Books in American Icons series

Winfrey is smart, funny, compassionate, talented--and one of the richest and most powerful women in the world. Whether she was talking about her childhood experiences of abuse and rebllion, her lifelong struggle with weight, her favorite books, or her Angel Network of good deeds, the world was listening. How did Winfrey reach this pinnacle of success? Author Robin Westen has gathered the most compelling stories and quotes for this fun-to-read, information-packed biography.

Like many farmers living in the Great Plains during the 1930s, the Bucklers are ravaged by months of dust storms and drought. Out of desperation, they travel West with their children, Patty and Earl, in hopes of finding new prosperity. Through letters and diary entries written by the Buckler children, readers witness the disaster of the Dust Bowl and the countless days spent wishing for an end to the drought - and their hunger. As they travel across the country, young Earl searches for work so he can help provide for the family. using the children's first-person accounts as well as period illustrations and photographs, the book accurately depicts the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s and '40s.

This riveting study of Joe DiMaggio offers a more sympathetic look at his life beyond the baseball field, a reversal of how the legendary sports icon has been portrayed in recent years As the New York Yankees' star centerfielder from 1936 to 1951, Joe DiMaggio is enshrined in America's memory as the epitome in sports of grace, dignity, and that ineffable quality called "class." But his career after retirement, starting with his nine-month marriage to Marilyn Monroe, was far less auspicious. Writers like Gay Talese and Richard Ben Cramer have painted the private DiMaggio as cruel or self-centered. Now, Jerome Charyn restores the image of this American icon, looking at DiMaggio's life in a more sympathetic light.DiMaggio was a man of extremes, superbly talented on the field but privately insecure, passive, and dysfunctional. He never understood that for Monroe, on her own complex and tragic journey, marriage was a career move; he remained passionately committed to her throughout his life. He allowed himself to be turned into a sports memorabilia money machine. In the end, unable to define any role for himself other than "Greatest Living Ballplayer," he became trapped in "a horrible kind of minutia." But where others have seen little that was human behind that minutia, Charyn in Joe DiMaggio presents the tragedy of one of American sports' greatest figures.

The National Mall in Washington, DC, contains many iconic monuments and museums. These landmarks honor important people and events in US history. The National Mallexplores the history of this area and its relevance today. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

When Chris Rock steps on stage, he destroys the targets of his jokes. When he finishes his performance, the audience needs time to catch its breath. The laughter never stops! Chris Rock pulls no punches. He is brutally honest and no subject—politics, racism, pop culture—is safe from his humor. From humble beginnings in New York City to his superstar career as a stand-up comedian and actor, author Marty Gitlin unleashes the story of comic genius Chris Rock.

Readers witness the life of a Jewish family who move from Russia to New York City to escape persecution and starvation and to make a new life. Fact-filled narrative and historical photos plus fictional letters and journal entries from 12-year-old Emma Markowitz and her family paint a memorable picture of the typical European immigrant experience in the 1890s.

Walter Dean Myers tells it like it is in his award-winning novels about urban teenagers with real problems. With humor and a keen ear for dialogue, Myers creates characters that speak directly to today's teens. As a young reader, Myers could not find books about African-American boys like himself. Drawing upon his own struggles and experiences, he has filled that literary gap with fascinating novels filled with realistic stories that appeal to readers of all backgrounds and cultures.