New Releases by Marc Aronson

High-stakes adventure meets cutting-edge science in this true account of the groundbreaking discovery of Homo naledi, which shocked the world of evolutionary science and redefined what it means to be human—for readers ages 10+. In 2013, deep in a cave in South Africa, a team of intrepid researchers from across the globe discovered a previously unknown human ancestor who is changing how we see our past—and present. Later named Homo naledi, what remained of this 300,000-year-old species was only accessible through a harrowing labyrinth of razor-thin crevices, some as narrow as 7 inches. Once in the main Dinaledi chamber (translated as “chamber of stars” in the local Sesotho language), researchers found hundreds of bones and a mystery like no other. This unprecedented discovery would not only offer insight into the lives of these astonishing beings—and by extension our own origins—it would also catapult the expedition into international news and the scientific spotlight. Written by Robert F. Sibert Medalist Marc Aronson and a nationally recognized educator, John S. Mead—both of whom have been intimately involved with the Homo naledi story from the start—this fast-paced and fascinating nonfiction book for young readers reminds us that our evolution is an ongoing exploration, full of boundless opportunity for new discoveries, new questions, and new ideas. Reading the Bones: Homo naledi and the Mysteries of Human Evolution is the perfect book to inspire today’s curious kids to become tomorrow’s daring anthropological adventurers.

"American food and by extension American identify is much broader than the phrase ''as American as apple pie.'' In a series of meals that take readers from pre-1492 through today, the text explores this country''s identify and history through the lens of food, highlighting how cultures and histories mix to create the rich tapestry of America"--

From a Sibert Medalist comes the epic story of Manhattan—a magical, maddening island “for all” and a microcosm of America. A veteran nonfiction storyteller dives deep into the four-hundred-year history of Manhattan to map the island’s unexpected intersections. Focusing on the evolution of four streets and a square (Wall Street, 42nd Street, West 4th Street, 125th Street, and Union Square) Marc Aronson explores how new ideas and forms of art evolved from social blending. Centuries of conflict—among original Americans and Europeans, slavers and the enslaved, rich and poor, immigrants and native-born—produced segregation, oppression, and violence, but also new ways of speaking, singing, and being American. From the Harlem Renaissance to Hammerstein, from gay pride in the Village to political clashes at Tammany Hall, this clear-eyed pageant of the island’s joys and struggles—enhanced with photos and drawings, multimedia links to music and film, and an extensive bibliography and source notes—is, above all, a love song to Manhattan’s triumphs.

Based on original reporting by a Pulitzer Prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the Flint water crisis In 2014, Flint, Michigan, was a cash-strapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by General Motors. As part of a plan to save money, government officials decided that Flint would temporarily switch its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Within months, many residents broke out in rashes. Then it got worse: children stopped growing. Some people were hospitalized with mysterious illnesses; others died. Citizens of Flint protested that the water was dangerous. Despite what seemed so apparent from the murky, foul-smelling liquid pouring from the city''s faucets, officials refused to listen. They treated the people of Flint as the problem, not the water, which was actually poisoning thousands. Through interviews with residents and intensive research into legal records and news accounts, journalist Candy J. Cooper, assisted by writer-editor Marc Aronson, reveals the true story of Flint. Poisoned Water shows not just how the crisis unfolded in 2014, but also the history of racism and segregation that led up to it, the beliefs and attitudes that fueled it, and how the people of Flint fought-and are still fighting-for clean water and healthy lives.

"On June 23, 2018, twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2 they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival."--Amazon.com.

Packed with dramatic photos, posters, and maps, this compelling book captures the fascinating story of photojournalism in modern times.

Powerful, riveting, and real. Sixteen celebrated authors bring us raw, insightful stories that explore guns and teens in a fiction collection that is thought provoking and emotionally gripping. For fans of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and Give a Boy a Gun, and with an array of YA talent like the late great Walter Dean Myers, the poetic Joyce Carol Oates, the prophetic Elizabeth Wein, and the gritty Chris Crutcher, these are evocative voices that each has a different perspective to give. Capturing the hurt and the healing, victims and perpetrators, these stories get to the heart of the matter. From a boy whose low self-esteem is impacted when a gun comes into his possession to a student recalling a senseless tragedy that befell a favorite teacher, from a realistic look at hunting to a provocative look at a family that defies stereotypes, each emotional story stirs the debate to new levels. The juxtaposition of guns and their consequences offers moving tales, each a reminder of how crucial the question of guns in our society is, and the impact they have on all of us. Other acclaimed contributors are Marc Aronson, Edward Averett, Francesca Lia Block, Alex Flinn, Gregory Galloway, Jenny Hubbard, Peter Johnson, Ron Koertge, Chris Lynch, Eric Shanower, Will Weaver, and Tim Wynne-Jones.

National Geographic Timeline of American History: Native America covers the fascinating timeline of Native Americans in both North America and South America, tracing their history from their original habitation of the continents to modern times, with a focus on Native American and European first contact and its aftermath. The book will look at the different ecological zones Indians lived in and how that affected their culture and historical change. It will examine the movement of peoples, wars with Europeans, Cimmeron communities, and the American Indian Movement. A look at modern days includes the formation of Indian casinos, pow-wows, and an examination of unresolved legal issues. One key nodal point for the book is the Trail of Tears and how the Cherokee effort to assimilate was not supported by Washington and Andrew Jackson. The What If? section considers how history might have unfolded differently if President Martin Van Buren had succeeded in protecting the Indians.

Who was the real John Henry? The story of this legendary African - American figure has come down to us in so many songs, stories, and plays, that the facts are often lost. Historian Scott Nelson brings John Henry alive for young readers in his personal quest for the ''''''''true story'''''''' of the man behind the myth. Nelson presents the famous folk song as a mystery to be unraveled, identifying the embedded clues within the lyrics, which he examines to uncover many surprising truths. He investigates the legend and reveals the real John Henry in this beautifully illustrated book. Nelson''s narrative is multilayered, interweaving the story of the building of the railroads, the period of Reconstruction, folk tales, American mythology, and an exploration of the tradition of work songs and their evolution into blues and rock and roll. This is also the story of the author''s search for the flesh - and - blood man who became an American folk hero; Nelson gives a first - person account of how the historian works, showing history as a process of discovery. Readers rediscover an African - American folk hero. We meet John Henry, the man who worked for the railroad, driving steel spikes. When the railroad threatens to replace workers with a steam - powered hammer, John Henry bets that he can drive the beams into the ground faster than the machine. He wins the contest, but dies in the effort. Nelson''s vibrant text, combined with archival images, brings a new perspective and focus to the life and times of this American legend.

Follow along as research scientist Adrienne Mayor searches for the origins of the mythical griffin - could such a creature be based in reality? While studying the classics in Greece, Adrienne came across accounts of an ancient creature, sometimes called bird-monster, griffin, or minotaur. Adrienne travels from Greece to the Gobi Desert in search of where an ancient race of fair-haired and pale nomadic horsemen called the Scythians hid their gold - gold that was rumored to be guarded by griffins.

Short stories are interspersed with poems and photographs to provide different perspectives on a game of streetball played one day at the West 4th Street court in New York City known as The Cage.

A fascinating and timely biography of J. Edgar Hoover from a Sibert Medalist. "King, there is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is. . . . You better take it before your filthy, abnormal, fraudulent self is bared to the nation.” Dr. Martin Luther King received this demand in an anonymous letter in 1964. He believed that the letter was telling him to commit suicide. Who wrote this anonymous letter? The FBI. And the man behind it all was J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI''s first director. In this unsparing exploration of one of the most powerful Americans of the twentieth century, accomplished historian Marc Aronson unmasks the man behind the Bureau- his tangled family history and personal relationships; his own need for secrecy, deceit, and control; and the broad trends in American society that shaped his world. Hoover may have given America the security it wanted, but the secrets he knew gave him — and the Bureau — all the power he wanted. Using photographs, cartoons, movie posters, and FBI transcripts, Master of Deceit gives readers the necessary evidence to make their own conclusions. Here is a book about the twentieth century that blazes with questions and insights about our choices in the twenty-first. Back matter includes an epilogue, an author’s note, source notes, and a bibliography.

Chronicles the story behind one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time, explaining its significance for understanding human evolution and how it is shaping the thinking of the scientific community.

The amazing story of the trapped Chilean miners and their incredible rescue that Publishers Weekly calls “a riveting, in-depth recounting of the events that held the world rapt.” In early August 2010, the unthinkable happened when a mine collapsed in Copiano, Chile, trapping 33 miners 2,000 feet below the surface. For sixty-nine days they lived on meager resources with increasingly poor air quality. When they were finally rescued, the world watched with rapt attention and rejoiced in the amazing spirit and determination of the miners. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival. In Trapped, Marc Aronson provides the backstory behind the rescue. By tracing the psychological, physical, and environmental factors surrounding the mission, Aronson highlights the amazing technology and helping hands that made it all possible. From the Argentinean soccer players that hoped to raise morale, to NASA volunteering their expertise to come up with a plan, there was no shortage of enterprising spirit when it came to saving lives. Readers will especially appreciate the eight pages of full-color photos, timeline, glossary, notes, and more.

Traces the panoramic story of the sweet substance and its important role in shaping world history.

Explores the mysterious monument of Stonehenge and reveals some of its secrets and history.

A biography of the man who created Microsoft, from his teenage passion to built computer.

Israel.The word itself can mean "arguing with God," and talking about Israel can start endless arguments about politics, history, morality, and prejudice. Unsettled, Marc Aronson''s most deeply personal book to date, explores the history of Israel, from the beginning of the Zionist movement to the birth of Israel as a state in 1948 to the intense conf''?licts over Israel, the Palestinians, and the Jewish settlements of today. Along the way Aronson intersperses stories from his own family''s long experiences in Israel while asking and answering such questions as: Can a religious state also be a democratic one? Is Israel the victim or the aggressor? Do modern states have moral obligations? And perhaps the most troubling question of all: What kind of Israel should exist? Once again, Aronson has created history for young adults that is exciting, probing, clear, and most of all, fearless.

Historian Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts how he came to discover the real John Henry, an African-American railroad worker who became a legend in the famous song.

Learn about Robert F. Kennedy''s childhood and beyond.

Hey, Boys! Want to have some fun? Maybe learn how to land an airplane in an emergency? Or fight off an alligator? Escape from being tied up? How about taking a ride on one of America''s scariest roller coasters? Learn how to make fake blood or turn a real bone into a pretzel. What if you could find out how to identify some of the world''s most horrifying creatures? Or learn the secret of making a blockbuster movie? What about guessing the top 11 greatest moments in sports history? Find buried treasure? And once you''ve found the treasure, find out just how much it would cost you to buy one of the world''s most expensive cars. You''ll find all this—and much more—over 250 pages of the biggest, baddest, and best information on just about everything. Plus we''ve placed a special, mind-bending, solve-the-code puzzle on random pages throughout the book that will lead you to a really cool solution! Now, that''s fun!

Learn about Robert F. Kennedy''s childhood and beyond.

Discusses the presence of racial prejudice throughout history and how it dictates the way we relate to others.

The World Made New provides an account of the charting of the New World and the long-term effects of America''s march into history. The text uses primary sources to bring history to life and features profiles of the major explorers of the age. The book is illustrated with full-color artwork, multiple-time lines, and six custom National Geographic maps. The text and layout combine to provide an overview of New World exploration, and outline the historical context for the discoveries that literally changed the world. The narrative carries young readers through this age of adventure. Follow the timeline of history unfolding; how the early colonies were established; how dissemination of products like the potato, tomato, tobacco, and corn made the Americas a major part of the new world economy; and how the Caribbean became a major trading hub.

A look at the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century that claimed twenty-five lives and its impact on the community.

Why did the American Revolution take place? It was about more than the dates and details we all know: war elephants charging a fort in India and high-stakes gambles of bankers in Scotland, among other events, also played a part in the "real revolution" in the minds of the entire population of what would become the United States.

Looks at how the lives of John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts, and Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Puritan Commonwealth in England, were intertwined at a time of conflict between church and state and between Native and European Americans.

For nearly a decade Marc Aronson ran an imprint dedicated to international and multicultural literature for teens. He was known in the industry for publishing "edgy" books, and for his commitment to bringing the experiences of non-dominant authors and illustrators to the world. Yet in the summer of 2001 he wrote an essay that argued against awards, such as the Pure Belpre and Coretta Scott King prizes, for which you must be a member of a given ethnic group to win. Not surprisingly, his article was very controversial; and the author and publisher Andrea Davis Pinkney who had created an imprint specifically designed to be of, by, and for African Americans, published a thoughtful reply. Here, in Beyond the Pale, Aronson explains the passionate convictions that led him to write his essay, and outlines objections made by others; then reprints the original alongside Pinkney''s response. As Aronson prepared a formal response to his critics, the attacks of September 11th took place. This tragedy simultaneously made a squabble among authors seem petty, and the issues around art, society, and cultural diversity all the more important. Throughout 2001 and 2002, Aronson wrote essays in which he weighed out how art, history, and books for younger readers could respond to the altered world. As in his previous collection, Exploding the Myths, the Truth About Teenagers and Reading, he exposes the mythologies and false beliefs that distort our understanding of books and their readers. Provocative and informative, this collection of essays will challenge those who know children''s literature well to think in new ways, while linking the debates within that industry to the wider intellectual currents of our time.

Aronson is a veteran editor of young adult books, an author, and a historian with a specialty in the history of publishing in the US; he frequently teaches courses on topics related to these activities. This book is a collection of talks and essays he has written over the course of a decade on various aspects of how, what, and why teenagers read, and some issues involved in why they don''t. His insights will interest teachers, librarians, publishers, writers, and others concerned with young adult literature, and young adults in general. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR