yvonne Berlinner are all well-respected in their field.
Reviews
"Quick shipping."
"Another great school book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Canadian History

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917
On December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbor in Nova Scotia, Canada. “Disasters make for gripping reading, and this account of the huge explosion of a munitions ship and its devastating effects in Halifax Harbor, Canada, in 1917 tells the dramatic history with clear detailed facts.” ― Booklist.
Reviews
"This is the third book on this subject I have read and I have found all of them to be riveting reading."
"Very good read, very interesting story."
"If you are unfamiliar with the explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1917 then this book would be of interest to you. This story is familiar to people in Boston because every year the city's Christmas tree is sent by the people of Halifax."
"While there is a lot of talk about teaching with informational texts - to align with the Common Core, there is not necessarily as much about students just reading, reading, reading these texts - independently."
"Well written and very descriptive of the events and the personal lives of the people affected."
"it is a short read but very nicely developed (chronologically) and gives you a good sense of the causes that led to the explosion, the events of the disaster and the aftermath and the effects on the population."
"My husband and I are planning a vacation to Nova Scotia and I have been trying to learn all I can about Nova Scotia before we go."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Medieval History

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
While Eleanor, never a patient woman in life or afterlife, waits, three people, each of whom was close to Eleanor during a time of her life, join her. As long as they're together, they might as well gossip about old times--and soon all of Eleanor's adventures in the Middle Ages spring to life again.
Reviews
"Konigsburg here is at her best in respecting the intelligence of her targeted young readers, with prose, constructions, and wry/light humor that make the characters and events accessible to modern audiences without talking down or dumbing down complicated situations."
"This is an outstanding book. The life of Eleanor of Aquitaine is interesting enough in itself, but this book gives it an even deeper richness."
"It's a wonderful introduction to Eleanor and all the famous people from history that her life intersected with, and does a particularly nice job of showing her accomplishments: an introduction to the ideals of chivalry at her Court of Love, her commssioning of poets and authors to "improve" the stories of King Arthur, and her and Henry II's efforts to bring about the Rule of Law in England."
"I didn't know if my boys (age 10) would enjoy this or not, but having the story told by characters in heaven, watching earth from the clouds, tickled their imaginations, so that they were ready to hear more."
"Excellent middle-level reading book (but thoroughly enjoyed by adult readers as well) to spark interest in Historical Fiction."
"Interesting and historically fun read, especially for a girl studying basic world history."
"I first read this book ten years ago, when I managed to leave my homeroom ten minutes late after being completely engrossed in the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine."
"Great story from an interesting perspective."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult European History

Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator
The Allied forces, led by American generals George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, are gaining control of Europe, leaving German leaders scrambling. “A thoroughly documented, visually rich presentation.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Kennedy's Last Days. “Immersively written . it might well read like Killing Lincoln .” ― Peter J. Boyer, Newsweek on Killing Lincoln.
Reviews
"My father fought in World War II and I am a history major for my master's degree so I find history very interesting."
"Very interesting read with many facts."
"Things you didn't know , or wanted to know are about the Great war are shared, written to be easily understood."
"Enjoyed this book for bringing out the more human side of a tyrant ."
"There is no extra words in this very well written book about ---not only Hitler---but all the main players who played major roles around Hitler during his last weeks of life!"
"Great detail and insight into what was happening to and around Hitler."
"Patton's part in the last months and days of WWII was basically a re-write of the book, Killing Patton."
"The buildup to the end of Hitler is very interesting reading."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Military History

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive
In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Featuring more than one hundred photographs plus an exclusive interview with Zamperini, this breathtaking odyssey—also captured on film by director Angelina Jolie—is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to endure against the unlikeliest of odds. Writing in a gripping, intense tone, Hillenbrand relates how tragedy struck when Zamperini's plane was shot down and he and two other men spent 47 days in a life boat in the Pacific Ocean, fighting sharks, starvation, and dehydration, before being captured by the Japanese navy as prisoners of war.
Reviews
"The changes were immediately apparent: On the first page, the previous version read: Somewhere on the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Army Air Forces bombardier and Olympic runner Louie Zamperini lay across a small raft, drifting westward. The new version read: Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean, American military airman and Olympic runner Louie Zamperini lay on a small raft, drifting. In a nutshell, Hillenbrand deleted "the endless expanse of," and simplified Zamperini's title from "Army Air Forces bombardier," to "American military airman." He is easily the bravest, most remarkable person I've ever read about, and a fine example of what we hope our young people will choose to emulate."
"I would recommend this book specifically to younger audiences because if you are an adult you should read the more complex version as it is more deep."
"Read at school, good for young adults."
"He was one of the most remarkable men I have ever read about. The recounting of their time in the raft, that they survived is due to the courage of the men, especially Louie."
"Good book, my son (12) loves WWII stories."
"What a wonderful survival story."
"Here is a hero who changed his life from a boy always getting into trouble to a high school athlete, Olympic athlete, and outstanding member of WWII armed forces."
"It shares such am amazing story with so many things to learn and to apply to our own lives."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Renaissance History

Renaissance Fashions (Dover Fashion Coloring Book)
Forty-five finely detailed, ready-to color illustrations showing attifets, chopines, doublets, farthingales, houppelandes, and other elements of Renaissance garb depict: an Italian peasant couple dressed for their wedding day (c. 1450); an Italian knight in steel armor (c. 1460); an English lord and lady in riding outfits (c. 1510); children of a German royal family garbed in velvet and accompanied by a soberly dressed nanny (c. 1550); and many more outfits designed for various activities and occasions. One of the leading authorities on fashion history, Tom Tierney created over 150 paper doll books for Dover Publications.
Reviews
"Yes, it's a coloring book, but one that's painstakingly researched and carefully illustrated."
"The pictures are large and very well drawn and I found the fashions represented highly interesting."
"Nicely done images, a lot of fun to color."
"I have a pre-teen granddaughter who loves art, history of fashion, Renaissance Fairs (for which I make her costumes) and this was a great extra Christmas gift for her."
"I enjoy the fashions but I wish the pages were one sided."
"Tom Tierney is so great with his historical fashion coloring books and paper dolls and it makes it fun and challenging to color the images."
"Renaissance Fair Must Have !!"
"These were colored, laminated and beheaded, used on a bulletin board with kids' faces:) Thanks."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Prehistoric History

Dinosaurs (Discovery Kids)
Discover the prehistoric world of dinosaurs.
Reviews
"It has pretty impressive computer generated illustrations but usually only one per page."
"Cute book."
"This book was purchased as a Christmas gift for my nephew."
"Excellent product my nephew loved the book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult United States History

The Day the World Went Nuclear: Dropping the Atom Bomb and the End of World War II in the Pacific
World War II is nearly over in Europe, but in the Pacific, American soldiers face an enemy who will not surrender, despite a massive and mounting death toll. “This thrillerlike adaptation captures the excitement of the Union victory in the Civil War and the shock and horror that quickly followed as the country learned of Lincoln's death and sought revenge on his assassins. The popularity of O'Reilly's adult title will drive interest in this version, but it definitely stands alone and will find an audience among general readers and report writers.” ― School Library Journal.
Reviews
"As usual, great read."
"Excellent history on how the nuclear arms race started and how in this case saved American lives and ended war in the Pacific."
"I haven't had time to read this yet, but, I am anxious to do so."
"History that most of America probably never knew."
"Some better detail, but a lot like Killing the Rising Sun."
"I bought this as a gift for my dad and he has re-read it, he loves it."
"I've read many books about World War II, and this is a good one."
"I recommended this book to all my friends."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Middle Eastern History

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)
Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. In this Young Readers Edition of her bestselling memoir, which has been reimagined specifically for a younger audience and includes exclusive photos and material, we hear firsthand the remarkable story of a girl who knew from a young age that she wanted to change the world -- and did. "Although her efforts to attend school, and the subsequent attack she endured, make for a powerful story, Yousafzai writes just as vividly about her daily life as a child in Pakistan.... Yousafzai's fresh, straightforward voice creates an easily read narrative that will introduce a slew of younger readers to both her story and her mission. [Yousafzai's] strong voice and ideals come across on every page, emphasizing how her surroundings and supportive family helped her become the relevant figure she is today....― SLJ.
Reviews
"My 11-year old son read this and was so touched and inspired by Malala's story."
"Her voice is very clear, and my students felt like they "got to know her" well."
"I found "I AM Malala" to be very well written and full of detailed information about her previous life, her school, friends and family times before she was shot by the Taliban."
"***********NO SPOILER REVIEW**********. What a sad, hopeful, beautiful story this is."
""I Am Malala" tells the story of a young woman who yearned for knowledge and education in Pakistan, a country where the Taliban persecutes the education of women, and who almost paid for these things with her life. Although the story of Malala's life and the history of the country are definitely worth reading, the flow of this book is hard to follow at times. Moreover, even though this is Malala's memoir, it seems that the book tells more about Pakistan and her extended family, which can leave the reader questioning if this book should truly be called a memoir for about half of the book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Australia & Oceania History

Women Heroes of World War II—the Pacific Theater: 15 Stories of Resistance, Rescue, Sabotage, and Survival (Women of Action)
Glamorous American singer Claire Phillips opened a nightclub in manila, using the earnings to secretly feed starving American POWs. Fifteen suspense-filled stories unfold across China, Japan, Malaya, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines, providing an inspiring reminder of womens' and girls' refusal to sit on the sidelines around the world and throughout history. Finally, their stories are told.” —Mary Cronk Farrell, author of Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific. “Atwood’s vivid, accessible storytelling brings to life the oft’ forgotten female spies, saboteurs, and survivors who were utterly crucial to American victory in World War II. By using their own voices from memoirs, diaries and other sources, Atwood clearly lets us know that valor is not, and never has been, only a men’s trait.” —Elizabeth M. Norman author of We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Women Trapped on Bataan. Kathryn Atwood’s Women Heroes of WWII-the Pacific Theater tells the stories of fifteen gutsy ladies—writers, agents, activists, nurses, survivors, and others—whose bravery, resilience, and determination to take risks, confront adversity, and even face death are revealed from a perspective too often ignored. "Amid the cruelty and inhumanity of "the war without mercy," Atwood presents readers, young and old, with inspiring stories of women whose courage and endurance restore our faith in the ability of ordinary people to survive, resist and ultimately triumph over evil."
Reviews
"Atwood offers insight into the live's and achievement's of some of the most noteworthy heroines of Pacific World War II."
"Now, we have a third – Women Heroes of World War II – the Pacific Theater: 15 Stories of Resistance, Rescue, Sabotage, and Survival. The books are aimed at the young adult audience but readers of any age will not fail to be moved and horrified in equal measure by the stories contained within these pages. As Kathryn writes in her foreword, she’s tried not to make the stories too graphic but we’re talking about the Rape of Nanking here, young girls forced into being ‘comfort women’, and the much-feared Kempeitai, Japan’s military police. She summarises Japan’s development into a fascist, one-party state, and how young Japanese boys were hardened and desensitized by brutal and compulsory military training. Vivian was one of 22 Australian nurses who, on 12 February 1942, was forced by Japanese soldiers into the waves off Bangka Island in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Designed for about 300 students, by the end of the year, 10,000 terrified women had squeezed in, desperate for sanctuary from Japanese soldiers intent on raping every female they could find, however young or old. Another chapter relates the story of Sybil Kathigasu, a Malayan nurse, who, together with her surgeon husband, helped scores of wounded guerrilla fighters."
"Women Heroes of World War II - The Pacific Theater begins and ends with general information on the war in the Pacific Theater and then moves to focus in on the stories of specific women, presenting an excellent mix of information about the women's lives before the war, their actions during the conflict, and a brief description of their post-war life."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Central & South American History

History of the Americas 1880-1981: IB History Course Book: Oxford IB Diploma Program
- Cover the new syllabus in the right level of depth, with rich, thorough subject content from across the Americas for topics 10-17 for Paper 3. - Developed directly the with IB for the new syllabus first examined 2017. - Truly engage learners with topical, relevant material that convincingly connects learning with the modern, global world. - Streamline your planning, with a clear and thorough structure helping you logically progress through the syllabus. - Build the advanced-level skills learners need for Paper 3, with the student-led approach driving active skills development and strengthening exam performance. - Integrate Approaches to learning with ATLs like thinking, communication, research and social skills built directly into learning. Alexis Mamaux, David Smith, Mark Rogers, Matt Borgmann, Shannon Leggett and Yvonne Berlinner are all well-respected in their field.
Reviews
"Quick shipping."
"Another great school book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult History of Exploration & Discovery

The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World
Adapted from the New York Times bestseller Mayflower ! Grade 7 Up—Abridged and adapted from Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War (Penguin, 2007), this volume highlights both the Pilgrims' determination to find and settle a home where they could worship freely and the perilous journey that it took to make that happen.
Reviews
"If you truly want to learn something about an interesting time in history."
"Still reading and loving this book!"
"Love the pictures and maps that go with the story!"
"I enjoyed this book."
"Not completely finished yet."
"Learned a lot about the Plymouth colony that was never taught in Elementary or High School American History class."
"I haven't had time to read, but it is by my favorite author, so I know it will be good."
"Love the information that is given in this book."
Find Best Price at Amazon