In spring of 1918, World War I was underway, and troops at Fort Riley, Kansas, found themselves felled by influenza. By the summer of 1918, the second wave struck as a highly contagious and lethal epidemic and within weeks exploded into a pandemic, an illness that travels rapidly from one continent to another. It would impact the course of the war, and kill many millions more soldiers than warfare itself. Of all diseases, the 1918 flu was by far the...

In the early years of World War II, Josef Stalin issued an order that made the Soviet Union the first country in the world to allow female pilots to fly in combat. Led by Marina Raskova, these three regiments, including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment--nicknamed the "night witches"--faced intense pressure and obstacles both in the sky and on the ground. Some of these young women perished in flames. Many of them were in their teens when they went to...

Night is Elie Wiesel's masterpiece, a candid, horrific, and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. This new translation by Marion Wiesel, Elie's wife and frequent translator, presents this seminal memoir in the language and spirit truest to the author's original intent. And in a substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate dedication...

"Close-Up on War tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the Vietnam War's few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Despite being told that women didn't belong in a "man's world," she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers' slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist...

"Poet, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs, demystifies, and reimagines the gender binary"-- Gender is a story, not just a word. Alok Vaid-Menon dares the world to see gender not in black and white, but in full color. Taking from their own experiences as a gender non-conforming artist, they show us that gender is a malleable and creative form of expression. The only limit is your imagination.

There's a lot more to being a good leader than standing in front of a group and telling them what to do. Effective leadership includes communication skills, confidence, compassion, discipline, and the ability to connect with your audience. This guide discusses the characteristics a leader needs and suggests ways for readers to reach their goals. Readers will also understand why it's important to treat group members with respect and compassion,

...

"In this personal, moving essay, environmental activist and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez uses his art and his activism to show that climate change is a human issue that can't be ignored."-- If we wait for the floodwater to reach our doorstep, it will be too late. Earth Guardians youth director and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez uses his art and activism to show that climate change is a human issue. In Imaginary Borders, Martinez visualizes...

"LGBTQIAA+ activist Adam Eli argues the urgent need for queer responsibility -- that queers anywhere are responsible for queers everywhere"-- We're not alone. In fact, we never were. Because if you mess with one queer, you mess with us all. Voices 4 founder and LGBTQIAA+ activist Adam Eli offers a candid and compassionate introduction to queer responsibility. In this humorous and hopeful piece, he calls on his Jewish faith to underline how kindness...

As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry. But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence, they cut off both her hands. Stumbling through...

The transition from elementary school to middle school can be particularly difficult for boys. Too big to be little and too little to be big, they face the perfect storm of changing bodies, rushing hormones, and learning challenges. They may now begin to struggle with grades, behavior, and relationships with family and friends. Boys are often frustrated and embarrassed by trying to figure out on their own what to do and what not to do in this new...