Books with author Kathleen Tracy

Justin Bieber has rocketed to international fame thanks to homemade videos posted on YouTube. His meteoric rise to the top of the music charts is a Cinderella story with a digital-age twist. Before he was famous, Justin had to overcome many struggles. His parents divorced when he was young. At school, he was frequently bullied because he was smaller than the other kids his age. But his decision to participate in a local talent contest and then to post his performance online for family would change his life forever. Discover the behind-the-scenes story of Justin s journey from growing up in a small Canadian town to becoming a global teenage heartthrob. Meet the people who helped get him his break, and find out what Justin says you should never do on a first date.

Johnny Depp has played many roles, on screen and off, over the course of his life musician, teen idol, Hollywood bad boy, night club owner, eccentric actor, devoted family man. But the role he ll be most remembered for is the most unlikely action adventure movie star . . . with a twist. As the foppish Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp is the force behind one of the most successful film franchises in history. Depp grew up wanting to be a musician. When his band broke up, he went on an acting audition because it sounded like more fun than taking a telemarketing job selling pens. His striking looks got him parts, but Depp quickly proved he was much more than just another handsome face. Thoughtful and unpretentious, Depp has created one memorable film character after another. Although he never set out to be a star and remains uncomfortable with the label he has become one of Hollywood s most respected and fascinating talents.

Visiting Cuba is like taking a fifty-year step back in time. Isolated from much of the Western World since Fidel Castro came to power in 1961, Cuba remains untouched by modern culture. DeSotos, Nash Ramblers, and Kaisers automobiles practically extinct on U.S. streets are the only cars available to the few Cubans who can afford to own one. Daily life runs at an unhurried pace, but the evenings are filled with dancing and traditional music at clubs and street festivals. The lack of modernization has been a boon for Cuba s wildlife and natural resources. The government has established many protected areas, including six Biosphere Reserves. As a result, Cuba is emerging as a top destination for eco-tourists from around the world. From the historic city of Havana and its pirate past to the arts and culture of Santiago de Cuba and the lush rain forests of the Sierra Maestra range, get up close and personal with this unique country s rich history and thriving culture.

As a singing duo, Aly and AJ burst onto the music scene in 2005 with the release of their debut album, Into the Rush. But the sisters from Torrance, California, are anything but overnight sensations. They began performing as toddlers singing in church. When they were a little older, they started modeling and appearing in commercials. AJ s acting career took off first, but Aly soon got her big break when she was cast in Phil of the Future. Meanwhile, music has remained their primary passion. Both sisters are accomplished musicians and talented songwriters and now, they are also rock stars. However, unlike other young stars whose personal lives land them in trouble, Aly and AJ are devout Christians. They are proud to be role models for kids everywhere, proving that you can be successful and have fun without compromising your beliefs.

What do you do when your refuge is not the haven you imagined?Aurella and Mavic have escaped a witch hunt in Dovice, only to discover that Rashtica has also been corrupted by a wicked king. Unlike King Slathgar, this king doesn't kill powerful people, but collects them for his army. No one is safe from forced recruitment, not even children. Though Rashtica is full of witches and warlocks, magic is rarely done in public for fear of being spotted by one of the king's knights and forced into servitude. Once again, Aurella must hide her power or risk capture.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics. To critics, she is willful and ambitious a liberal more interested in promoting her agenda than uniting the country. To supporters, she s intelligent and committed an advocate of social causes such as universal health care that would benefit average citizens. Abhor or admire her, the importance of Hillary s historic run for the Democratic presidential nomination is indisputable. Before most people became acquainted with Hillary as First Lady, when her husband Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, she was an accomplished attorney and activist, serving on several state and national boards promoting legal aid, health care, and education. After putting her personal ambitions aside during her husband s presidency, Hillary returned to public service in 2000 and was elected U.S. Senator from New York, becoming the first former First Lady to hold a Senate seat. Eight years later she announced her candidacy for president, initiating a race that would prove to be one of the most dramatic and suspenseful in American election history.