Elementary

Typhoid fever is running rampant across America, striking down tens of thousands of people. Dr. George Soper must get to the root of the problem fast. He knows that it takes just one person carrying the bacteria for the fever to spread. When Soper traces an outbreak to Mary Mallon, a New York City cook, he is determined to prevent her from infecting others. But Mallon refuses to cooperate.

Twelve-year-old Ella Mae Higbee is a sensible girl. She eats her vegetables and wants to be just like Sergeant Friday, her favorite character on Dragnet. So when her auntie Mildred starts spouting nonsense about a scientist who can bring her cousin Robby back to life, Ella Mae doesn't believe her - until a boy steps out of the scientist's pod and drips slime on the floor right before her eyes.

Earthquakes,
volcanoes,
tsunamis.
Headline-making natural disasters with devastating consequences for millions of people. But what do we actually know about these literally earth-shaking events?

New York Times bestselling author, explorer, journalist, and geologist Simon Winchester—who’s been shaken by earthquakes in New Zealand, skied through Greenland to help prove the theory of plate tectonics, and even charred the soles of his boots climbing a volcano—looks at the science, technology, and societal impact of these inter-connected natural phenomena.

"This is the 100 percent true story of the summer I - Wyatt Jones - was eleven and built a fort in the woods with my friend Augie Valerio. It isn't the story I handed in to my teacher about how I spent my summer vacation. See, there's stuff that happened that you can't really talk about in school. Not unless you want to get into trouble. Plus, there are things in here like dead squirrels. and squirrel guts. There are weapons, too: a slingshot, a pellet gun, and a pocketknife. I'm just warning you, in case that kind of stuff bothers you.

Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trent’s pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is.
If only Trent could make that fresh start happen.

The author of My Name Is María Isabel offers an inspiring look at her childhood in Cuba in this collection that includes Where the Flame Trees Bloom, Under the Royal Palms, five new stories, and more.

School has started, and Binny can't believe how terrible it is. She has a horrid hand-me-down uniform, and the kids make fun of her "posh" city accent.

Then a storm destroys the roof of Binny's house. Binny; her mother; her sensible older sister, Clem; and her rambunctious brother, James (and his chickens) are forced to move across town to a rental home at the end of a forbidding, unlit lane. Things only get worse when she calls their new landlady a "bossy old witchy woman" at school...in front of the landlady's daughter, Clare, who starts bullying Binny mercilessly.

How did nonliving atoms evolve into modern people? Find out in this engaging illustrated exploration of how nothing became everything.

The science of evolution is a topic of utmost importance, especially as the focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education continues to increase. Fortunately, important doesn’t have to mean boring. From explaining how scientists discovered how life began on earth to speculating about whether space aliens are carnivores, this engaging investigation of all things evolution is infused with fun as well as facts.

In 1770, the slave Esperança Garcia bravely penned a letter to the governor of Piauí state, in Brazil, describing how she and her children were being mistreated and requesting permission to return to the farm where the rest of her family was living. Before she wrote her letter, Esperança Garcia lived on a cotton farm run by Jesuit priests, where she learned to read and write — a rare opportunity for a woman, especially a slave.

Wise old owls? Problem-solving dolphins? Maybe you have heard of Koko the gorilla, who has mastered one thousand signs in American Sign Language, or Chaser the border collie, who recognizes one thousand names for her stuffed toys.

But what about ants building megacolonies or bees reporting to the hive about new nesting sites? What about escape artist octopuses and jellyfish that use their eyes (they have twenty-four!) to navigate? Are insects, spiders, and other animals without backbones considered smart, too?

Wolves, like children, are not born to lead calm lives.

Feo's live is extraordinary. She and her mother train domesticated wolves to fend for themselves in the snowy wilderness of Russia. She loves working with the wolves, especially the three that have been wilded but refuse to leave Feo. They're half-wild, not pets.

My name is Book and I'll tell you the story of my life...

This is the story of books--told by none other than Book! A delightfully eccentric character, with strong opinions and a poetic turn of phrase, Book tells of a journey from clay tablet to e-reader and everything in between. With stunning illustrations by Neil Packer, Book is an unforgettable blend of memory and musings, illuminated by one of England's leading poets.

Change can start with just one brave person speaking up...

Shocking pink--or hot pink, as it is called today--was the signature color of designer Elsa Schiaparelli and perhaps her greatest contribution to the fashion world. Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was one of the most innovative designers of the early twentieth century. Many design elements that are taken for granted today she created and brought to the forefront of fashion. She is credited with many firsts: trompe l'oeil sweaters with collars and bows woven in, zippers as design features, wedge heels, shoulder bags, boutiques, and even the concept of a runway show for presenting collections.