illinois

In a small town in 1928, a twelveyear-old boy savors the magic of childhood and the wonders of summer.

Set in the backdrop of the 1970's in small-town Illinois, awkward fourteen-year-old Jo is her friend Felicia's sidekick, and their friendship is tested by the beckon of popularity in this coming-of-age story.

"When nerdy 12-year-old Charlie Drinkwater spontaneously morphs into a giant sea creature, the big question is: could this be his ticket to popularity at last?"--.

Draws from national reports, research summaries, and professional position papers to provide explanations of what constitutes instructional excellence in the main school curriculum areas; and includes examples of those standards at work in real classrooms at all grade levels.

Julia, a Korean-American, and her friend Patrick learn about tolerance, friendship, and patience while working together on a project about silkworms.

Ruth, a farm girl from Honey Creek, Illinois, reviews the events of her life in an effort to make sense of the violence and tragedy that have plagued her and her family from the time she was a child.

Eleven-year-old Willa Mae finds herself struggling to understand old family tensions and secrets when her father returns from the war in 1947 to claim her from her grandparents with whom she has been living for the past five years.

After spending eight months in a mental institution following a suicide attempt, seventeen-year-old Conrad returns home and finds that he must rebuild his life.

Presents a series of quotations by and about President Barack Obama describing his thoughts on topics including his heritage and family, state and national politics, the issues of the day, community activism and service, and race and faith.

Criminal prosecutor and novelist Scott Turow shares his views on the death penalty and how they have evolved throughout his career, and discusses the history of capital punishment in America, analyzing the reasons for and against the practice.