Browse all books

Books with author Gloria Skurzynski

  • The Minstrel in the Tower

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Paperback (Random House Books for Young Readers, April 12, 1988)
    An adventurous rescue set in the time of medieval knights, castles, bandits, and music. Before their father returns to France from the Crusades, daring Alice and musical Roger set off on their own journey: to find their long-lost uncle. But on the way, the siblings are kidnapped and locked in an ancient hidden tower. To finish their quest, they need to escape—and fast! Can Alice use her courage to slip away and find help? And can Roger use his musical talents to guide her back before it’s too late? History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!
    Q
  • This Is Rocket Science: True Stories of the Risk-taking Scientists who Figure Out Ways to Explore Beyond

    Gloria Skurzynski

    eBook (National Geographic Children's Books, March 18, 2010)
    ..three, two, one... we have liftoff! From the award-winning author of Are We Alone? comes a title to propel young imaginations far into space. This Is Rocket Science explores the past, present, and future of space travel.The compelling text—vetted by NASA scientists—is a combination of history, science, human drama, and future challenges. Readers learn how fireworks in ancient China developed into the fire arrows used by Genghis Khan; we meet Sir Isaac Newton, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and learn how their imaginations shaped rocketry. We revisit the era of Sputnik, the satellite that launched a superpower space race, ending with moonwalks and a rendezvous in space. Finally we look forward to the future challenges of Mars and beyond. We also get a sneak peek at new technologies like space elevators, solar sails, ion propulsion, and more.
  • Sweat and Blood: A History of U.S. Labor Unions

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Library Binding (Twenty-First Century Books, Aug. 1, 2008)
    Traces the history of labor unions in the United States, including the first labor strike in Jamestown, the impact of the Great Depression on labor unions, and the challenges unions face today.
    Z
  • The Clones

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Hardcover (Atheneum, July 1, 2002)
    Having used Brig's DNA to create identical clone-twins after he died in the war, Sharla ends up bringing them both to the island to be raised by her and Corgan, yet when they grow at an unexpected rate and develop completely different personalities, Corgan and Sharla begin to fear for their safety.
    W
  • The Revolt

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Hardcover (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, May 31, 2005)
    Having left the island to avoid another battle when the clones and Brigand arrive, CorganÂ’s peaceful existence in Florida comes to an end when Brigand locates him there and seeks a confrontation with Corgan and his friends that leaves them with no choice but to face the challenge in the hopes of breaking out of the Dome once and for all.
    W
  • The Minstrel in the Tower

    Gloria Skurzynski

    eBook (Random House Books for Young Readers, Sept. 16, 2009)
    An adventurous rescue set in the time of medieval knights, castles, bandits, and music. Before their father returns to France from the Crusades, daring Alice and musical Roger set off on their own journey: to find their long-lost uncle. But on the way, the siblings are kidnapped and locked in an ancient hidden tower. To finish their quest, they need to escape—and fast! Can Alice use her courage to slip away and find help? And can Roger use his musical talents to guide her back before it’s too late? History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!
    Q
  • The Clones: The Virtual War Chronologs--Book 2

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Paperback (Simon Pulse, May 3, 2007)
    Clones are supposed to be identical...aren't they?Corgan, hero of the Virtual War, has been living a blissful, if placid, life on the Isles of Hiva, his reward for winning the War with Sharla and Brig. But what he doesn't know is that Brig died soon after the War, and yet is not truly gone. Sharla had saved some of Brig's DNA and has created clone-twins with it. Corgan's world is disrupted when Sharla brings one of the clone-twins, Seabrig, to him to raise on the island, while she keeps the other, Brigand, with her in the Domed City. However, when circumstances force Sharla to bring Brigand to the island, they find that while the boys may look identical, their temperaments are not. Brigand is haughty, willful, power hungry, and despises Corgan because of his relationship with Sharla. And, as a result of the cloning process, both boys are growing at an astonishing rate. In what may or may not have been an accident with his clone-twin, Seabrig is badly injured and must be airlifted from the island to receive medical treatment in the Domed City. This leaves Corgan alone with an increasingly dangerous and unstable Brigand, who is now his size, and looking to get rid of Corgan once and for all.A gripping sequel to Virtual War that could be ripped straight from the headlines -- in eighty years....
    Y
  • Afterwar

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Paperback (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, March 8, 2011)
    There’s only one thing more deadly than disease, more destructive than the forces of nature: jealousy. It’s been years since the world was nearly destroyed by natural disasters, but even the biggest earthquake couldn’t shake the evils of mankind. Of course, Corgan and Brigand are not normal human beings. Brigand is the product of a cloning experiment gone wrong and Corgan was conceived and raised in a sterile environment, conditioned to be a hero for the Federation’s virtual wars. They aren’t typical humans, but they are still flesh and blood. And their virtual competition spills over into the real world when the beautiful, rebellious Sharla comes between them. Corgan’s adventure, which began with Devastation, continues as Brigand launches an attack to eliminate his rival. Corgan is about to see that even battles fought with mind controlled avatars can have very high personal stakes.
    Y
  • Virtual War: The Virtual War Chronologs--Book 1

    Gloria Skurzynski

    eBook (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, May 8, 2010)
    Imagine a life of virtual reality -- a childhood contained in a controlled environment, with no human contact or experiences outside of the world of computer-generated images.Corgan has been genetically engineered by the Federation for quick reflexes, high intelligence, and physical superiority. Everything Corgan is, everything he has ever seen or done, was to prepare him for one moment: a bloodless, computer-controlled virtual war.When Corgan meets his two fellow warriors, he begins to question the Federation. Now Corgan must decide where his loyalties lie, what he's willing to fight for, and exactly what he wants in return. His decisions will affect not only these three virtual warriors, but all the people left on earth.
  • Virtual War: The Virtual War Chronologs--Book 1

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Paperback (Simon Pulse, April 14, 2008)
    Imagine a life of virtual reality -- a childhood contained in a controlled environment, with no human contact or experiences outside of the world of computer-generated images.Corgan has been genetically engineered by the Federation for quick reflexes, high intelligence, and physical superiority. Everything Corgan is, everything he has ever seen or done, was to prepare him for one moment: a bloodless, computer-controlled virtual war.When Corgan meets his two fellow warriors, he begins to question the Federation. Now Corgan must decide where his loyalties lie, what he's willing to fight for, and exactly what he wants in return. His decisions will affect not only these three virtual warriors, but all the people left on earth.
    Z
  • Devastation

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Paperback (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Aug. 24, 2010)
    The earth’s population has been decimated by disease and natural disasters—and those who remain live in domed cities, sealed off to prevent the spread of further devastation. In eighteen days, there will be a bloodless, virtual war between the few remaining world powers with the winner to take possession of the only place on Earth still safe to live undomed—a remote tropical island in the Pacific. Fourteen-year old Corgan was born for this moment—quite literally. Conceived in a test tube by Federation scientists and raised outside the reach of human touch, he has been genetically engineered and conditioned to be the perfect virtual warrior. He has quick reflexes, physically superiority and high intelligence, but Corgan has never met a real, live human being. Enter the beautiful Sharla, Corgan’s teammate for the battle. She’s bold, she’s rebellious and she’s about to show Corgan all that the Federation has been keeping from him…
    X
  • This Is Rocket Science: True Stories of the Risk-taking Scientists who Figure Out Ways to Explore Beyond Earth

    Gloria Skurzynski

    Hardcover (National Geographic Children's Books, April 13, 2010)
    ..three, two, one... we have liftoff! From the award-winning author of Are We Alone? comes a title to propel young imaginations far into space. This Is Rocket Science explores the past, present, and future of space travel.The compelling text—vetted by NASA scientists—is a combination of history, science, human drama, and future challenges. Readers learn how fireworks in ancient China developed into the fire arrows used by Genghis Khan; we meet Sir Isaac Newton, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and learn how their imaginations shaped rocketry. We revisit the era of Sputnik, the satellite that launched a superpower space race, ending with moonwalks and a rendezvous in space. Finally we look forward to the future challenges of Mars and beyond. We also get a sneak peek at new technologies like space elevators, solar sails, ion propulsion, and more.
    Y