biographies

"In The Presidents Decoded: A Guide to the Leaders Who Shaped Our Nation, author Katie Kennedy presents the 45 people who have held the role of President of the United States. From George Washington to Joe Biden, each leader's time in office is broken down and explained through primary sources--documents, letters, policies, and diaries--that show the what, how and why of our leaders' thoughts, decisions and policies. Familiar documents like the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The Fugitive Slave Act--the part of the Compromise of 1850 that set the country on a path to Civil War--are included. But we've also included things like George Washington's letter to Martha as he learns that he's been chosen to be the General of the Continental Army, the types of letters FDR received from desperate families during the Great Depression, a letter from baseball legend Jackie Robinson urging JFK to do more to push for civil rights, and the Executive Order limiting the hours of the federal work day, are only a handful of the examples included in this book. Full-color illustrations bring each president and their time in office to life on the page in their career-defining moments as history marches forward and changes the job - and the way of life - through inventions like the camera, the telephone, the first metal detector, services like the Navy and the Red Cross begin, and Twitter"--Provided by publisher.

"A biography of tennis phenomenon and activist Naomi Osaka, telling the untold story behind her Grand Slam-winning career, her headline-making advocacy for racial justice and mental health, and the challenges of a life in the international spotlight"--Provided by publisher.

The story of a groundbreaking civil rights leader, John Lewis. John Lewis left a cotton farm in Alabama to join the fight for civil rights. He was only a teenager. He soon became a leader of a moment that changed a nation. Walking at the side of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Lewis was led by his belief in peaceful action and voting rights.

"In high school, Travis Kelce played quarterback. In college, Kelce moved to the tight end position. This move would set the path for his legendary career with the Kansas City Chiefs. . . . Get all the details about his impactful football career"--Provided by publisher.

"One of the founders of United States cryptology who would eventually become one of the world's greatest code breakers, Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892-1980) was a brilliant mind behind many important battles throughout the twentieth-century, saving many lives through her intelligence and heroism. Whip-smart and determined, Elizebeth displayed a remarkable aptitude for language and recognizing patterns from a young age. After getting her start by looking for linguistic clues to the true authorship of Shakespeare's writings, she and her husband William Friedman were tasked with heading up the first government code-breaking unit in America, training teams and building their own sophisticated code systems during the lead-up to World War I. Elizebeth's solo career was even more impressive. She became the Treasury Department's and Coast Guard's first female codebreaker and created her own top-notch codebreaking unit, where she trained and led many male colleagues. During Prohibition of the 1920's, her work solving and intercepting coded messages from mobsters and criminal gangs lead to hundreds of high-profile criminal prosecutions, including members of Al Capone's gang. Her crowning achievement came during World War II, when Elizbeth uncovered an intricate network of Nazi spies operating in South America, a feat that neither law enforcement nor intelligence agencies had been able to accomplish. Despite her unparalleled accomplishments, she was largely written out of history books and overshadowed by her husband"--Provided by publisher.

"Warsaw, Poland, 1940s: The Nazis are on the march, determined to wipe out the Jewish people of Europe. Teenage Vladka and her family are among the thousands of Jews forced to relocate behind the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto, a cramped, oppressive space full of starvation, suffering, and death. When Vladka's family is deported to concentration camps, Vladka joins up with other young people in the ghetto who are part of the Jewish underground: a group determined to fight back against the Nazis, no matter the cost. Vladka's role in the underground? To pass as a non-Jew, sneaking out of the ghetto to blend into Polish society while smuggling secret messages and weapons back over the ghetto wall. Every move she makes comes with the risk of being arrested or killed. But Vladka and her friends know that their missions are worth the danger--they are preparing for an uprising like no other, one that will challenge the Nazi war machine. This . . . true story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, told through the lens of Holocaust survivor and educator Vladka Meed, introduces readers to a crucial piece of history while highlighting the persistence of bravery in the face of hate"--Provided by publisher.

A biography of American entertainer and political activist Paul Robeson.

Explores the life and career of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Presents an illustrated introduction to the life of singer Taylor Swift.

"Wardell Stephen Curry II--better known as Stephen Curry or just Steph Curry--is one of the most popular players in the NBA today. In addition to winning NBA Championships, he's made a name for himself by helping others through donations, speaking out about causes that matter to him, and the work his foundation does to help children in underserved communities. Readers learn how this basketball star makes a difference on and off the court with the help of quotes boxes and a timeline"--Provided by publisher.