biography

"An inspiring anthology of writings by trailblazing women astronomers from around the globe The Sky Is for Everyone is an internationally diverse collection of autobiographical essays by women who broke down barriers and changed the face of modern astronomy. Virginia Trimble and David Weintraub vividly describe how, before 1900, a woman who wanted to study the stars had to have a father, brother, or husband to provide entry, and how the considerable intellectual skills of women astronomers were still not enough to enable them to pry open doors of opportunity for much of the twentieth century. After decades of difficult struggles, women are closer to equality in astronomy than ever before. Trimble and Weintraub bring together the stories of the tough and determined women who flung the doors wide open. Taking readers from 1960 to today, this triumphant anthology serves as an inspiration to current and future generations of women scientists while giving voice to the history of a transformative era in astronomy. With contributions by Neta Bahcall, Beatriz Barbuy, Ann Merchant Boesgaard, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Catherine Cesarsky, Poonam Chandra, Xuefei Chen, Yilen Go?mez Maqueo Chew, Cathie Clarke, Judith Gamora Cohen, France Anne Co?rdova, Anne Pyne Cowley, Boz?ena Czerny, Wendy L. Freedman, Gabriela Gonza?lez, Saeko S. Hayashi, Martha Patricia Haynes, Roberta Humphreys, Vicky Kalogera, Gillian Knapp, Shazrene S. Mohamed, Carole Mundell, Priyamvada Natarajan, Dara Norman, Hiranya Peiris, Judith Lynn Pipher, Dina Prialnik, Anneila I. Sargent, Sara Seager, Graz?ina Tautvais?iene?, Silvia Torres-Peimbert, Virginia Trimble, Meg Urry, Ewine F. van Dishoeck, Patricia Ann Whitelock, Sidney Wolff, and Rosemary F. G. Wyse"--.

"A . . . look at the life of Stan Lee, the man who created (with talented artists) many of history's most legendary characters. Becoming the editor of Marvel Comics as a teenager, and toiling in the industry for decades, Lee threw caution to the wind and went for broke, co-creating the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and others in a creative flurry that revolutionized comic books for generations of readers"--Provided by publisher.

Explores the lives and careers of American singer and songwriter John Legend and Canadian singer and songwriter Michael Buble?.

"Known as "the Skywayman" and "the World's Greatest Con Artist," Frank Abagnale created a fantastic criminal career out of his petty crimes. He inspired the book Catch Me If You Can and the movie of the same name . . . The character that Abagnale inspired committed two daring escapes from custody, but in reality, Abagnale escaped only onec, from Cobb County Jail in Georgia. He was re-captured two days later. He was able to create a legitimate business out of his petty crimes"--Adapted from back cover.

"Within Reshuffled, 22 adults who experienced foster or kinship care, bravely tell their stories; from youth handed difficult situations to adults of character and resolve. Every story and situation is unique, but the obstacles are consistent and resonate with teens in foster care today. Told in easy-to-read stories, Reshuffled is an inspiration for anyone whose childhood has fallen short"--Provided by publisher.

Describes the life and career of Ellen Ochoa, including her work with NASA as the first Latina to go to space.

"To say Virginia 'Dindy' Hall was ambitious would be an understatement. She was that girl at your high school who makes everyone else look like a slacker, no matter how hard they're working. But how many of them can say they've been on Nazi Germany's Most Wanted list? At a time when most women were expected to becomes wives and mothers, Virginia craved adventure. And with the world gearing up for a second World War, this fearless woman knew that she had to find a way to get involved. When the State Department proved to be a sexist boy's club that wouldn't allow her in, she went to England to join their Special Operations unit, which was more than happy to hire this talented, brilliant woman. Even after a terrible accident left her needing a wooden leg, she remained undeterred. Soon Virginia became an essential part of the Allied mission and the French Resistance, earning the dangerous honor of being named 'the most dangerous of all Allied spies' by the Gestapo"--Provided by publisher.

"Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. .... "Born a Crime" is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man's relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother-his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life"--Amazon.com.

Profiles six contestants in the Youth America Grand Prix, a prestigious competition for aspiring young ballet dancers.

Examines the life of John Nash, the American mathematician who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and who later won the Nobel Prize in economics.