Avery Elizabeth Hurt

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most beloved of America's founding documents. This book offers a refreshing take on the history surrounding it. In addition to examining the circumstances and personalities that led to the drafting of the document, this book takes a close look at the wording and philosophy of the document itself, demonstrating how those ideas have defined our nation since. Readers will be surprised to learn that Thomas...

Animals have evolved a wide range of defenses to protect themselves against attack. Learn how animals use their unique adaptations to live another day.

This examination of the life and works of Booker T. Washington stresses his devotion to education as a means of advancement for African Americans. In addition to understanding the life and times of Booker T. Washington, readers will learn about some of the disagreements among African American leaders during the post-Reconstruction years, struggles faced during Washington's life, and successes achieved. Drawing on Washington's own writings as well

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This book introduces readers to the fascinating Frederick Douglass, a man born a slave. Douglass taught himself to read, then escaped from slavery to become one of the abolitionist movement's greatest leaders. In addition to telling the story of his life, this biography examines the evolution of his thought and his changing relationships with contemporaries such as William Lloyd Garrison and Abraham Lincoln. Featuring intriguing details about the

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We're all different from one another and come from a dizzying array of backgrounds and cultures. And while sometimes the rules and etiquette of a friend's family makes sense, that's not always the case. Readers will learn how to make others comfortable an

Upon its invention in the mid-1400s, the printing press instantly became a revolutionary device. It introduced literacy to the masses and led Europe out of the Middle Ages. This book explores the press' exciting history, the social and political conditions in place at the time Johannes Gutenberg invented it, and the changes the invention wrought afterward. It traces the evolution of moveable type and information dissemination up to modern electronic...

This volume takes a fresh look at Common Sense, Thomas Paine's provocative pamphlet that roused the American colonists toward outright revolt against Britain. With ample use of primary sources, this book provides historical context and a feeling for the times. It explores why this document was pivotal in 1776 and how it still informs the United States' idea of itself and its government. Illustrations and quotations, plus interesting little-known facts,...

One of the effects of World War I was prosperity in the United States in the 1920s. However, by the end of that decade, the US plummeted into a severe depression. The Great Depression inspired events and sentiments that would be carried into the next great conflict, World War II. This book examines the causes and effects of the Great Depression, key players during the era, and what implications this era of history had on events and conflicts in future...

Many teens enjoy a carefree time of school, some light household responsibilities to help their family, and good times with their friends. According to a National Alliance of Caregiving report in 2005, at least 1.3 million children between the ages of eight and eighteen are shouldering the heavy responsibilities of caring for family members who cannot care for themselves without help. Readers will get a frank description of the work faced by many...

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States while Statistics Canada reports that alcohol is responsible for the deaths of 8 percent of Canadians under the age of seventy. This concise guidebook gives younger readers the facts they need to make informed decisions about how alcohol use can affect one's life. The narrative examines alcohol's history, as well as its physical...