Books with author Joe Fitzpatrick

As long as people have lived in community they have had systems of government. With historical and full-color photographs complementing documentary texts, Odysseys in Government invites advanced readers along on a journey to experience four of the most well-known formal governing systems like never before. Comparing and contrasting features of one style against another's, these titles feature a sophisticated design that serves as a fitting backdrop to historical images. Investigative side panels, colored glossary terms, and a timeline assist in making the text accessible to a wide range of learners. An examination of the democratic form of government, including its basic ideologies and structure, its best-known leaders throughout history, and countries affected by its system of rule.

At 15 years old, Ally Queen is uprooted from her comfortable city existence and dumped in a small town. Her mother, witness to a hit-and-run, is suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the quiet country life is supposed to improve her emotional state. Instead, the move just seems to make things worse—for Mom, for Ally, for everyone. Ally misses the way things used to be; she misses playing with her dad and little brother. But she’s a teenager now, and teenage girls don’t go fishing even if they really like it. When Ally meets Rel, she feels like she’s hit rock bottom, but first impressions can be deceptive. As she starts to relax into herself, Ally finds life doesn’t need to be as hard as she makes it. This is an absorbing and poignant story of first love and self-discovery for readers both young and old.

How boring!"" thought the miller's son when his dad gave him a cat for a present after giving his brothers land and money. What he didn't know was that the cat was clever--so clever was able to trick a king into giving the son a castle, land, and an introduction to his daughter, the princess. In this classic French tale, we are reminded not to judge a book by its cover, and that there's no limit to what one can accomplish with a little gusto and a fantastic pair of boots!

Spencer Gray is twelve years old -finally old enough to join Dad in his glider. His mates are going to be so jealous! Going up is awesome. Spencer can't believe he's actually there; can't believe he and his dad are flying in an aircraft with no engine high above the earth, the pastures green below them. Crazy! But when disaster strikes the glider mid-flight, leaving his dad badly injured, Spencer will need to be nothing short of amazing. Written in the believable and compelling voice of a 12-year-old boy. The Amazing Spencer Gray is a testimony to resilience and action that empowers young people. Suspenseful yet uplifting, this is a story of survival, family, and friendship.

“Fascinating. . . . One of the best books ever written on the rise and fall of a great college football coach.” —Allen Barra, San Francisco Chronicle The Lion in Autumn takes readers inside Penn StateÂ's storied football program as legendary coach Joe Paterno fights to turn his struggling team into a winner once again. In more than a half century at Penn State, Paterno has won more bowl games (21) than any other coach and more games (354) than all but one, en route to two national championships and five perfect seasons. But in the new millennium hard times arrived in Happy Valley. His Nittany Lions had losing seasons in four of five years, dropping sixteen of twenty-three games in 2003 and 2004. There were boos at Beaver Stadium and increasing calls for the aging Paterno to step down. Award-winning sportswriter Frank Fitzpatrick followed JoePa through the 2004 season as the beloved coach struggled to save himself and his storied program. Fitzpatrick trailed Paterno from fund-raisers to the spring practices to the sidelines, detailing how the coach endured another losing season while building a team that would win the Orange Bowl and compete for the national championship in 2005. Interweaving stories from past seasons into the narrative, Fitzpatrick fleshes out the legend of Paterno. BACKCOVER: “Insightful. . . . Fascinating reading.” —Chicago Tribune “A rather startling success. . . . Significant. . . . literary. . . . [Fitzpatrick] relies on his own tenacity and attention to detail with just the right amount of historical perspective.” —Pittsburgh Post- Gazette “[Demystifies] the college football coach, moving behind the spectacle of Saturday afternoon to reveal flesh and soul and humanity.” —Buz Bisinger, The New York Times “You donÂ't have to be a Penn State fan to appreciate it.” —ESPN.com