New Releases by Hal Marcovitz

Teenagers have always been interested in the supernatural and paranormal. This book notes that fascination with the world of fantasy is nothing new, and examines modern groups like Wiccans and Goths. Discussion of the supernatural and the paranormal is interspersed with scientific explanations. Many other topics are covered, including angels and the End Times. The book also explores reasons why teens are fascinated with the unseen world of magic and mystery.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States; in a recent study by the Gallup Youth Survey, 47 percent of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 said they know someone who has tried to take their own lives. This volume examines the cause of teenage suicide and explores such issues as teens and guns as well as suicide rates among minorities.

The teenage pregnancy rate has dropped in recent years, yet each year more than 320,000 teen girls in the United States give birth. This volume examines the changing attitudes of teenagers toward contraception, abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, media influences, and other issues involving young people and sex.

You can''t control what other people do, but you can control how you react. This guidebook uses real-life examples and quotations to illustrate the causes of jealousy and envy and how they affect the body and emotions. Readers take a quiz to discover if their jealousy is taking over their life, and learn what to do, and what not to do, to deal with it.

Your face feels hot, your muscles tighten, you see red, you are angry and you don''t know what to do about it. Using real-life examples and quotations, this guide discusses the biological, emotional, and social effects of anger and provides research-based information about getting support and coping with it. Readers will take a quiz to figure out if they are aggressive, passive, or assertive, and take the first steps to improve how they deal with anger.

What are the defining characteristics of the sprawling era known as the Middle Ages? What sets ancient Egypt apart from other ancient civilizations? And what is the legacy of the twentieth-century genocide known as the Holocaust? These are some of the ideas explored in Understanding World History, a series that surveys the political, social, and cultural trends of major periods and events in world history. Primary and secondary source quotes bring historical events to life. Source notes, a bibliography for further research, and index provide additional tools for student researchers. Book jacket.

As a young girl growing up in El Paso, Texas, Pat Mora felt as though she belonged to two worlds.

Examines the life and work of nineteenth-century explorer and mapmaker John C. Frémont, focusing on his accomplishments as leader of several expeditions into the largely uncharted American West.

This eBook tells the story of Sacagawea, the most famous guide of the team led by Lewis and Clark that explored the American northwest in the early 19th century.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa and his men were the first Europeans to cross Central America and see the vast body of water later dubbed the Pacific Ocean.

Presents an account of the Apollo space program and the advances and setbacks that led to the first human visits to the moon.

What are the defining characteristics of the sprawling era known as the Middle Ages? What sets ancient Egypt apart from other ancient civilizations? And what is the legacy of the twentieth-century genocide known as the Holocaust? These are some of the ideas explored in Understanding World History, a series that surveys the political, social, and cultural trends of major periods and events in world history. Primary and secondary source quotes bring historical events to life. Source notes, a bibliography for further research, and index provide additional tools for student researchers. Book jacket.

In the years following the War for Independence, the United States of America was in danger of collapsing because the new nation lacked a solid system of governance and framework of laws. The delegates who met in Philadelphia in 1787 to write the US Constitution were charged with the awesome task of establishing a democracy that would survive the ages. The document they produced has stood the test of time and has also served as a model for emerging democracies across the globe.

Author Hal Marcovitz examines the enormous popularity of e-books in the 21st century. Readers will learn about the evolution of the e-book concept from Project Gutenberg to dedicated e-readers such as Kindle and Nook, as well as the adaptation of e-books for tablet computers. Later chapters delve into how e-readers are changing the way people read, how e-books are impacting the publishing industry and libraries, and how the e-book may change in the future.

A biography of the union activist who led the struggle of migrant farm workers for better working conditions.

Most young people in the United States today are willing to give something back to their communities. A recent report showed that each year an estimated 13 million teenagers donate more than 2.4 billion hours of their time to charitable causes, and the Gallup Youth Survey has found that roughly one-third of all teens participate in volunteer work. This volume examines the opportunities young people have for volunteering, and explores the issue of school-mandated community service.

The first official music videos aired in the 1970s, but the seeds for making music something more than a pleasure for the ears were planted decades earlier. This book covers the birth of the music video, starting in the 1920s and 1930s when the first great movie musicals were produced, then details how MTV revolutionized the industry by making the film production as important as song production. Author Hal Marcovitz explains the various music video styles and differences in production value. Concluding chapters highlight the Internet video sensations of today and the interactive features that will likely characterize the genre tomorrow.

A detailed biography of Ron Howard, whose acting career began when he was just two years old, grew into television and film success, and led to superstardom as a director of feature films.

Examines current controversies and positions on whether juvenile offenders should be tried as adults.

This title examines dictatorships in world history from early Rome to more modern dictatorships in France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, North Korea, Cuba, Swaziland, and Serbia. How dictatorships work, the political systems in which they thrive, and the methods dictators use to gain and maintain control are discussed. Also covered are methods to depose dictators, and life for citizens both during and after dictatorship. Important dictators are covered, including both those of ancient civilizations such as Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and Julius Caesar, as well as more modern dictators such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Fulgencio Batista, Hideki Tojo, and Mao Zedong, Kim Jung-il, Muammar al-Qaddafi, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Saddam Hussein, King Mswati III, Haile Selassie, Pol Pot, and Omar al-Bashir. Critics of dictatorships such as Alexander Solzhenitsyn are also introduced. Exploring World Governments is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Many experts believe renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power hold the answers to stemming climate change as well as reducing America''s reliance on foreign governments to provide oil. Through objective discussion, numerous direct quotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines What Are the Origins of the Controversy over Fossil Fuels? How Practical Is Renewable Energy? How Affordable Is Renewable Energy? What Policies Should Guide Renewable Energy''s future? Can People Live Without Fossil Fuels?

This title examines one of the world''s critical issues, the arms trade. Readers will learn the historical background of this issue leading up to its current and future impact on society. Import and export nations, civilians, brokers, mercenaries, terrorists, and corrupt governments are discussed in detail, as well as licensed production, embargoes, changing alliances, and government legislation meant to control the arms trade. Also covered are types of weapons, threats to international security, the United Nations and other organizations that work to control illegal weapons and exercise law enforcement, and the arms trade related to the global economy. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and color photographs present information realistically, leaving readers with a thorough, honest interpretation of the arms trade. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Issues is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

This title gives readers a balanced look at the arguments surrounding organ and body donation. Readers will learn the history of organ and body donation, as well as the pros and cons of organ transplants and harvesting organs. Color photos and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-follow text. Features include a table of contents, timeline, facts, additional resources, web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Viewpoints is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Media bias occurs when factual journalism is spun in a particular way to appeal to either conservatives or progressives. Rather than concentrating on all of the facts, media bias has a tendency to expose facts or ideas that only tell one side of the story. This pertinent resource provides thorough and balanced information on bias in the media. Its visually appealing presentation and compelling examples provide context. Readers will be inspired to think critically about the role of objectivity in the media and reporting.

Playing sports can improve fitness and coordination and boost self-discipline and self-esteem, but these benefits sometimes come at a price; sports injuries. This detailed examination covers the causes, diagnoses, current treatments and rehabilitation for the different types of sports injuries. Since many of them are preventable, author Hal Marcovitz includes a discussion of training and safety techniques as well as changes to equipment that have been instituted as a result of common athletic injuries.

This title examines one of the worlds critical issues, gangs. Readers will learn the historical background of this issue, leading up to its current and future impact on society. Early U.S. gangs, such as the Mafia, are discussed, as well as the formation of large gangs throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas. Violent gang rivalry is discussed, as well as law enforcement related to gang activity. Reasons young people join gangs are addressed, and programs for at-risk youth are covered. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and color photographs present information realistically, leaving readers with a thorough, honest interpretation of gangs. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Issues is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.