New Releases by Wil Mara

Discover exciting changes in space travel. Learn how reusable rockets roar into space and then land gracefully on Earth. Find out how humans stay in space longer than ever and monitor the effects of weightlessness on their bodies. See how people around the world are planning for humanity''s greatest mission yet: Mars. Fascinating photos and STEM Focus sidebars flesh out this cutting-edge science adventure.

Using the new C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, Advertising in the Global Citizens: Modern Media series explores the topic through the lenses of History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Text and photos look at the history, basic philosophies, and geography of advertising in the media. As they read, students will develop questions about the text, and use evidence from a variety of sources in order to form conclusions. Data-focused backmatter is included, as well as a bibliography, glossary, and index.

Using the new C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, The Movie Industry in the Global Citizens: Modern Media series explores the topic through the lenses of History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Text and photos look at the history, basic philosophies, and geography of the movie industry. As they read, students will develop questions about the text, and use evidence from a variety of sources in order to form conclusions. Data-focused backmatter is included, as well as a bibliography, glossary, and index.

Using the new C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, Politics and the Media in the Global Citizens: Modern Media series explores the topic through the lenses of History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Text and photos look at the history, basic philosophies, and geography of politics and mass media. As they read, students will develop questions about the text, and use evidence from a variety of sources in order to form conclusions. Data-focused backmatter is included, as well as a bibliography, glossary, and index.

Using the new C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, Mainstream News in the Global Citizens: Modern Media series explores the topic through the lenses of History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Text and photos look at the history, basic philosophies, and geography of mainstream news. As they read, students will develop questions about the text, and use evidence from a variety of sources in order to form conclusions. Data-focused backmatter is included, as well as a bibliography, glossary, and index.

Ever watch the circus and wonder, "how do they do that?" Find the answers in this book! Readers will learn about some of the most death-defying circus acts, from human cannonballs to high wire walkers, and the science that makes them possible. Short, simple activities help demonstrate the science for readers.

Explores the development of the Bill of Rights. Authoritative text, colorful illustrations, illuminating sidebars, and a "Voices from the Past" feature make this book an exciting and informative read.

Explores the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Authoritative text, colorful illustrations, illuminating sidebars, and a "Voices from the Past" feature make this book an exciting and informative read.

Wil Mara returns with a top-notch thriller that will keep you flipping pages. Silver Lake, Pennsylvania, is hit by a monster storm. When a massive lightning strike hits one of the nuclear reactors that provides power to Silver Lake and much of the state, essential components fail. Explosions and containment breaches follow. Radiation pours into the storm-wracked air. Preparing for a storm was one thing, but all the duct tape, plastic tarps, and particle board in the world won''t protect the townspeople from the fallout. Sarah Redmond, acting mayor of Silver Lake, and her husband, an EMT, find themselves battling the storm and nuclear disaster simultaneously: flash floods and evacuations, downed trees and radiation sickness. Staff at the power plant scramble to determine the extent of the damage and stop the leaks. Everything''s being streamed onto the internet by Marla Hollis, a local journalist who happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. Trapped at the plant, she''s determined to get the story out at any cost. Nuclear disaster, not in far-off Chernobyl or Fukushima, but on American soil. How much of Pennsylvania will become a radioactive nightmare for generations to come? At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Bearded dragons donÕt breathe fire, but they do have spikes to scare away predators! Readers will learn all about this real-life dragon that lives only in Australia. Life science curriculum links are covered throughout. Critical thinking questions using the common core are also included.

Explores the Battle of Midway of World War II. Authoritative text, colorful illustrations, illuminating sidebars, and questions to prompt critical thinking make this an exciting and informative read.

An introductory biography of celebrity Oprah Winfrey.

In Local Action, readers will learn about another side of the American government, both past and present. Sidebars include thought-provoking trivia, and ask questions about current events as well as the readers'' own lives. Questions in the backmatter ask for text-dependent analysis. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

In Law and Order, readers will learn about another side of the American government, both past and present. Sidebars include thought-provoking trivia, and ask questions about current events as well as the readers'' own lives. Questions in the backmatter ask for text-dependent analysis. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

In Citizens'' Rights, readers will learn about another side of the American government, both past and present. Sidebars include thought-provoking trivia, and ask questions about current events as well as the readers'' own lives. Questions in the backmatter ask for text-dependent analysis. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Readers will learn what it takes to succeed as an FBI special agent. The book also explains the necessary educational steps, useful character traits, potential hazards, and daily job tasks related to this career. Sidebars include thought-provoking trivia. Questions in the backmatter ask for text-dependent analysis. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Readers will learn what it takes to succeed as a sound engineer. The book also explains the necessary educational steps, useful character traits, potential hazards, and daily job tasks related to this career. Sidebars include thought-provoking trivia. Questions in the backmatter ask for text-dependent analysis. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Readers will learn what it takes to succeed as a robotics engineer. The book also explains the necessary educational steps, useful character traits, and daily job tasks related to this career, in the framework of the STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, movement. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Readers will learn what it takes to succeed as a hazmat removal worker. The book also explains the necessary educational steps, useful character traits, and daily job tasks related to this career, in the framework of the STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, movement. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Readers will learn what it takes to succeed as a petroleum engineer. The book also explains the necessary educational steps, useful character traits, and daily job tasks related to this career, in the framework of the STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, movement. Photos, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Prolific director, writer and producer of such films as Saving Private Ryan, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, Jurassic Park, and others.

Iconic actor, writer, director, and producer responsible for films including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Rawhide, Gran Torino, and more.

The world of nature awaits you right in your own backyard. Search for vibrant Cardinals. While on safari, learn how to identify and observe these birds and discover their interesting behaviors, life cycle, enemies, and defenses.

The world of nature awaits you right in your own backyard. Search the woods and deserts for quick-tapping Woodpeckers. While on safari, learn how to identify and observe these noisy birds and discover their interesting behaviors, life cycle, enemies, and defenses.

Readers will learn about a favorite animal, the deer, its anatomy, special skills, habitats, and diet.

Big eyes and a cute little hop, the rabbit is a favorite animal. Readers will learn about its anatomy, special skills, habitats, and diet.

Young learners will read about the owl, its anatomy, special skills, habitats, and diet.

Readers learn about the bat, its anatomy, special skills, habitats, and diet.

Learn about how nature has inspired technological innovations with this book on the similarities between gecko feet and a new adhesive tape. Integrating both historical and scientific perspectives, this book explains how gecko feet inspired the invention of an adhesive. Readers will make connections and examine the relationship between the two concepts. Sidebars, photographs, a glossary, and a concluding chapter on important people in the field add detail and depth to this informational text on biomimicry.

It''s draft time in the National Football League. For high-ranking team executives, this means long days and sleepless nights, endless negotiations, and determining which young men deserve to become millionaires and which do not. Careers will be made with the stroke of a pen, but mistakes are costly. Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has turned a weary, ragtag organization into a gridiron dynamo, culminating in two consecutive Super Bowl victories, and now they''re poised to make NFL history with a third consecutive championship. New talent is the last thing on Sabino''s mind, so this year''s draft will be little more than a formality. Or will it? With less than two weeks until draft day, Sabino receives crushing news---Michael Bell, the team''s starting quarterback, has been involved in a season-ending auto accident. Baltimore''s two backups cannot possibly fill Bell''s cleats, no other available free agents reach Bell''s skill level, and the Ravens'' volatile owner insists that he wants the third Lombardi Trophy above all else—even if it costs the team down the road. So Sabino is forced to pursue Christian McKinley, the best quarterback prospect to come along in a generation, who will assuredly be taken with the first pick. But that''s a task easier said than done, especially when the other general managers will stop at nothing to keep him from winning yet another Super Bowl ring. The San Diego Chargers, who own that pick, are not interested in McKinley but are willing to offer it to the highest bidder. Other teams want it; need it. Now Jon Sabino has to jump into the fray, which the media has dubbed the "McKinley Sweepstakes," and he may find the competition tougher than even he can imagine. It could very well be the make-or-break moment of his career, the fork in the road that leads him and his team either into the history books or back to the tepid hell of mediocrity. And then there''s a young man in the Philadelphia projects whose arm is just as good as McKinley''s--except that he wants nothing to do with the NFL. He''ll have to face an old family secret and bitter legacies if he ever goes pro. But he just might be the salvation Sabino needs. NFL fans will delight in this insider''s entry into the general manager''s head office, sweat through draft negotiations, strategic alliances, and gamesmanship, and revel in pure NFL glory. The Draft is sports fiction at its best, combining solid insider information and an unmistakable passion for the game with the awesome power of storytelling; a potent mixture that will keep football fans riveted to every page.