During the Middle Ages, tournaments and jousting were both an occasion for public festivities and a way of training knights. Describing various types of combat with the use of primary source material and magnificent illuminated manuscripts, this book provides a look into the jousts and tournaments that entertained the people and trained knights for war. Though considered mock combat, many knights lost their lives during these jousts and melees.

A moving personal narrative in the form of a journal, this powerful poem tells the story of one boy’s journey into war—and the horrible climax at Gettysburg.

This title focuses on the creation and impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, including its historical context and how it altered the course of the war. Critical thinking questions and two "Voices from the Past" special features help readers understand and analyze the various views people held at the time.

Project yourself back in time with this exciting interactive fiction book. Your name is Thomas Benton. The time is October 1835. You are fourteen year-old and about to take part in one of the most exciting episodes in American History With only a long dirk knife and $4 in coins, you run away from your father's farm. Navigating your dugout canoe through alligator-infested waters, you make your way through Indian Territory to New Orleans. Your final destination: Texas. Your mission: to fight in the Texas Revolution. You are the star of the story. It is up to you to decide to join Davy Crockett at the Alamo, or to fight at the Siege of Bexar or one of the other exciting battlers in the Texas Revolution. Ambushes, firing squads, harsh winters, fearsome battles, and snipers await you. But you are the master of your fate; and your wit, daring, and bravery can lead you to a heroic victory.

Riveting real-life accounts of heroism from Medal of Honor recipients, including Clinton Romesha (author of Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor) and exceptional civilians like schoolteacher Jencie Fagan How does an ordinary person become a hero? It happens in a split second, a moment of focus and clarity, when a choice is made. Here are the gripping accounts of Medal of Honor recipients who demonstrated guts and selflessness on the battlefield and confronted life-threatening danger to make a difference. There are the stories of George Sakato and Vernon Baker--both of whom overcame racial discrimination to enlist in the army during World War II (Sakato was a second-generation Japanese American, Baker an African American) and went on to prove that heroes come in all colors--and Clint Romesha, who led his outnumbered fellow soldiers against a determined enemy to prevent the Taliban from taking over a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan. Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations, from a school shooting to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Adding depth and context are illuminating essays on the combat experience and its aftermath, covering topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning the loss of her son; and "surviving hell" as a prisoner of war.

This book gives an exciting overview of the US Coast Guard, from when it first formed to its missions and members today, as well as their tasks, equipment, and training. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

The Horten Ho airplane was made in Nazi Germany during WWII. Germany needed a new weapon, and hoped this experimental aircraft would help them win the war. The Horten Ho would have been a fighter jet with incredible speed, but it did not fly as planned. Learn about the Smithsonian Institution's efforts to restore this fascinating historical artifact and the challenges they faced during the restoration process. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds reading skills while engaging students' curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. Packed with factoids and informative sidebars, it features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for use in a makerspace and teaches students every step of the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Discover engineering innovations that solve real-world problems with content that touches on all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math!

The ghettos of Colombia are crawling with street kids. They have nothing, and are forced into lives of crime in order to get enough to eat. Their life expectancies are short, not least because the Colombian authorities allow paramilitaries to shoot them like rats.

But it's with the street kids of Colombia that the cadets must become embedded. Some of these kids have been recruited by the Colombian cartels. The cartels are causing untold misery, both in Colombia and on the streets of the UK. The cadets must befriend the cartel kids in the hope that they will lead them into the heart of the drug lords' empire.

But when you head into the lion's den, you must expect to be bitten. The cartel chiefs are the most ruthless people in the world, and they do not take kindly to the infiltration of their secret, violent world . . .

This book introduces readers to military animal messengers, from carrier pigeons to dogs that run across battlefields. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, infographics, Making Connections questions, a glossary, and an index. QR Codes in the book give readers access to book-specific resources to further their learning. Aligned to Common Core standards & correlated to state standards.

Japanese legend holds that if a person who is ill makes a 1,000 paper cranes, the gods will grant that person's wish to be well again. Beautiful illustrations by Caldecott-medalist Ed Young enhance the story of Sadako, a young girl dying of leukemia as a result of the atom bombing of Hiroshima.

Every year, crowds of people come together to remember the men and women who fought and died in wars. This beautifully illustrated non-fiction book explains to children why it's so important to remember those we have lost in wars. The sensitively written text tells of the world wars as well as other wars that are remembered at this time. We look at the history behind poppies, why we hold 1- or 2-minute silences and what happens in commemorative parades around the world. The book will include poems and quotes from veterans who bravely fought in these wars.

Stubby was a brave soldier, a loyal friend... and a dog. From an army training camp to the trenches in France, this is the incredible true story of Sergeant Stubby, the dog who served bravely in the First World War, sniffing out gas attacks, catching spies and winning the hearts of his fellow soldiers.