Books with author Bill Thompson

Discover legendary commanders, tremendous fights, elite soldiers, and courageous individuals whose deeds truly made the difference in this jaw-dropping guide to the biggest war the world has ever seen. From massive aerial battles that clouded the skies with planes to deathly secret operations deep behind enemy lines, the events of World War II are some of the most awe-inspiring of all time. Packed with trivia, epic battles, and amazing illustrations, World War II comes alive for kids like no textbook can in this account from Ben Thompson that's perfect for history buffs and reluctant readers.

Now available in paperback, this fourth book in the action-packed Guts & Glory series takes readers through the exciting and fascinating history of the American Revolution. Perfect for history buffs, reluctant readers, and fans of Hamilton! From George Washington crossing the icy Delaware, to Molly Pitcher fearlessly firing her cannon, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into a riot in the streets of Boston, join the Culper Spy Ring as they steal secrets in the dead of night, and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence in this accessible, illustrated guide to the birth of the United States. History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson's extensive research and irresistible storytelling make history come alive in this fourth book in the unforgettable Guts & Glory series.

Fifteen year old Justin McLeod is in trouble. Born five thousand years after his race was destroyed in the fall of Atlantis, Justin and a handful of other new Titans are fighting for their survival.Shadowy government forces want to capture them and use their powers for their own dark purposes. And Hyperion, an ancient Titan who has awoken from stasis after sleeping for millennia, wants to destroy the new Titans so that he may conquer the world unimpeded.In a battle to save their home, a hidden underground complex called Sanctuary, Justin and his friends fight off Hyperion and his forces. But in doing so, they pay a heavy price. Many young Titans have fallen. Their human allies have been decimated. And Justin is trapped holding back an ancient corruption that threatens to destroy Sanctuary itself.He will do his best, and he will not surrender. But even now he is weakening. And not even a new Titan like Justin McLeod can hold back the tide of evil forever.

In the spring of 2003, the United States and it allies invaded Iraq to remove one of the world's most brutal dictators, Saddam Hussein, from power. But when the Hussein regime fell, Iraqis wondered whether their country would hold together, or if it would disintegrate under the force of long-standing ethnic and religious rivalries. The international community also watched closely. With the world's second-largest proven oil reserves, Iraq holds great economic importance for an energy-hungry globe. As one of the largest Arab states, Iraq is politically important in the Middle East region as well. Some American policymakers believed that with Saddam gone, Iraq could become an example of democracy and progress for the other Arab states. However, a period of sectarian violence prevented that from the occurring. Despite the conflict, Iraqis took steps toward developing a parliamentary democracy, approving a constitution in October 2005 and holding several subsequent elections for government officials. In addition, new military strategies have significantly reduced the level of violence. While the future remains uncertain, Iraqis hope their country is on a path to peace and promise. Discusses the geography, history, economy, government, religion, people, foreign relations, and major cities of Iraq.

[Children's Non-Fiction (Ages 10-12)] Heart-stopping charges, dangerous secret operations, fearless spies, and legendary heroes from America's deadliest conflict! In most history books, the people are boring, the places are boring, and the events are boring. This isn't most history books. A hilarious, accessible, and, most importantly, educational collection of unbelievable but true events and heroes of the Civil War, from the creator of the popular blog, badassoftheweek.com From female spies fighting for the Rebel cause to daring cavalry rides deep into enemy territory, American Civil War history is filled with fearless figures and incredible events. This invigorating overview for kids uses colorful facts to entertain readers with stories of the legendary heroes and unlikely but totally true events that make up one of America's most fascinating conflicts. A history buff and Civil War reenactor, Ben Thompson brings the Civil War to life for young historians and reluctant students alike in this first book in a thrilling new series featuring incredible people, events, and civilizations. Get ready to learn just how awesome history can be!

The old world of technology has fallen and a new world, filled with magic, has risen from the ashes. Humanity, decimated by massive dragon attacks, is now on the brink of extinction. Those who have survived have been Changed, altered by the gods to enable them to exist in a world thick with magical energy. But a handful have become more and the greatest of these is Simon O'Toole.Simon, once a heavy-set, middle-aged IT worker had been Changed into a slight young man brimming with power: a wizard. Trying to master his new magical skills and fighting to survive against the dragons that are hunting down the few remaining Changlings, the young wizard now faces the greatest threat of his new life. Brown dragons, led by an arrogant and incredibly powerful primal dragon, have invaded the land of the elves, one of humanity's only allies. On the New Earth, the red dragons are aggressively searching for the last of the Changlings. And now Simon has to choose: protect his own people from the ravages of the dragons on this world, or travel to the elven realm to try to save his allies. He is only one man, faced with a terrible choice, and if he makes the wrong decision, it could mean the extinction of the human race and the rise of the gods of Chaos.

The home world of the elves is known as Trillfarness. It was created millennia ago for the elvish race by the lords of Light as a safe haven when they were threatened by the ancient gods of Chaos. Hidden away from the mortal realms, the elves were safe from evil. They lived in harmony with nature, far from the conflicts that plagued the Earth. But now something has changed. Trillfarness has come closer to the plane of Earth than it has ever been and some elves fear that the old evil gods have found them once again. Darkness is stirring in remote corners of their planet and the peaceful elves are threatened. But their race hasn't known war for ages uncounted. Can they stand against the old gods who seek to wipe out their kind? Or will they fall and be lost in the dust of history?

Over 3 years ago, the old Earth began to die. Technology started to break down. Electricity failed. Machines stopped working. Planes, trains and cars became useless hunks of metal. And then the dragons came.On the Night of Burning, the world's great cities were reduced to slag and rubble by dragon fire. Civilization, as we knew it. ceased to be.But before the end came, the Changlings appeared. A few humans, children and adults alike, began to mutate into...something else. Ears became pointed, fingers fused or elongated. Their old languages were lost to them and they began to babble in unknown tongues. Perhaps one in a hundred thousand Changed. Simon O'Toole was one of them.Back then, he was a rather large, middle-aged man. Now he's a skinny, awkward teenager.Simon has lost everything; his family, his friends, the world that he once knew. But he has gained something as well. Through hints in dreams, he has learned to use magical runes that can summon elementals. He can cast fireballs and lightning. In short, Simon has become a wizard.Slowly, carefully, he is learning to use this new power. It might take years to master his magic. Years that Simon may not have.The dragons are still on the hunt. They search for the scattered survivors of their invasion and, when these mundane humans have been exterminated, the dragons will then track down and kill those few who became Changlings. And that means that Simon is rapidly running out of time.

Less than four years ago, Simon O'Toole was a middle-aged I.T. specialist. Now, after the fall of technology and the rise of magic, he has been Changed. He has become a young wizard, struggling to use his new-found powers and trying to survive in a world rich in magical energy and filled with reborn, legendary evil. The world itself has changed. Humans, the few that are left, are being hunted down and destroyed by dragons, the agents of darkness. Only when the last of humanity is destroyed can the ancient ones, the gods of Chaos, return and reclaim the New Earth.Simon, with the help of a handful of allies, managed to destroy a great evil and has now attracted the attention of the Chaotic gods themselves. Only by becoming a powerful wizard and making more allegiances can Simon hope to save the last few remnants of the human race. Time is short and the darkness is growing ever stronger.

She's smart. She's sassy. She has magic powers.And she has a very big problem!Magic Trixie is excited. When she goes to the circus, she gets to see DRAGONS! And she gets a real dragon scale as a special present. But now her friends think she is bragging that she has a real dragon as a pet. when she accidentally turns her baby sister into a dragon and then loses her, Trixie's in a scaly situation!

Fourteen year old Justin McLeod has learned that he is a new Titan, born five thousand years after that mythic race disappeared. Forced to flee from his home by unknown adversaries, he escapes to Sanctuary, a huge, hidden base where other teens like himself have taken refuge. There he begins to learn about his race's past, why he and the other young Titans have appeared at this moment in history, and about his powers and how to use them.But other Titans have also come into the world; older, more powerful and bent on world domination. They see Justin and the new Titans as a threat to their plans. They attack Sanctuary but, thanks in part to Justin's powers, are driven back.Soon after the failed attack, Justin learns that a family friend is being held captive by government forces. So he and his new friend, Aaron, decide to leave Sanctuary on their own to try to save him. However, they are tricked by their enemies and trapped along with six other young Titans.Following a daring escape, the eight teens find themselves stranded on the lowest level of Sanctuary, faced with a daunting task; to travel through the countless levels of this huge complex in the hope that they can reach the top level and safety. Unless, of course, Sanctuary has already fallen.

Discover legendary commanders, tremendous fights, elite soldiers, and courageous individuals whose deeds truly made the difference in this jaw-dropping guide to the biggest war the world has ever seen. From massive aerial battles that clouded the skies with planes to deathly secret operations deep behind enemy lines, the events of World War II are some of the most awe-inspiring of all time. Packed with trivia, epic battles, and amazing illustrations, World War II comes alive for kids like no textbook can in this account from Ben Thompson that's perfect for history buffs and reluctant readers.