If you want to discover the captivating history of the United States of America, then keep reading...

Howdy, partners! Get ready to travel back in time to when America was first discovered.You'll learn all about how the United States of America was formed and the most significant events in its history. You'll be amazed to discover all the incredible things that have shaped the United States into the culture it is today.

Here are just a few clues about what you'll learn:

• Why were Native Americans called Indians?
• Christopher Columbus wasn't the first person to discover America!
• What would your Native American name be?
• The unsolved mystery of the missing first American colony.
• Just why did the first settlers move to America?
• How tea was responsible for the formation of the United States.
• The British are coming!-or are they?
• The formation and changes to the US Constitution.
• How one former slave helped free hundreds of slaves.
• What caused America to fight amongst itself during the Civil War?
• They found how much gold during the Gold Rush?!
• Who were the most famous gunslingers of the Wild West?
• The incredible inventions that changed the world.
• Did people really believe the streets of America were paved with gold?
• What are the most significant wars the United States has fought and why?
• Depression cake-it's tastier than it sounds!
• What was Prohibition?
• The Roaring Twenties-learn to dance the Charleston!
• Why did a six-year-old girl have to be escorted by the FBI to school?
• Significant events in modern history-some of which you're living right now!

This Captivating Guide contains fun facts, real-life photographs, interesting maps and images, and helpful pronunciation tips and explanations for those trickier new words. Plus, at the end of each chapter, there are fun and creative activities for you to enjoy.

Not only are there practical activities, but also ones to get your creative mind working. Have you ever considered how you'd run your own country or had a political debate? Do you like to learn how to do new dance routines or make new recipes? Perhaps you enjoy writing stories or drawing? These activities and more are in this book! There are even helpful suggestions for further reading, videos, and websites to expand your knowledge if you wish to.

A Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Winner

At the outset of World War II, Denmark did not resist German occupation. Deeply ashamed of his nation's leaders, fifteen-year-old Knud Pedersen resolved with his brother and a handful of schoolmates to take action against the Nazis if the adults would not. Naming their secret club after the fiery British leader, the young patriots in the Churchill Club committed countless acts of sabotage, infuriating the Germans, who eventually had the boys tracked down and arrested. But their efforts were not in vain: the boys' exploits and eventual imprisonment helped spark a full-blown Danish resistance. Interweaving his own narrative with the recollections of Knud himself, The Boys Who Challenged Hitler is National Book Award winner Phillip Hoose's inspiring story of these young war heroes.

This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

In September 1941, Adolf Hitler's Wehrmacht surrounded Leningrad in what was to become one of the longest and most destructive sieges in Western history--almost three years of bombardment and starvation. Trapped between the Nazi invading force and the Soviet government itself was composer Dmitri Shostakovich, writing a symphony to rouse, rally, eulogize, and commemorate his fellow citizens: the Leningrad Symphony. This is the true story of a city under siege, the triumph of bravery and defiance in the face of terrifying odds. It is also a look at the power--and layered meaning--of music in beleaguered lives. Symphony for the City of the Dead is a masterwork thrillingly told and impeccably researched by National Book Award-winning author M. T. Anderson.

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War is New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin's award-winning nonfiction account of an ordinary man who wielded the most dangerous weapon: the truth.

Easily the best study of the Vietnam War available for teen readers.--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award winner
A National Book Award finalist
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon book
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature finalist
Selected for the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List

In 1964, Daniel Ellsberg was a U.S. government analyst, helping to plan a war in Vietnam. It was the height of the Cold War, and the government would do anything to stop the spread of communism--with or without the consent of the American people.

As the fighting in Vietnam escalated, Ellsberg turned against the war. He had access a top-secret government report known as the Pentagon Papers, and he knew it could blow the lid off of years of government lies. But did he have the right to expose decades of presidential secrets? And what would happen to him if he did it?

A lively book that interrogates the meanings of patriotism, freedom, and integrity, the National Book Award finalist Most Dangerous further establishes Steve Sheinkin--author of Newbery Honor book Bomb as a leader in children's nonfiction.

This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

Gripping.--New York Times Book Review

A master of fast-paced histories... this] is Sheinkin's most compelling one yet. --Washington Post

Also by Steve Sheinkin:

Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion
King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution
Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War
Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America

Fritz, Gertrud, and Jean were classic outsiders: their clothes were different, their music was rebellious, and they weren't afraid to fight. But they were also Germans living under Hitler, and any nonconformity could get them arrested or worse. As children in 1933, they saw their world change. Their earliest memories were of the Nazi rise to power and of their parents fighting Brownshirts in the streets, being sent to prison, or just disappearing.

As Hitler's grip tightened, these three found themselves trapped in a nation whose government contradicted everything they believed in. And by the time they were teenagers, the Nazis expected them to be part of the war machine. Fritz, Gertrud, and Jean and hundreds like them said no. They grew bolder, painting anti-Nazi graffiti, distributing anti-war leaflets, and helping those persecuted by the Nazis. Their actions were always dangerous. The Gestapo pursued and arrested hundreds of Edelweiss Pirates. In World War II's desperate final year, some Pirates joined in sabotage and armed resistance, risking the Third Reich's ultimate punishment. This is their story.

Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne was one of many cohesive units which served with distinction during World War II. First brought to the public eye in 1992 by historian Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers, these soldiers, then in their 70s, became internationally famous by the HBO miniseries under the same name, produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

This illustrated story book will immerse students and adults alike in the stories of ordinary men who courageously volunteered to join the elite paratroopers. Chris Langlois, a grandson of medic Eugene Roe, who served in Easy Company, collaborated with artist Anneke Helleman from The Netherlands to create an introduction to the men of Easy Company. This is the beginning of a journey for the reader to learn more about these heroes.

Explore WWII from the front lines in this teen history book

Help history come alive in a way that's easy for teens to connect with and enjoy. World War II History for Teens dives deep into the major battles, providing a core, compelling framework that allows teens to better understand what really happened during the war. From the conquest of Europe all the way through the end of the Pacific Theater, they'll get an up-close look at the course of the Second World War and learn how it created the world they live in today.

World War II History for Teens includes:

• Key WWII battles--Read through detailed accounts of the most important battles, the moments that decided their outcomes, and how these results shaped the war.
• Critical thinking--An exciting narrative engages readers while also providing the information they need to draw their own conclusions about the impact of WWII.
• Closer looks--World War II History for Teens helps readers go even deeper with special features on military technology, how many of the war's key decisions were made, and more.

Show teens how exciting history can be with World War II History for Teens.

This book tells the rousing story of the Double V campaign, started during World War II to encourage Black Americans to fight two wars for democracy at once: one overseas and the other at home. It reveals to young adults how the campaign gave voice to Black communities and helped spawn the civil rights movement of the following decades.

For more than five thousand years, people all over the world have worked with pigeons to send and receive important messages. These birds carried weather reports in ancient Egypt, letters between Mongolian warriors in the 1200s, news in nineteenth-century Europe, and more.

Homing pigeons became especially important during World Wars I and II. From famous pigeons such as Cher Ami and GI Joe to lesser-known birds such as No. 48, these avian heroes were crucial to war communications. They carried messages between officers and soldiers when phone, radio, or telegraph lines were cut or officers needed to send top secret communications, transporting vital information across great distances. Homing pigeons, like human heroes, received awards and medals for their service. In fact, pigeons earned the most medals of any animal for their services during these conflicts.

Discover how pigeons were domesticated and trained for use in military conflicts, learn about some of their most daring flights, and explore how pigeons and humans continue to work together.

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment's creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez's thorough writing and the soldiers' firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

Before there was Max, there was Mike. A true story much like the touching movie, Navy SEAL Dogs explores the incomparable relationship between trainer and military dog.

Trident K9 Warriors gave readers an inside look at the SEAL teams' elite K9 warriors-who they are, how they are trained, and the extreme missions they undertake to save lives. From detecting explosives to eliminating the bad guys, these powerful dogs are also some of the smartest and highest skilled working animals on the planet. Mike Ritland's job is to train them.

This special edition re-telling presents the dramatic tale of how Ritland discovered his passion and grew up to become the trainer of the nation's most elite military working dogs. Ritland was a smaller-than-average kid who was often picked-on at school-which led him to spend more time with dogs at a young age. After graduating BUD/S training-the toughest military training in the world-to become a SEAL, he was on combat deployment in Iraq when he saw a military working dog in action and instantly knew he'd found his true calling.

Ritland started his own company to train and supply working and protection dogs for the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, and other clients. He also started the Warrior Dog Foundation to help retired Special Operations dogs live long and happy lives after their service.

This is the true story of how Mike Ritland grew from a skinny, bullied child, to a member of our nation's most elite SEAL Teams, to the trainer of the world's most highly skilled K9 warriors.

In this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, follow one GI's tour of duty as Ryan Smithson brings readers inside a world that few understand.

This is no ordinary teenager's story. Instead of opting for college life, Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer.

His story--and the stories of thousands of other soldiers--is nothing like what you see on CNN or read about in the New York Times. This unforgettable story about combat, friendship, fear, and a soldier's commitment to his country peels back the curtain on the realities of war in a story all Americans should read.

Awesome Battles for Kids: The Civil War delves into the main battles, ideologies, and personalities that shaped this unforgettable episode in American history.

Awesome Battles for Kids: The Civil War takes young readers to the heart of the conflict, from the secession predicament and the opening shots at Fort Sumter to the Siege of Vicksburg.

Awesome Battles for Kids: The Civil War provides kids with valuable knowledge at an early age, gives them a head start at school, sets them on the path to success, and instills in them a hunger for knowledge.

Inside Awesome Battles for Kids: The Civil War, discover:

• Essential information on the causes of the American Civil War, slavery, and the election of Abraham Lincoln
• Weapons and technology of the late 19th century such as armed locomotives, ironclad warships, submarines, and air balloons
• Insight into the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment
• Some of the Civil War's most significant battles such as Fort Sumter, Fort Donelson, and Gettysburg

And much, much more!

Grab your copy of Awesome Battles for Kids: The Civil War today and let your kid discover the epic tales of bravery, cunning, and triumph that shaped our world.

Have you ever wondered what life was like over seventy-five years ago during World War 2? Was everyone in the world fighting? And why?

In this book, you'll discover all about WWII, including who was involved and why it started, a timeline of events, what life was like at the time, the major battles, who some of the main heroes and villains were, and the lasting impact the war left behind. There are also interesting facts and a bonus interesting facts chapter to finish things off! There are even pronunciation tips and helpful explanations for those new, tricky words. To keep things fun and engaging, each chapter has an activity and answer section-from quizzes and word searches to creative drawing and writing challenges!

Here are just a few of the incredible things you'll discover:

• Why were children in Britain sent to live hundreds of miles away with strangers?
• Could you budget and enjoy your favorite foods on wartime rations?
• Why the first atomic bomb was used and how it ended the war for good.
• How one fifteen-year-old girl's diary won a Pulitzer Prize and has sold over 30 million copies.
• Why some people had no choice but to fight, even if they didn't want to.
• Being a dictator wasn't Adolf Hitler's first choice of career. What do you think he first tried (and failed) to be?
• Why you couldn't say hamburger in the United States during WWII.
• Could you make a great escape from a prison camp?
• Thirty years later-the soldiers who refused to believe the war was over!
• Girl power! How women helped the war effort.
• The brave individuals who stood up for what was right.
• The bear that joined the army!

Since the first human civilizations appeared 10,000 years ago, people have fought over land and resources. Over time, these conflicts led to the development of many technologies that would improve human life or end it.

Ancient Persians bred larger, stronger horses to ride on in war and help pull carts. In China, ancient warriors developed martial arts and engineers built one of the biggest military building projects in history, the Great Wall. Ancient Americans created improved spear throwers used by hunters and warriors. The ancient Romans and Greeks built speedy ships based off the ships of the ancient Phoenician navy.

From the first spear throwers to the dreaded Claws of Archimedes, discover the ancient technologies that changed the course of human history.

Neal Bascomb delivers another nail-biting work of nonfiction for young adults in this incredible true story of spies and survival.

The invasion begins at night, with German cruisers slipping into harbor, and soon the Nazis occupy all of Norway. They station soldiers throughout the country. They institute martial rule. And at Vemork, an industrial fortress high above a dizzying gorge, they gain access to an essential ingredient for the weapon that could end World War II: Hitler's very own nuclear bomb.

When the Allies discover the plans for the bomb, they agree Vemork must be destroyed. But after a British operation fails to stop the Nazis' deadly designs, the task falls to a band of young Norwegian commandos. Armed with little more than skis, explosives, and great courage, they will survive months in the snowy wilderness, elude a huge manhunt, and execute two dangerous missions. The result? The greatest act of sabotage in all of World War II.