Books with author Jennifer Landau

Pesticides are used everywhere: in schools, homes, parks, and playgrounds, and especially in agriculture––the fruits and vegetables we eat carry the residue of one or more pesticides. In this riveting narrative, readers learn how pesticides became so popular in the United States and the many ways they can damage human health—both in the short term and long term. Asthma and cancer are linked to pesticides, as are developmental problems such as ADHD, autism, and lowered IQ. Pesticides can affect a woman’s fertility and the ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Readers can take steps to protect themselves and their communities from these dangerous chemicals by dealing with pests in a safer, more environmentally friendly way. The book examines integrated pest management, government regulation of pesticides, and ways teens can contribute to a healthier future, for example, by starting a garden club at school or in the neighborhood.

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was a bold and brutal adventurer who was the first European to find an all-sea route to India. Along the way, he made contact with local people in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Indian kingdom of Calicut. Though revered in his time for helping Portugal become a powerful force on the world stage, da Gama is also remembered as a controversial figure for his forceful and cruel behavior in Africa and India. This warts-and-all biography identifies da Gamas achievements while also offering an unsparing examination of the darker aspects of his life and legacy.

This absorbing biography conveys the same passion and energy with which van Gogh painted his masterworks. From his birth in Zundert, the Netherlands and his work in his uncle's art gallery, to his art studies in The Hague and his first important work The Potato Eaters, readers experience the challenges that van Gogh encountered in his life and work. Most importantly, they are immersed in his vibrant, dynamic, and boldly colored masterpieces that are roiling with movement and emotion. Vocabulary and fact boxes provide readers with additional opportunities to engage their minds and satisfy their curiosity.

This engaging narrative introduces readers to the world of words and their meanings. Students learn that they can determine the subject of speech a word is and often the synonyms and antonyms for the words. The volume describes the different types of dictionaries, how they are compiled and organized, what pronunciation symbols and accents mean, and what abbreviations represent. Word Workers and vocabulary boxes explain well-known lexicographers and important words to know. Readers practice their dictionary skills in an activity section.

Readers learn how to recognize and deal with various types of bullying, which reaches its peak in the middle school years. They get the rundown on cliques, and learn tips for taking care of their mind, body, and spirit when they encounter social pressure. A chapter is devoted to mean girls—who they are, how they got that way, how to handle them, and how to work toward a better way of communicating going forward. Cyberbullying is widespread today and very damaging—this volume also provides strategies on how teens can protect themselves and guard against hurting others. By using the tips and techniques in this handbook, students will thrive during these years.

For a teen diagnosed with a learning disability or difference, schoolwork can be an enormous challenge. The first-person accounts in this compelling book offer real-life stories about struggling with attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, Asperger's, and other issues. Whether searching for a school where they can succeed or finding their creative voice, the teens move forward with grit and determination. Told in engaging and accessible prose, this book provides young adults with a road map as they learn to advocate for themselves so they can receive the education they deserve.

Then...Grigory "Grisha" Potemkin has had a successful long association with the powerful Empress Catherine of Russia. But Catherine and Grisha are older now and face new threats, both from powers outside of Russia and from those close to them. Haunted by the horrors of his campaign against the Muslim Turks, Grisha hopes to construct a mosque in the heart of the empire. Unfortunately, Catherine's much younger new lover, the ambitious Platon Zubov, stands in his way. Grisha determines that to preserve Catherine's legacy he must save her from Zubov's dangerous influence and win back her heart. Now...When she learns she is the lost heiress to the Romanov throne, Veronica Herrera's life turns upside down. Dmitry Potemkin, one of Grisha's descendants, invites Veronica to Russia to accept a ceremonial position as Russia's new tsarina. Seeking purpose, Veronica agrees to act as an advocate to free a Russian artist sentenced to prison for displaying paintings critical of the church and government. Veronica is both celebrated and chastised. As her political role comes under fire, Veronica is forced to decide between the glamorous perks of European royalty and staying true to herself. In Jennifer Laam's The Tsarina's Legacy, unexpected connections between Grisha and Veronica are revealed as they struggle to make peace with the ghosts of their past and help secure a better future for themselves and the country they both love.

The teenage years are a period of enormous growth and change, and maintaining a positive self-image during this tumultuous time can be a challenge. In this thoughtful book, young adults will read real stories of teens dealing with issues such as the stinging criticism of their peers, stage fright, and the sense of isolation one can feel even in a large group of people. These heartfelt first-person accounts are sure to resonate with teens as they offer a way forward, whether by working through a fear, participating in volunteer work, or passing on hard-won wisdom to younger children.

A teenage girl dealing with her father's prolonged absences as he works far from home. A teenage boy facing his fears as he prepares to tell his family that he is gay. These are just two of the heartfelt true-life stories covered in this engaging book. In these first-person accounts, readers are offered a glimpse into the lived experience of young adults confronting issues including adoption, divorce, and illness. Written in clear and compassionate prose, this insightful book captures what it means to be a young adult grappling with these important matters.

Experts refer to psychological bullying as relational aggression. In other words, the bully sets out to damage the victim’s relationships with others by affecting how peers view that person. Psychological bullying affects how the victim feels about himself or herself, as well. Readers learn that psychological bullying goes far beyond a one-time snub in the cafeteria or a single dirty look in the hallway. It is a relentless attack that leaves the victims crushed and confused. It can lead to lifelong problems for all involved: the victims, the bullies, and even those who are bystanders to these attacks. Readers examine how it feels to be psychologically bullied and why certain teens are more likely to be targets than others. The text analyzes why teens bully, as well as what victims can do when a bully singles them out for abuse. Additionally, the text discusses what is being done on the local and national level to combat psychological bullying. Although this type of bullying is a complex problem, there are positive steps to take that can make a world of difference to an individual or community.

Pesticides are used everywhere: in schools, homes, parks, and playgrounds, and especially in agriculture––the fruits and vegetables we eat carry the residue of one or more pesticides. In this riveting narrative, readers learn how pesticides became so popular in the United States and the many ways they can damage human health—both in the short term and long term. Asthma and cancer are linked to pesticides, as are developmental problems such as ADHD, autism, and lowered IQ. Pesticides can affect a woman’s fertility and the ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Readers can take steps to protect themselves and their communities from these dangerous chemicals by dealing with pests in a safer, more environmentally friendly way. The book examines integrated pest management, government regulation of pesticides, and ways teens can contribute to a healthier future, for example, by starting a garden club at school or in the neighborhood.