Avery Hurt

A renegotiation of NAFTA and a trade war with China have kept tariffs and trade agreements in the news in the early twenty-first century. Tariffs, trade barriers, and the potential consequences of both are complex. This book presents a difficult subject in a straightforward and interesting manner. The use of historical and cultural tidbits, such as how the press ridiculed the embargo of 1870 by referring to it as "O grab me!" which is embargo spelled...

This book introduces readers to the fascinating Frederick Douglass, a man born a slave. Douglass taught himself to read, then escaped from slavery to become one of the abolitionist movement's greatest leaders. In addition to telling the story of his life, this biography examines the evolution of his thought and his changing relationships with contemporaries such as William Lloyd Garrison and Abraham Lincoln. Featuring intriguing details about the...

Situated firmly in the social and political conditions of the time, this biography illustrates the role African American baseball star Jackie Robinson played in changing not just baseball but society. By breaking the "color barrier" in the major league sport, Robinson paved the way for new opportunities for Americans everywhere. Here, readers will come to know Robinson and his legacy. They'll also learn about such fascinating characters as Branch...

Despite making up roughly half the world's population, women make up slightly more than 20 percent of the members of the world's legislative bodies. In a list of 163 nations ordered by the number of women in legislatures, Canada is ranked 64th and the United States 97th. Featuring engaging profiles of women leaders and a thoughtful examination of why women are underrepresented (emphasizing the US and Canada), this inspiring resource encourages readers...

Many teens enjoy a carefree time of school, some light household responsibilities to help their family, and good times with their friends. According to a National Alliance of Caregiving report in 2005, at least 1.3 million children between the ages of eight and eighteen are shouldering the heavy responsibilities of caring for family members who cannot care for themselves without help. Readers will get a frank description of the work faced by many...

Animals have many different ways to protect themselves from their enemies. Only a few have the amazing ability to regrow body parts that have been bitten or pulled off by predators. It's called regeneration, and even scientists aren't exactly sure how it works. With this fascinating volume, readers will learn what animals possess this super power, how they use it, and what the limits are to this nifty survival trick. Discussions of scientific research...

One of the effects of World War I was prosperity in the United States in the 1920s. However, by the end of that decade, the US plummeted into a severe depression. The Great Depression inspired events and sentiments that would be carried into the next great conflict, World War II. This book examines the causes and effects of the Great Depression, key players during the era, and what implications this era of history had on events and conflicts in future...

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States while Statistics Canada reports that alcohol is responsible for the deaths of 8 percent of Canadians under the age of seventy. This concise guidebook gives younger readers the facts they need to make informed decisions about how alcohol use can affect one's life. The narrative examines alcohol's history, as well as its physical...

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, clinical depression among adolescents increased by 37 percent between 2005 and 2014. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that three million children ages twelve to seventeen have had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This timely volume helps young people understand this complex illness and offers guidance for coping with their own depression as well as that of...

This volume takes a fresh look at Common Sense, Thomas Paine's provocative pamphlet that roused the American colonists toward outright revolt against Britain. With ample use of primary sources, this book provides historical context and a feeling for the times. It explores why this document was pivotal in 1776 and how it still informs the United States' idea of itself and its government. Illustrations and quotations, plus interesting little-known facts,...