Get the feeling something big is about to happen? Welcome to the Civil War--one of the scariest, saddest, and occasionally wackiest stories in American History.1856: Northern and Southern settlers attack each other in Kansas.1858: Congressmen start sneaking guns and knives into the Senate chamber.1860: President James Buchanan is heard wailing, "I am the last president of the United States!"That Congressman, Preston Brooks, was ready to attack Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts over remarks Sumner made slamming senators who supported slavery in Kansas. Brooks lifted his cane to beat Sumner, and here the action in the book stops, so that Steve Sheinkin can explain just where this confrontation started. In the process, he unravels the complicated string of events - the small things, the personal ones, the big issues- that led to The Civil War. It is a time and a war that threatened America's very existence, revealed in the surprising true stories of the soldiers and statesmen who battled it out. Two Miserable Presidents: The Amazing, Terrible, and Totally True Story of the Civil War by Steve Sheinkin is a fascinating way for young readers to learn about a chapter of American history.Steve Sheinkin is the acclaimed author of many nonfiction works, including The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery, Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award Finalist Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, and National Book Award finalist Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War.A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearA Beacon of Freedom Award Winner"Chatty and accessible, this book does double duty: it introduces Civil War history for readers who don't know much about it and supplies browsable commentary for those familiar with the big picture. . . . Beginning with a look at the role cotton played in the history, his fast-paced narrative is broken into short, tersely titled vignettes. . . . The horrors of slavery and battlefield slaughter are clear, as are achievements of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, John Brown, and many more." --BooklistBy Steve Sheinkin:Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous WeaponThe Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & TreacheryThe Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights:Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football TeamMost Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam WarWhich Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward ExpansionKing George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American RevolutionTwo Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War

Complex, passionate, brilliant, flawed--Alexander Hamilton comes alive in this exciting biography.He was born out of wedlock on a small island in the West Indies and orphaned as a teenager. From those inauspicious circumstances, he rose to a position of power and influence in colonial America. Discover this founding father's incredible true story: his brilliant scholarship and military career; his groundbreaking and enduring policy, which shapes American government today; his salacious and scandalous personal life; his heartrending end.Richly informed by Hamilton's own writing, with archival artwork and new illustrations, this is an in-depth biography of an extraordinary man.

At the age of 17, Don Stinson accidentally landed a job in the White House during Watergate, the largest political scandal in American history. A truly insignificant member of the Nixon White House staff, he frequently loitered outside of the Oval Office to watch it unfold. What he saw throughout the White House ran the gamut from the deeply profound to the wildly hilarious. He was also a kid who did the same kind of harebrained things most teenagers do. Only steps away from the Oval Office, he fought with a foreign head of state for space in a restroom. He devised a shortcut that tripped countless alarms and summoned an agitated band of Secret Service agents. He spilled ice water on Frank Sinatra's sock. And that was just the small stuff. A funny, fast-paced memoir, Downstairs at the White House is richly decorated with presidents, first ladies, celebrities . . . and events that shook America.

This work is perhaps the most complete and enjoyable children's book ever written about one of the nation's most fascinating and important figures, Abraham Lincoln.

Kennedy's Last Days is a gripping account of the events leading up to the most notorious crime of the 20th century. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's best-selling historical thriller, Killing Kennedy, this audiobook will have young listeners - and grown-ups too - hooked on this fascinating and colorful period of history. In the first term of his presidency, as the Cold War escalates, John F. Kennedy struggles to contain the growth of Communism while dealing with the many other complexities facing him as president of the United States. In the midst of a 1963 campaign trip to Texas, Kennedy is gunned down by an erratic young drifter named Lee Harvey Oswald. The former Marine Corps sharpshooter escapes the scene, only to be caught and shot dead while in police custody. With an unforgettable cast of characters, non-stop action, and vivid detail, Kennedy's Last Days is history that reads like a thriller. This is a very special audiobook, irresistible on its own or as a compelling companion to Killing Kennedy.

Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. This Newbery Medal-winning biography of our Civil War president is warm, appealing, and illustrated with dozens of carefully chosen photographs and prints.Russell Freedman begins with a lively account of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood, his career as a country lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd. Then the author focuses on the presidential years (1861 to 1865), skillfullly explaining the many complex issues Lincoln grappled with as he led a deeply divided nation through the Civil War. The book's final chapter is a moving account of that tragic evening in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Concludes with a sampling of Lincoln writings and a detailed list of Lincoln historical sites. This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read Aloud Informational Text).

A breathtaking and dramatic account of the JFK assassination by the New York Times best-selling author. Swanson transports listeners back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history. As he did in his best-selling Chasing Lincoln's Killer, he deploys his signature "you are there" style to tell the story of the JFK assassination as it has never been told before.

"I did have a murderous trip down South, but it was mighty interesting."In October 1913, Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a tour of South America. The thrill-seeking adventurer had no idea that he would soon receive an offer he couldn't refuse: the chance to lead an expedition deep into the Amazon jungle to chart an unmapped river with his son Kermit and renowned Brazilian explorer Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon.Death on the River of Doubt takes readers inside the thrilling journey that unfolds as Roosevelt, Rondon, Kermit, and their companions navigate an unpredictable river through an unforgiving jungle. With new threats at every turn, from bloodthirsty piranhas and raging rapids to starvation, disease, and a traitor in their own ranks, it seems that not everyone will make it out alive.Through it all, the indomitable Teddy Roosevelt remained determined to complete their mission and rewrite the map of the world. Or die trying.

A YALSA-ALA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award Finalist A breathtaking and dramatic account of the JFK assassination by the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER!In his new young-adult book on the Kennedy assassination, James Swanson will transport readers back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history. As he did in his bestselling Scholastic YA book, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER, Swanson deploys his signature "you are there" style -- a riveting, ticking-clock pace, with an unprecedented eye for dramatic details and impeccable historical accuracy -- to tell the story of the JFK assassination as it has never been told before. The book is illustrated with archival photos, diagrams, source notes, bibliography, places to visit, and index.

The year was 1981. Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was shot after leaving a speaking engagement in Washington, DC. The quick action of the Secret Service and medical professionals saved the president's life. Mere days after his near-death experience, Reagan's personal strength propelled him back into his presidential duties. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing Reagan, with characteristically gripping storytelling, this story explores the events of the day Reagan was shot. From the scene of the shooting and the dramatic action of the Secret Service to the FBI's interrogation of the shooter, the life-saving measures of the medical professionals, and the president's extraordinary recovery, this is a pause-resisting account of an attempted assassination and its aftermath. The introduction to this audiobook is read by Bill O'Reilly.

In this special edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, young listeners will learn about the life and political philosophy of one of our Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States. He was one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. But he was also a lawyer and an ambassador, an inventor and a scientist. He had a wide range of interests and hobbies, but his consuming interest was the survival and success of the United States. This audiobook contains a note from Meacham, as well as sections throughout the text about subjects such as the Boston Tea Party, the Library of Congress, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Additional materials include a timeline; a family tree; a Who's Who in Jefferson's world; sections on Jefferson's original writings and correspondence, "inventions", interests, places in Jefferson's world, finding Jefferson in the United States today, additional reading, organizations, and websites; notes; a bibliography; and an index. This adaptation, ideal for those interested in American presidents, biographies, and the founding of the American republic, is an excellent example of informational writing and reflects Meacham's extensive research using primary source material. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

A riveting, meticulously researched, and provocative biography of Donald J. Trump from the author of Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary.Born into a family of privilege and wealth, he was sent to military school at the age of 13. After an unremarkable academic career, he joined the family business in real estate and built his fortune. His personal brand: sex, money and power. From no-holds-barred reality TV star to unlikely candidate, Donald J. Trump rose to the highest political office: President of the United States of America. Learn fascinating details about his personal history, including:-Why Trump's grandfather left Germany and immigrated to America-Why Woodie Guthrie wrote a song criticizing Trump's father-How Trump's romance with Ivana began--and ended-When Trump first declared his interest in running for PresidentDiscover the incredible true story of America's 45th President: his questionable political and personal conduct, and his unprecedented rise to power.Richly informed by original research and illustrated throughout with photographs and documents, Unpresidented is a gripping and important read.

The year was 1981. Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was shot after leaving a speaking engagement in Washington, D. C. The quick action of the Secret Service and medical professionals saved the president's life. Mere days after his near-death experience, Reagan's personal strength propelled him back into his presidential duties. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing Reagan, with characteristically gripping storytelling, this story explores the events of the day Reagan was shot. From the scene of the shooting and the dramatic action of the Secret Service, to the FBI's interrogation of the shooter, the life-saving measures of the medical professionals and the president's extraordinary recovery, this is a page-turning account of an attempted assassination and its aftermath.This title has Common Core connections.

The year was 1981. Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was shot after leaving a speaking engagement in Washington, D. C. The quick action of the Secret Service and medical professionals saved the president's life. Mere days after his near-death experience, Reagan's personal strength propelled him back into his presidential duties. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing Reagan, with characteristically gripping storytelling, this story explores the events of the day Reagan was shot. From the scene of the shooting and the dramatic action of the Secret Service, to the FBI's interrogation of the shooter, the life-saving measures of the medical professionals and the president's extraordinary recovery, this is a page-turning account of an attempted assassination and its aftermath.This title has Common Core connections.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Quincy Adams. He was born in Massachusetts on July 11, 1767. Following in the footsteps of his father, John Adams (the second President of the United States), John Quincy Adams became the sixth president in 1825. But even before his term as president, John Q. Adams was heavily involved in the early formation of our country. Follow John Q. Adams' journey from getting his start in politics as Minister to the Netherlands, to eventually being appointed Secretary of State under President Monroe. During his time as Secretary of State, Adams worked to bring several territories in North America under the power of the United States and, along with the President, created the Monroe doctrine, which stated that the U.S. would see any further colonization by European as acts of aggression. The Monroe Doctrine was invoked several times throughout history, most recently against the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.During his own presidency, Adams undertook a series of improvements to the country, such as an increased number of roads to connect the states. However, many of his proposals were knocked down by Andrew Jackson, who would defeat Adams in the next election, and his followers. Although his term as president may have been less successful then he hoped, Adams continued his career in politics until his death. Take a closer look at this statesman and his role in making the United States the country that it is today.

Thomas Jefferson lived a dozen lifetimes in one: patriot, scientist, architect, United States President, author of the Declaration of Independence. T This fascinating storytelling biography also presents real-life portraits of Washington, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Monroe, Hamilton , and Lafayette.

Theodore Roosevelt was thrust into the presidency after William McKinley's assassination in 1901. He led the country into the Progressive Era, which meant stronger government controls over businesses and better protection of workers' rights, women, African Americans, and consumers. Roosevelt worked to spread US influence around the world, and he was instrumental in the construction of the Panama Canal. While he had a mixed stance on civil rights issues, Roosevelt made bold stands for several African Americans. He also advocated for the conservation of national parks and monuments throughout the country. In his two terms as president, Roosevelt's domestic reforms and foreign policies left a lasting legacy.

In his new young-adult book on the Kennedy assassination, James Swanson will transport readers back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history. As he did in his bestselling Scholastic YA book, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER, Swanson will deploy his signature "you are there" style -- a riveting, ticking-clock pace, with an unprecedented eye for dramatic details and impeccable historical accuracy -- to tell the story of the JFK assassination as it has never been told before.The book will be illustrated with archival photos, and will have diagrams, source notes, bibliography, places to visit, and an index.

Complex, passionate, brilliant, flawed--Alexander Hamilton comes alive in this exciting biography.He was born out of wedlock on a small island in the West Indies and orphaned as a teenager. From those inauspicious circumstances, he rose to a position of power and influence in colonial America. Discover this founding father's incredible true story: his brilliant scholarship and military career; his groundbreaking and enduring policy, which shapes American government today; his salacious and scandalous personal life; his heartrending end.Richly informed by Hamilton's own writing, with archival artwork and new illustrations, this is an in-depth biography of an extraordinary man.

New York Times bestselling author James L. Swanson brings to life the fast-paced, suspense-filled story of Abraham Lincoln's and Jefferson Davis's final journeys through our wounded nation following the Civil War.This suspense-filled true-crime thriller--the young readers' adaptation of Swanson's Bloody Crimes--explores two epic events of the Civil War era: the manhunt to apprehend Confederate president Jefferson Davis in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the momentous 20-day funeral pageant that brought President Lincoln's body from Washington, DC to his home in Springfield. Full of fascinating twists and turns, and lavishly illustrated with dozens of rare historical images, Bloody Times captures the riveting stories of these two fallen leaders who changed the course of history. It's perfect for young readers who enjoy dramatic nonfiction tales from the likes of Steve Sheinkin and Patricia McCormick.This book contains a note from the author, a glossary, a list of important Civil War figures, and a guide to visiting the historic sites mentioned within. A companion to the bestselling and highly acclaimed Chasing Lincoln's Killer.

The Young Readers' Edition of the New York Times Bestseller!"Abraham Lincoln: the dusty shoes, the weary eyes, the Jedi mastery of a jury in a true case of life and death. So pull up a chair...."--Diane SawyerAt the end of the summer of 1859, twenty-two-year-old Peachy Quinn Harrison was accused of murder in Springfield, Illinois. The man hired to save his life was none other than self-taught lawyer Abraham Lincoln. But what would be Lincoln's last case before his presidency posed many personal challenges. The murder victim had been an apprentice in Lincoln's law office. The accused murderer was the son of a close friend and loyal supporter. To win the trial, Lincoln would have to form an unholy allegiance with a longtime enemy, a revivalist preacher he had twice run against for political office. And with the rise of newspapers, the nation was watching the presidential hopeful very, very closely.Based on actual court transcripts that include Lincoln's own words and adapted from Dan Abrams and David Fisher's New York Times bestseller, Lincoln's Last Trial is both a twisty, turny true crime story and a vivid picture of Abraham Lincoln on the eve of his presidency. This thrilling, never-before-seen look at one of the most beloved figures in US history will captivate both young readers and adults alike.

New York Times bestselling author James L. Swanson brings to life the fast-paced, suspense-filled story of Abraham Lincoln's and Jefferson Davis's final journeys through our wounded nation following the Civil War.This suspense-filled true-crime thriller--the young readers' adaptation of Swanson's Bloody Crimes--explores two epic events of the Civil War era: the manhunt to apprehend Confederate president Jefferson Davis in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the momentous 20-day funeral pageant that brought President Lincoln's body from Washington, DC to his home in Springfield. Full of fascinating twists and turns, and lavishly illustrated with dozens of rare historical images, Bloody Times captures the riveting stories of these two fallen leaders who changed the course of history. It's perfect for young readers who enjoy dramatic nonfiction tales from the likes of Steve Sheinkin and Patricia McCormick.This book contains a note from the author, a glossary, a list of important Civil War figures, and a guide to visiting the historic sites mentioned within. A companion to the bestselling and highly acclaimed Chasing Lincoln's Killer.

History is a rich yet oftentimes boring subject. If you want your child to appreciate the past, then you have to work to give him/her the right resources. School textbooks can be a bore with their texts and dull pictures. Whereas, this educational book features illustrations in full colors that speak more than written words would. Secure a copy now!

"For young people who are just beginning to be interested in politics, or any of us who want a better understanding of Hillary Clinton, this book is an excellent place to start." --Bob Schieffer, CBS News"Thorough and evenhanded." --The New York TimesThis paperback edition is revised and updated with three new chapters about the Democratic primary race against Senator Bernie Sanders, the presidential campaign against Donald J. Trump, and the 2016 election.As a young girl, Hillary Diane Rodham's parents told her she could be whatever she wanted--as long as she was willing to work for it. Hillary took those words and ran. In a life on the front row of modern American history, she has always stood out--whether she was a teen campaigning for the 1964 Republican presidential candidate, winning recognition in Life magazine for her pointed words as the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley College, or working on the Richard Nixon impeachment case as a newly minted lawyer.For all her accomplishments, scrutiny and scandal have followed this complex woman since she stepped into the public eye--from her role as First Lady of Arkansas to First Lady of the United States to becoming the first female U.S. senator from New York to U.S. secretary of state. Despite intense criticism, Hillary has remained committed to public service and dedicated to health-care reform, children's issues, and women's rights.In Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History, critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal gives us an intimate and unflinching look at the public and personal life of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and political cartoons, this is a must-have biography about a woman who has fascinated--and divided--the public, who continues to push boundaries, and who wasn't afraid to reach for one more goal, becoming the first woman nominated as the presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party. Praise for Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History:"After decades in the public eye, Hillary Rodham Clinton is still an enigma, as Blumenthal (Tommy: The Gun That Changed America) emphasizes in this compelling portrait of the former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State's journey from budding activist to presidential aspirant." --Publishers Weekly, starred review"Thorough and evenhanded. . . . Blumenthal, a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter, is part of a current wave of narrative nonfiction authors who write for teenagers with such directness and clarity that adult readers, too, may gain a deeper understanding. . . . Providing nuanced but clear explanations for the ways Hillary's personality and personal history have shaped her political career is where Blumenthal's method really pays off." --The New York Times"A richly detailed study that is as perceptive as it is engaging." --Kirkus Reviews"An in-depth portrait that gives teens a real feel for the woman behind the politics." --Booklist