Born Aubrey Drake Graham, the rapper better known as Drake caught his big break on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. His songs and albums have gone platinum and gold, won Grammys, and resulted in sold-out performances. Simple text, accompanied by powerful direct quotations, interesting sidebars, and detailed photographs, recounts how Drake surmounted his difficult beginnings as the son of a single hard-working mother who struggled to pay the bills to become a successful hip-hop artist. Readers will be inspired that he has never forgotten his past hardships and continues to donate to charitable causes.
When Chancelor Bennett was a child growing up in Chicago, his parents instilled into him a strong work ethic. Little did they know that in a few years, their son would achieve an amazing number of accomplishments in the entertainment business. By putting his work on the internet for free, Chance showed a new generation of rappers that they can go directly to their fans to build an audience. In 2016, he became the first internet-based artist to win a Grammy. Eye-catching photographs, engaging sidebars, and revealing quotations show readers a different side of Chance the performer. They'll meet Chance the advocate, a man devoted to his family, faith, and hometown.
Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar continuously wows fans and critics alike with his contributions to the world of hip-hop. Born in Compton, California, Lamar was no stranger to street violence. He channeled his experiences into pensive lyrics, releasing his first mixtape at the age of sixteen. Readers will learn about Lamar's experiences in the music world, his association with Dr. Dre, and his ascent to becoming a Pulitzer Prize winner. Quotes from Lamar, sidebars, a timeline about his life, and vivid photographs of performances make this high-interest volume a must for every hip-hop lover's collection.
Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, overcame a life of poverty in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn and became one of the most successful rappers in the world. He has received more than twenty Grammy Awards as well as other music honors, and he has also proven to be a savvy entrepreneur with his clothing, clubs, and sports business ventures. Drawing from the rapper's own words, which are accompanied by detailed photographs and fascinating sidebars, this book provides readers with a straightforward look at the life of Jay-Z and the business empire he built.
Lil Buck was known around his hometown of Memphis as a talented dancer, but after a video of him performing alongside Yo-Yo Ma went viral, he became a hit around the globe. He's added his own flair to the dance style known as jookin and has shown the world that he is a true artist. This high-interest volume includes stimulating sidebars, colorful photographs, and exciting details to help readers understand what drove Lil Buck to strive for his dreams, inspire others, and revolutionize the world of dance.
Best-selling rap artist Nicki Minaj has racked up many awards for her thrilling work. She rose from mixtape recordings to become a sought-after collaborator, actress, and spokesperson who has climbed to the top of the charts. High-interest details, engaging sidebars, and an accessible timeline guide curious readers along her path from struggling beginner to music mogul. Thought-provoking direct quotations and vivid photographs enhance readers' journey and invite them to revisit the exciting hip-hop world of Nicki Minaj.
Since he was a child, Kanye West had always been considered intelligent and eager to work hard by the people in his life. He carried these traits into adulthood when he began his career as a music producer. When he turned his attention to music, he was catapulted into international fame, and Kanye continues to be one of the most talked about musical artists. Engaging text, insightful pull quotes, and intriguing sidebars reveal fascinating details about his unique childhood experiences, which drove him to succeed in the music and fashion industries, while colorful photographs draw readers closer into the artist's life story.
Cardi B had her start on social media and reality television before rocketing to the top of the music charts. Her many accomplishments include becoming the first female rapper to have two number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and the first person of Dominican descent to have a song hit number one in the history of the chart. Full-color photographs, insightful details, and direct quotations will give readers insight into the early hardships that drove this "regular girl from the Bronx" to achieve record-breaking successes, while still remaining humble and true to herself.
Following Hitler's rise to power, the Blumenthal family--father, mother, Marion, and her brother, Albert--were trapped in Nazi Germany. They managed eventually to get to Holland, but soon thereafter it was occupied by the Nazis. For the next six and a half years the Blumenthals were forced to live in refugee, transit, and prison camps, including Westerbork in Holland and Bergen-Belsen in Germany, before finally making it to the United States. Their story is one of horror and hardship, but it is also a story of courage, hope, and the will to survive. Four Perfect Pebbles features forty archival photographs, including several new to this edition, an epilogue, a bibliography, a map, a reading group guide, an index, and a new afterword by the author. First published in 1996, the book was an ALA Notable Book, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and IRA Young Adults' Choice, and a Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and the recipient of many other honors. "A harrowing and often moving account."--School Library Journal
In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made an impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on the sidelines, Emma Edmonds cropped her hair, donned men's clothing, and enlisted in the Union Army. Posing in turn as a slave, peddler, washerwoman, and fop, Emma became a cunning master of disguise, risking discovery and death at every turn behind Confederate lines.
Believe is the profoundly moving story of Eric LeGrand, the former defensive tackle for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football team, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was left paralyzed by a crushing on-field tackle during a heated game with Army. A remarkable true account of a courageous young athlete whose unshakable faith, spirit, positive outlook, and rousing motto, "BELIEVE!" would serve as inspiration to legions of fans--and as motivation in his own quest to walk again--Eric's story has received national attention, heavily covered by ESPN and Sports Illustrated. It will lift the hearts of every reader, not least of all those who were affected by quarterback Tim Tebow's bestselling memoir, Through My Eyes.
The #1 New York Times bestseller freshly adapted for the next generation, now with brand new content including an author Q&A and never-before-seen photographs Inspiration for the PBS American Experience Documentary 'The Boys of '36' For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler. At the center of the tale is Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, whose personal quest captures the spirit of his generation--the generation that would prove in the coming years that the Nazis could not prevail over American determination and optimism. This deeply emotional yet easily accessible young readers adaptation of the award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller features never-before-seen photographs, highly visual back matter, and an exclusive new introduction.
Winner of the Christopher Award An ILA-CBC Children's Choices Book A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Welles Crowther did not see himself as hero. He was just an ordinary kid who played sports, volunteered at his local fire department, and eventually headed off to college and then Wall Street to start a career. Throughout it all, he always kept a red bandanna in his pocket, a gift from his father. On September 11, 2001, Welles was working on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the Twin Towers were attacked. That day, Welles made a fearless choice and in doing so, saved many lives. The survivors didn't know his name, but one of them remembered a single detail clearly: the man was wearing a red bandanna. Welles Crowther was a hero. Award-winning ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi brings Welles's inspirational story of selflessness and compassion to life in this accessible young readers' adaptation of his New York Times bestselling book. This powerful story of making a difference through our actions is perfect for helping the post-9/11 generation understand the meaning of this historic day through the eyes of one young man. "Rinaldi's young reader edition of his award-winning adult story puts a face on that day (9/11), a hero's face, and brings to young people someone who stood brave in the toughest of times and who, in the end, was lost doing his best to help others survive."--VOYA