New Releases by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

“Fire is part of nature. It’s just like the rain, the sunrise each day. It’s a natural occurrence, a part of nature necessary to complete lifecycles of different plants and animals.” –John Waconda, director of the Nature Conservancy’s Indigenous Partnerships Program “Every time you put a fire out, you’re just postponing it. You just increase the actual fuel load that is out there, so when it does happen you get these massive megafire events.” –Malcolm North, fire ecologist “Climate change is creating the perfect conditions for larger, more intense wildfires.” –Robert Scheller, professor of landscape ecology and associate dean of research at North Carolina State University Wildfire is a natural process that takes place worldwide. In dry conditions, a single spark can transform into a megafire that sweeps across the landscape, burning everything in its path. Despite fire’s deadly reputation, ecosystems such as forests and grasslands depend on it to clear out debris and promote new plant growth. Environmental scientist Ferin Davis Anderson and author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson examine how Indigenous people, farmers, and forestry departments have used fire to manage natural resources and how human development and climate change are impacting the frequency and intensity of wildfires. By delving into how fires start and burn, fire suppression and firefighting, and the ecological importance of burns, they explore people’s long relationship with fire and reflect on fire’s regenerative benefits and destructive capabilities alike. Discover the history of large-scale fire and what its future may look like in Wildfire.

An thorough and accessible biography of Dr. Katalin Karikó, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, whose hard work pioneering mRNA research led to the COVID-19 vaccines. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, scientist Katalin Karikó was one of the few people who believed in the potential of mRNA to help cells fight off disease. Breakthrough chronicles Karikó''s relentless pursuit of knowledge and dedication to helping people, depicting her as an inspirational figure for readers interested in science. The book contextualizes Karikó''s work within her upbringing in a small village in rural Hungary, the discrimination she faced as an immigrant and woman scientist, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessible descriptions of the science behind mRNA support the main narrative, and profiles of other significant figures in the development of the mRNA vaccine illustrate how scientific achievement is never earned alone.

According to a UN tally, more than 1 million people fled violence and persecution in 2015. Of these, more than half were children. Thousands died along the way. The Syrian civil war as well as armed conflicts in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and the Central African Republic contributed to the continuing exodus of people into Europe and North America. Learn more about these modern mass exoduses, what is fueling them in the 21st century, how nations are addressing the crises, how refugees contribute to and strain communities, and what kinds of solutions could help. Along the way, you''ll meet actual refugees and the people who are trying to help.

"Artificial intelligence promises to make our lives easier and better. Learn about the accelerated pace of technology as things that were once science fiction become science fact"--

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting to engage reluctant readers! "Iceberg, Right Ahead!" Only 160 minutes passed between the time a sailor on lookout duty uttered these chilling words and the moment when the mighty ocean liner Titanic totally disappeared into the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. This century-old tragedy, which took more than 1,500 lives, still captivates people in the twenty-first century. Seventy-three years separate the two major Titanic events—the 1912 sinking of the vessel and the dramatic 1985 discovery of the wreck by Robert Ballard. But additional stories about the victims, survivors, rescuers, reporters, investigators, and many others show the far-reaching effects this tragedy had on society. Award-winning author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson has collected numerous personal accounts of the event, including the knighted man who spent the rest of his life in seclusion because he was accused of dishonorable behavior in a lifeboat, the stewardess who survived two shipwrecks and a mid-ocean collision, and the New York Times executive who sent multiple reporters to meet the rescue ship, thus earning a national reputation for his newspaper. She also links the Titanic tragedy to changes in regulations worldwide. After a Senate Inquiry and a British trial attempted to assign blame for the disaster, new laws on ship safety were put in place. A group of nations also banded together to form an ice patrol, eventually leading to the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard. Even the most avid Titanic fans will learn something new as McPherson brings the reader up to date on the politics and intrigue still surrounding the wreck—including what modern science can reveal about what really happened to the ship and who was at fault. Prepare to follow the never-ending story of the Titanic into its second century.

How do political parties shape candidates'' positions on issues and determine who is nominated? Readers will examine the roles of the two major US parties as well as the influence of third parties on election results.

In recent years the seedy underbelly of the athletic world has been exposed by scandals involving sports idols and performanceenhancing drugs. Examine the means, motives, and opportunities that drive athletes to take steroids and other stimulants.

The first Latina to serve in the United States Supreme Court, Sonia came from humble beginnings in the Bronx in New York City. Overcoming health and financial problems, she earned a high-level college degree, became a lawyer, and eventually became a judge. Learn about Sonia''s inspiring life, her refusal to back down, and her insistence on fighting for the American Dream.

Between standardized tests, extra-curricular activities, pressure from parents, and the strain of getting into college, school is more stressful than ever. Relieve some of that stress by learning techniques to deal with the mounting pressure felt by students every day.

This book traces the life of the wife of first president George Washington from her childhood in Virginia, to her marriage to Daniel Parke Custis and her years as a wealthy widow, through her marriage to Washington. It highlights her role in supporting Washington through the years of the American Revolution, showing how she set standards to be followed by future First Ladies throughout American history.

In the early 1880s, only a few wealthy people had electric lighting in their homes. Everyone else had use more dangerous lighting, such as gas lamps. Eager companies wanted to be the first to supply electricity to more Americans. The early providers would set the standards—and reap great profits. Inventor Thomas Edison already had a leading role in the industry: he had invented the first reliable electrical lightbulb. By 1882 his Edison Electric Light Company was distributing electricity using a system called direct current, or DC. But an inventor named Nikola Tesla challenged Edison. Tesla believed that an alternating current—or AC—system would be better. With an AC system, one power station could deliver electricity across many miles, compared to only about one mile for DC. Each inventor had his backers. Business tycoon George Westinghouse put his money behind Tesla and built AC power stations. Meanwhile, Edison and his DC backers said that AC could easily electrocute people. Edison believed this risk would sway public opinion toward DC power. The battle over which system would become standard became known as the War of the Currents. This exciting book tells the story of that war, the people who fought it, and the ways in which both kinds of electric power changed the world.

Sisters against Slavery recounts the lives of Sarah Grimke and Angelica Grimke Weld. These daughters of wealthy Southern planters and slave owners renounced slavery in the 1830''s. Through their writings and through a series of lectures delivered in the North, the sisters became famous for their views on slavery and women''s rights. Although the sisters were active as speakers and essayists for a relatively short time in the 1830s and 1840s, they reached tens of thousands of people, influenced American views on slavery, and were an inspiration to women''s rights leaders for decades to come.

It was a clear autumn night in 1847. Maria Mitchell stood on the roof of her parents'' house on the island of Nantucket, focusing her telescope on a faraway star. Suddenly she realized that the faint, blurry light wasn''t a star at all—it was a comet! Maria Mitchell''s discovery changed her life. She became famous as the first acknowledged woman astronomer in the United States. During her many travels, Maria came to realize that most women did not have the same opportunities as men. She thought that women should be encouraged to be anything they wanted to be. This was a lesson she taught her students as an astronomy professor at Vassar College and a message she stressed as the president of the Association for the Advancement of Women. From the rooftops of Nantucket to the great observatories of Europe, Stephanie Sammartino McPherson skillfully chronicles the life of this outstanding woman.

Dr. Alice Hamilton''s accomplishments were many, but one in particular changed her life forever. Working as a social worker in the Chicago slums, Alice noticed that lead factory workers were pale and thin, and some had trouble moving their wrists and hands. Setting out to investigate the cause of their ailements, Alice pioneered a new branch of medicine--industrial medicine. As a doctor, social worker, and fighter for peace, Alice single-handedly changed the world. Because of her many American workers lived longer, healthier lives.

As USA TODAY, the Nation''s No. 1 Newspaper, noted, "Google has infiltrated the daily lives of millions of people." But this giant company had very humble beginnings. In 1996 Sergey Brin and Larry Page were graduate students at Stanford University in California when they decided to invent a new way to search the information on the World Wide Web. Their technology project soon became a search engine and a company, Google, that changed the way information on the Internet is retrieved and controlled, making it easier, faster, and more relevant. Under Brin and Page, Google has become an international powerhouse, with an ever-widening scope of services—from Gmail to Google Earth to smart phones. It is also known for its fantasyland office complex, complete with gourmet chef and scooters. Sergey Brin and Larry Page continue to dream up exciting ventures for the future, and the world is waiting to see what''s next.

Did you know that not all Brooklyn Dodgers fans and players welcomed Jackie Robinson to the team in 1947? Some fans and teammates weren''t welcoming to a black player at first. But Jackie''s great playing soon won them over.

Chronicles the life and accomplishments of Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web.

Looks at the lives of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins, the three men who flew the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

An introduction to the life and career of former president Bill Clinton.

A biography of the wife of Martin Luther King.

Presents the life, career, and accomplishments of the man invented the telephone.

Presents the life, career, and accomplishments of the man who founded Levi Strauss and Co. and became wealthy selling clothes during the gold rush in San Francisco.

Examines the life and work of the British physicist who overcame the challenges of ALS to become one of the foremost scientists of the twentieth century.

Presents the life of the woman known for her struggles for women''s rights.

Examines the right of free expression for high school and junior high school students.

Profiles the English explorer who helped to colonize America and who searched for the mythical city of "El Dorado."

Explores both sides of the argument for and against affirmative action as well as related court cases and laws.

Examines the life and career of Douglas MacArthur, including his childhood, education, and military experience.

Explores the life of Theodore Roosevelt from his birth in New York through his time as president of the United States until his death in 1919.

Traces the life and accomplishments of the noted twentieth-century physicist Albert Einstein.