Books with author Diane Dakers

"As a girl, Amelia Earhart aspired to a future that would take her beyond the family and medical problems of her younger years, as well as the restrictions imposed on her because she was female. Widely celebrated for her long-distance flights, she also set records for altitude and speed, and helped develop passenger airline service. As a writer and magazine editor, Earhart also further advanced the cause of flight and of women in aviation. Her disappearance during a daring around-the-world flight in 1937 has been a source of intrigue for nearly 80 years. Earhart's life and career has provided inspiration to generations of young people, particularly those whose paths have been beset with obstacles and barriers"--

"Perhaps no two people in history exemplify the spirit of invention better than brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. Born in the Midwest in the late 1800s, Orville was exceptionally good at creating mechanical devices, and Wilbur had a genius for ideas. The turn of the 20th century came during an age of invention and technological development. Inspired by a fierce worldwide competition to be the first to invent a machine that could fly and be controlled by a pilot, the Wright brothers tested and refined several prototypes. At last, on December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they achieved their pioneering flight. The brothers went on to develop machines and controls that made possible powered, fixed-wing flights and laid the foundation for pilot-controlled aviation as we know it today. They also founded the Wright Company, which built airplanes for the rising new industry of commercial aviation. Had Wilbur not died at the early age of 45, who knows what else the innovative pair might have accomplished."--

Nitrogen is a common element found as a gas in the air we breathe as well as in other forms in water and soil. Nitrogen is essential for all life on Earth. This informative book explains how the Earths supply of nitrogen moves in different forms in a cycle from the air to the soil to living things. Highly readable text and supportive images help explain such processes as fixation, nitrification, and dentrification, as well as the important role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle. Feature boxes highlight examples of the ways in which human activity, such as adding more nitrogen to the soil to make plants grow faster, releases harmful greenhouse gases into the air interfering with the nitrogen cycle. Readers are encouraged to find ways to take action and find solutions.

Brielle and Tawni have played cello side by side in orchestras since they were nine years old. Brielle has always played second chair to Tawni’s first, and she's been happy with that arrangement. When Tawni is injured, Brielle suddenly finds herself principal cellist. Not only does that mean she'll be thrust into the spotlight, but it also means she is now leader of the cello section. Brielle is terrified. Is she good enough? Will the other musicians accept her? What if she screws up? Despite her fears, Brielle rises to the occasion. Her cello skills, and her leadership skills, improve as she grows into her new role. But just as Brielle is beginning to feel confident, Tawni returns. And she wants her job back. If Brielle steps down now, she'll lose her place in the spotlight. If she doesn't, her friendship could be in jeopardy.

Fiona’s dad comes home after sixteen months and eight days in jail. Along with her mother and family friends, she awkwardly welcomes him home. Uncle David is there, because he picked Dad up at jail. Dad’s best friend Simon, his wife May and neighbor Elisabeth are also at the house to greet Dad. He’s been away so long, it’s an uncomfortable reunion for Mom and Fiona, who have suffered financially, emotionally and socially in his absence. Even the dog, Honey, isn’t sure about Fiona’s dad anymore.Fiona’s dad was in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Or did he? Fiona thought she knew him. Believed he was innocent. But now that he’s home, her friends, her teachers, even her mom--everyone is treating him like a criminal. Guilty or not, Fiona’s father has ruined everything. When she starts getting lured into the darker side of life, she discovers who her father really is.