Books with author Kathleen Tracy

Written especially for young adult readers, this series helps place each significant invention, discovery, or development in historical perspective while exploring the life of the person responsible for each breakthrough. Readers will travel back in time to learn about each important scientific, medical, or technological discovery. No science fiction story even approximates the mystery and suspense contained in these true science biographies.Story of the doctor who invented the artificial kidney, or dialysis machine after watching helplessly as countless patients died from renal failure.

Constantine is considered one of the most influential leaders of the Roman Empire. He spent his childhood in humble surroundings raised by a single mother before reuniting with his father, Constantius, a powerful military leader who eventually co-governed the Empire. Known as a brave soldier, Constantine followed in his father’s military footsteps and earned a reputation as a natural leader. His victory at Milvian Bridge against Emperor Licinius in 312 a.d. changed the course of not just Roman history but of the world. Constantine united Rome under one rule, moved the capital of the Empire to Byzantium, and legalized Christianity, proclaiming it the official religion of Rome. His other legacies include introducing a new currency that would be used for several centuries and instituting a system of having workers pay rent to landowners in exchange for growing crops, which set the foundation for the serf system in medieval European society.

Paul Cézanne is considered the father of modern art, but his road to artistic immortality was paved with professional obstacles and self-doubt. Born to a wealthy family, Cézanne turned his back on his father s banking business and moved to Paris to pursue a career as an artist. The rigid style of traditional painting did not interest him. He believed all the rules prevented artists from fully expressing themselves. Rather than conform, he fell in with a group of maverick artists known as the Impressionists. What set Cézanne apart was his use of color and light. He also took his canvases outside to paint in natural light. Cézanne worked in anonymity for most of his life, struggling with critical rejection, destroyed friendships, and isolation. It wasn t until after his death that he earned the recognition that had eluded him in life.

Brilliant, arrogant, passionate, ambitious, and, ultimately, enduring, Cicero is considered the greatest of all Roman orators. Determined to be famous from a young age, Cicero first made a name for himself in his twenties as a fiery attorney, who won many cases solely on the power of his speeches. He entered politics and quickly worked his way up the Roman political hierarchy until he fulfilled his dream of joining the all-powerful Roman Senate. It was there that Cicero delivered some of his most famous orations in an effort to prevent political corruption, civic unrest, and general incompetence from diminishing the republic he loved. In his later years, Cicero wrote philosophical essays on the law and the duties of public servants that are still studied in university law schools. In the end, it was Cicero's political outspokenness that cost him his life. But dying for his beliefs insured that his dream of being remembered through the ages came true.

Losing made Chris Daughtry a winner. The American Idol contestant s surprising elimination from the show initially left fans and Daughtry stunned and bitterly disappointed. He had begun to believe the fan sites that were predicting he would win it all. Finally, it had seemed, all those years of singing with local bands back in North Carolina were paying off. Then it was all snatched away when he was voted off the show three weeks from the finale. It wasn t long before Chris realized that being free from Idol was an opportunity to go back to his musical roots performing with a rock band. He turned down an offer to join Fuel as their lead singer and chose to form his own group, which he called, of course, Daughtry. Chris had one chance and was determined to make it or fail on his own talent. By betting on himself and his band, Chris Daughtry struck gold.

Although his career spanned a mere twenty years, Édouard Manet remains one of the most influential artists in history. Rejecting the classical style of painting religious or mythological subjects, Manet was one of the first artists in the nineteenth century to paint modern people in modern situations. Many of his paintings depicted the everyday street life of Paris, especially the cafés. The realism of his art offended the mainstream art community, and as a result, Manet s work was criticized as being obscene and unskilled. Despite the critics, paintings such as The Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia inspired the Impressionist movement and marked the beginning of modern art.

For most souls, the Greek Underworld was a world of eternal shadows. The dead were ferried across a river in a boat guided by the grim Charon, who demanded payment from each soul. As they disembarked, a low growl rumbled through the silence, and a huge creature with three heads emerged from the dank mist along the riverbank. It was Cerberus, Hades watchdog who guarded the gates of his realm. The souls arriving had nothing to fear from the beast but any souls trying to escape would be torn to shreds. Once a soul entered the Underworld, it was Cerberus s job to make sure it never left. Cerberus is one of the best-known monsters in Greek mythology. His story takes readers on an intriguing tour of the Underworld and inside his unwitting part in the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Despite his fearsomeness, Cerberus is not seen as evil; instead he is respected as Hades loyal protector, making him perhaps the most appreciated monster of them all.