Books in High-Fliers series

Survival. Would you be able to survive the frozen wastes of the Arctic or the blazing heat of the desert? What sort of house is safe from floods? Did you know that clothes can keep you cool as well as warm? Find out how the people who spend their lives in extreme conditions manage to live and work, how they get their food and water, what they wear, and how they travel. Text Type: ExplanationTheme/Topic: World Connections, Conflict and Challenge

Does your tongue have to be wet to taste? Can you catch sounds in your hands? Can you make cold water feel warm? Learn about experiments and make some surprising discoveries about yourself! Experiments on Myself uses explanatory and procedural text, which allow students to experience and integration of text types and structures.Text Type: ExplanationTheme/Topic: Medicine, Life Science

Medicine? Leeches to suck the blood clean, cow dung to heal cuts, and the nettles to cure sprains! Thanks to the lifesavers in this book and the discoveries they made, we no longer need such treatments to make us better. This pioneering work has helped us live longer, healthier lives than before.Text Type: Expository, Explanation, ReportTheme/Topic: Medicine, Life Science

Patrick's inventions are always getting him into trouble -- he can't help having a creative mind! Then he and his sister go to a special class for inventors, taught by Dr. Scriffle, creator of the Mean Dream Wonder Machine washing machine. Patrick is only trying to help his family with the laundry and take care of his tiny sister Hannah when he fiddles with the washing machine and turns it into something else altogether. Even though this gets him kicked out of the special class, it introduces Dr. Scriffle to Patrick's mom, which almost makes the kind doctor a member of the family!Text Type: Science FictionTheme/Topic: Physical Science, Adventure

While on a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house, Sam and Claire want to build their hamster a wonderful house to play in. Grandpa keeps warning them to keep the hamster under lock and key because he doesn't want Grandma to be frightened. Only when Hamper escapes does the truth come out: Grandpa is really the one who is afraid! In the end, Hamper is caught again, and Grandpa starts to deal with his fear. Main Characters: Sam, Claire, Grandma, Grandpa, and Hamper the HamsterText Type: Realistic FictionTheme/Topic: Personal Responsibility, Conflict and Challenge

Puzzles! Strange tapping sounds, mysterious messages, signs and signals! How can you unlock the secret and decipher the message? You need skill, patience, and, sometimes, a stroke of luck, if you want to be successful at cracking the code. This book describes the history and variety of codes, from earliest to the latest. What has been the effect of codes on society? How have codes impacted the lives of people throughout history?Text Type: Expository, Explanation, ReportTheme/Topic: Media and Communication, Physical Science

What makes an adventurer? Most people see a classic adventurer as a large, strong man, braving new lands and seeking riches and fame. Sometimes the true definition of an adventurer couldn't be more different. Meet Tania Aebi, a brave eighteen year old girl, who left behind her life in the big city and began a death-defying journey. Tania Aebi had just set out on a trip that few had ever attempted. She was going to sail around the world, by herself. Suddenly a wave crashed over her tiny boat. As she and her ship rolled in the huge waves, she didn't even know if she'd survive the night. Text Type: Explanation, RecountTheme/Topic: World Connections, Personal Responsibility

David and Chris are partners on a fact-finding field trip at the museum. David is annoyed with Chris, because Chris is too busy making stupid jokes to get any of their assignment done. Suddenly the peace of the museum is shattered -- the dinosaur skeletons have come to life, and an ancient asteroid appears to be the cause of it all. David and Chris find that it is up to them to save the planet from the destruction of a judgmental alien race, and somehow Chris's sense of humor does the trick. Main Characters: David, ChrisText Type: Fantasy FictionTheme/Topic: Earth Science, Adventure

Steven is used to getting pushed around by school bully Meatball. Then one day he meets self-described genius Neil Katz. Neil invents a machine that will stop the bullies once and for all -- by shrinking them! After Steven sees the machine in action, he tries to stop Neil. Unfortunately, Neil decides Steven is against him too, and shrinks him as well. Eventually, Steven convinces Neil to return everyone to their normal size, and while doing so, learns an important lesson about sticking up for himself and courage.Text Type: Fantasy FictionTheme/Topic: Conflict and Challenge, Physical Science

The ghost of Captain Blood contacts Mark because he needs some help -- his reputation as a fierce pirate is being tarnished by a professor who has been studying his life. It turns out the professor and a couple of thugs are after Captain Blood's treasure. Mark, Captain Blood, and Hector find the treasure chest first, the professor has a change of heart (after seeing the pirate's ghost ship), and Captain Blood rejoins his old crew.Text Type: Fantasy FictionTheme/Topic: Personal Responsibility, Human History

Catch a fish or go hungry. Run because your life depends on it. Build a fire or freeze to death. Long ago, people struggled to survive challenging weather and warfare. Today, when life is easier for most people, some of those old skills that helped people stay alive are now disguised as great sports pastimes. Learn how soccer relates to an ancient religious ceremony, and how Olympic games link back to long-ago battlefields. Text Type: ExplanationTheme/Topic: Human History, Sports

When Jake finds the best running shoes he has ever seen sitting on a trash can, he decides they are just what he needs for his upcoming track meet. When he runs in them, he goes faster than he ever has before. Anna soon figures out that the shoes are not normal, and that they are doing the running for Jake. Kevin Beadle, Jake's enemy, decides to steal the shoes. Kevin wins the big race, but not before the shoes' true owners show up ... from the future. The shoes go back to where they belong, Kevin is taught a lesson about greed, and Jake decides next year he'll win on his own terms.Text Type: Fantasy FictionTheme/Topic: Sports, Friendship