English

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

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Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells, taken without her knowledge, become one of the most important tools in medicine. The first immortal human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than 60 years.

Author:

Rebecca Skloot

Grade Level:

High

Lexile:

1140L

Length:

12:30

Fed Up (2014)

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Narrated by Katie Couric, Fed Up blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and exercise, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry-aided by the U.S. government-to mislead and confuse the American public.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Unabridged)

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Sussex, England: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. He is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet sitting by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean), the unremembered past comes flooding back.

Author:

Neil Gaiman

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

05:48

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Unabridged)

Profiles in Courage

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During 1954-1955, John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. Senator, chose eight of his historical colleagues to profile for their acts of astounding integrity in the face of overwhelming opposition. These heroes include John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, and Sam Houston.

The Mighty

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Award-winning actresses Sharon Stone (Sphere, Casino, Basic Instinct) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) star in this uplifting motion picture that's received overwhelming critical acclaim! With his loving and supportive mother (Stone), 13-year-old Kevin (Kieran Culkin) moves in next door to another teen, Max. Though both have problems that label them as outcasts, Kevin and Max discover that by proudly combining their strengths and uniting as one, they can overcome their individual limitations and triumph over any adversity!

Director:

Peter Chelsom

Grade Level:

Middle

Length:

01:40

Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball

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Copies: 7

Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, love to take naps. But do they nap too much? What they need is a sport! Luckily, Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke, know of a baseball team they can join. It's not long before Mr. Putter is ready to play ball with the Yankee Doodle Dandies, but will his creaky knees cooperate? And can Zeke avoid wreaking havoc on the field?

Author:

Cynthia Ryland & Arthur Howard

Lexile:

410L

Ling & Ting Share a Birthday

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Copies: 7

Ling & Ting are twins. They share a birthday. They bake cakes, and they make birthday wishes. They tell stories and wrap gifts. They also share a birthday secret!

Have fun with Ling and Ting! They stick together and look alike. But they are not exactly the same.

Author:

Grace Lin

Lexile:

380L

The Meanest Birthday Girl

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Copies: 7

It's Dana's birthday, so she can do what she likes. And what Dana likes to do is pinch. And call people names. And steal her classmates' desserts in the lunchroom.

You probably know a kid like Dana. What can stop her from being so mean? In this story, it's not what you might expect. Because sometimes it takes a little creativity (and possibly a very large pet) to change a mean kid's ways.

Author:

Josh Schneider

Lexile:

AD580L

Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg

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Copies: 7

Imagine being fifteen years old, facing the bloodiest battle ever to take place on U.S. soil: the Battle of Gettysburg. In July 1863, this is exactly what happened to Tillie Pierce, a normal teenager who became an unlikely heroine of the Civil War (1861-1865). Tillie and other women and girls like her found themselves trapped during this critical three-day battle in southern Pennsylvania. Without training, but with enormous courage and compassion, Tillie and other Gettysburg citizens helped save the lives of countless wounded Union and Confederate soldiers.

Author:

Tanya Anderson

Lexile:

970L

Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg

Shooting Video to Make Learning Fun

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Copies: 1

This book helps students learn how to harness the power of video to inform and entertain. Includes background information and practical hands on activities.

Author:

Julie Green

English

Fed Up (2014)

Pages