Books with author David Macdonald

Starlight. Steel. Ahryn and Ezai must unite. Ten years ago, the Starsingers - tyrannical magicians who draw their power from the stars - suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of an ancient order of magic-resistant peacekeepers. Their rebellion quelled, their magic controlled, the five families of starlight magicians have been forced to live in a fragile truce with the starless commoners...until now. When an assassin begins killing Starsingers, the defiant peacekeepers are blamed, for who else could slay a magician? Ezai is a storied peacekeeper. He has been tasked with finding the true killer, and he must do so before the balance of power is disrupted. But the Starsingers plot against him. Ahryn is the eldest child of an Astral House, and she alone survives the murder of her family. She seeks justice, but the other families wish to use her fury, and her family's legacy. As another war approaches, Ezai and Ahryn form an unlikely alliance. Together, they must unlock a secret of the past and find the assassin before it's too late, for a greater evil looms. Remember the Dawn is the first book of the Starsingers, a sword and sorcery saga that takes place in a world with a distinct magic system and an elaborate and expansive history.

You are about to experience the life of a slave at first hand in Ancient Greece!This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history. It's the 5th century BC, and the Greek civilization is the most advanced in the world. But that civilization is based on slavery, and you, a member of a nomadic people from Asia Minor, are about to experience the life of a slave at first hand! This new extended edition includes a map and a timeline, and a selection of fascinating facts.

See life through the eyes of one of the most unfortunate people in European history – Mary, Queen of Scots! Crowned as a baby, widowed at 18, schemed against in your own country and menaced by the superpower next door – your life is not going to be a bed of roses.This title in the best-selling children’s history series, You Wouldn't Want To…, features full-colour illustrations which combine humour and accurate technical detail and a narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the history, encouraging them to become emotionally-involved with the characters and aiding their understanding of what life would have been like as Mary, Queen of Scots. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of information books for young readers. It is an ideal text for Key Stage 2 shared and guided reading and helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14.

Everyone knows that moccasins, canoes and toboggans were invented by the Aboriginal people of North America, but did you know that they also developed their own sign language, syringe needles and a secret ingredient in soda pop? Depending on where they lived, Aboriginal communities relied on their ingenuity to harness the resources available to them. Some groups, such as the Iroquois, were particularly skilled at growing and harvesting food. From them, we get corn and wild rice, as well as maple syrup. Other groups, including the Sioux and Comanche of the plains, were exceptional hunters. Camouflage, fish hooks, and decoys were all developed to make the task of catching animals easier. And even games—lacrosse, hockey and volleyball—have Native American roots. Other clever inventions and innovations include the following: • Sunscreen • Surgical blades • Diapers • Asphalt • Megaphones • Hair conditioner With descriptive photos and information-packed text, this book explores eight different categories in which the creativity of First Nations peoples from across the continent led to remarkable inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today.

Being a knight in shining armor is not as glamorous as it looks.This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history. Follow the progress of a young English boy at the beginning of the 15th century as he goes through the rigorous traning to become a knight, and faces the dangers of sieges and jousts. This new extended edition includes a map, a timeline of the Crusades, and a selection of exciting facts.

Get ready...as a poor boy living in Spain you dream of exploring the world by sea.This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history. Get ready...as a poor boy living in Spain you dream of exploring the world by sea. You manage to get on board a ship heading west, under the command of Christopher Columbus. It's a Rough Ride!

That hour that drags, that day you can't wait for-and those months of blissful sun that you count down to!This series takes readers (Ages 8-12) on a historical journey, examining how people coped in the past and how they developed ingenious ways to make life safer and less unpleasant. Each book features full-color cartoon-style illustrations and hilarious speech bubbles to heighten interest, making the series attractive even to reluctant readers.All these things have been made measurable by clocks and calendars. Although time may not always be on our side, without clocks and calendars we would forget birthdays, be late for appointments, and miss out on important things in life.