Among the lives depicted are those of Charles Eastman, raised as a Sioux, who was thrust at age fourteen into an alien white world and who later returned to his people as a physician and saved many lives at Wounded Knee; Olaudah Equiano, a West African sold into slavery in the eighteenth century whose autobiography offers an unflinching portrayal of the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade; and Chai Ling, the girl who assumed leadership of the student rebellion in China's Tiananmen Square."--BOOK JACKET.

The Civil War was a war unlike any other. The bravery and strength the soldiers showed, the determination in the direst of circumstances, and the fearlessness when met with challenges never dreamed of set these dark years apart. So much has been recorded about the War Between the States from the bloody battles to the steadfast generals. However, there were others present who are often forgotten: young people who were faced with a fate they never thought they would meet when their lives were taken out of their control. These children of the Confederacy soon grew accustomed to empty fields, family members who never returned home, and lives shortened by the hard impact of a bullet. Many felt a calling to join the cause and found themselves in the same situations as their adult counterparts: prisoners of war, amputees, spies, or guides for generals-only they were barely twenty years old. This collection of true accounts presents the voices of those who faced the ultimate test of character and courage and until now have so rarely been heard. The stories of these emerging adults provide an engrossing exploration of the Civil War in a way that is unlike any other in delivery and subject matter.

In this “urgent and enthralling reckoning with family and history” (Andrew Solomon), an American writer returns to Russia to face a past that still haunts him. NAMED ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS’ TOP BOOKS OF THE YEAR Alex Halberstadt’s quest takes him across the troubled, enigmatic land of his birth, where decades of Soviet totalitarianism shaped and fractured three generations of his family. In Ukraine, he tracks down his paternal grandfather—most likely the last living bodyguard of Joseph Stalin. He revisits Lithuania, his Jewish mother’s home, to examine the legacy of the Holocaust and the pernicious anti-Semitism that remains largely unaccounted for. And he returns to his birthplace, Moscow, where his grandmother designed homespun couture for Soviet ministers’ wives, his mother consoled dissidents at a psychiatric hospital, and his father made a dangerous living by selling black-market American records. Halberstadt also explores his own story: that of an immigrant growing up in New York, another in a line of sons separated from their fathers by the tides of politics and history. Young Heroes of the Soviet Union is a moving investigation into the fragile boundary between history and biography. As Halberstadt revisits the sites of his family’s formative traumas, he uncovers a multigenerational transmission of fear, suffering, and rage. And he comes to realize something more: Nations, like people, possess formative traumas that penetrate into the most private recesses of their citizens’ lives.

An introduction to the brave heroes of World War 2 for kids ages 8 to 12 Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is a single person willing to risk their life and take a stand. This inspiring collection of biographies explores the stories of some of the most amazing heroes of World War 2. From Anne Frank and Oskar Schindler to our forgotten African allies, these soldiers, spies, and freedom fighters helped change the world and save millions of lives. What will kids learn from their stories of selflessness and bravery? 50 incredible tales—Kids will learn about what happened in World War II through the eyes of the people who lived and fought during it. Powerful quotations—Help kids better understand who these people were and what they stood for with direct quotes included in each story. Learn more—Kids can find out even more about the heroes in this book thanks to suggestions for further reading at the end of each biography. Introduce kids to the incredible stories of heroic men and women in this standout among biography books.

Discover over 100 extraordinary children from across the world. Featuring an international selection of passionate young people, this collection highlights the stories of musical talents, environmental activists, engineers, artists and authors, as well as political voices, among others. Including entertainers such as Taylor Swift and Daniel Radcliffe, sporting heroes like Pele and Michelle Kwarn, and business entrepreneurs Tavi Gevinson and Jordan Casey, this is an empowering and inspirational read. It also includes suggestions and tips so that you, too, can be even more amazing!

Five stories from the Bible, retold by legendary actor and acclaimed author Kirk Douglas