Books published by publisher Zest Books

Middle school friendships can be a source of great joy one day, then pain and anxiety the next. Friends and Frenemies examines the complexities of friendship and helps readers start building communication tools that will last a lifetime. The book tackles big questions such as: "How can I make friends?" and "What if I feel like I need to end a friendship?" Friends and Frenemies includes not just advice, but also comments from real kids, advice from older teens who have been there and done that, quizzes, polls, and other interactive elements that encourage readers to engage with the book, adding their own thoughts and experiences.

We live in an era of misinformation, much of it spread by authority figures, including politicians, religious leaders, broadcasters, and, of course, apps and websites. In this second edition, author John Grant uses ripped-from-the-headlines examples to clearly explain how to identify bad evidence and poor arguments. He also points out the rhetorical tricks people use when attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, and offers advice about how to take these unscrupulous pundits down. Updated to include a chapter on fake news, Debunk It serves as a guide to critical thinking for young readers looking to find some clarity in a confusing world.

Why? Answers to Everyday Scientific Questions gets to grips with concepts that appear simple and straightforward, but which most people, when asked, really can’t explain. Why is the sky blue? Why is water wet? Why do we need sleep? Why are there 24 hours in a day? For each question, author Joel Levy provides a simple, single line answer followed by more in-depth information about the scientific background on these essential topics. The book spans physics, biology, chemistry, geology, geography, meteorology, paleontology and planetary science  - allowing readers to wow friends and family alike with pithy answers to the obvious questions they never thought to ask.

The twentieth century ushered in a new world filled with a dazzling array of consumer goods. Even the poorest immigrant girls could afford a blouse or two. But these same immigrant teens toiled away in factories in appalling working conditions. Their hard work and sacrifice lined the pockets of greedy factory owners who were almost exclusively white men. The tragic Triangle Waist Factory fire in 1911 resulted in the deaths of over a hundred young people, mostly immigrant girls, who were locked in the factory. Told from the perspective of six young women who lived the story, this book reminds us why what we buy and how we vote really matter.

So you didn’t make the cheerleading squad. You wouldn’t be caught dead in one of those too-short pleated skirts anyway. Fact is, you’re not the same as everyone else. So what’s wrong with that? An insightful and comedic commentary on misfitting in, Uncool shows just how cool being uncool can be. Including stories and quotes from real teens, creative activities for alternative thinkers, and much more, Uncool is the independent girl’s guide for getting through the horrors of clone-happy high school.

Celebrated for its natural beauty and its abundance of wildlife, the Mekong river runs thousands of miles through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its basin is home to more than 70 million people and has for centuries been one of the world's richest agricultural areas and a biodynamic wonder. Today, however, it is undergoing profound changes. Development policies, led by a rising China in particular, aim to interconnect the region and urbanize the inhabitants. And a series of dams will harness the river's energy, while also stymieing its natural cycles and cutting off food supplies for swathes of the population. In Last Days of the Mighty Mekong, Brian Eyler travels from the river's headwaters in China to its delta in southern Vietnam to explore its modern evolution. Along the way he meets the region’s diverse peoples, from villagers to community leaders, politicians to policy makers. Through conversations with them he reveals the urgent struggle to save the Mekong and its unique ecosystem.

Heroes are superhuman. Or at least it's easy to assume that when you read ripped-from-the-news stories of derring-do. But in reality, almost anyone who's motivated can be a hero, and the heroes who make the biggest impact aren't always the ones who make headlines. This approachable, research-backed guide will equip kids with the tools they need to become everyday heroes. Along the way, you'll hear from real heroes living out the truth of psychologist Phil Zimbardo's words: "Most heroes are ordinary. It's the act of heroism that's extraordinary."

In a complicated political era when the United States feels divided, this book celebrates feminism and female contributions to politics, activism, and communities. Each of the forty-four women profiled in this illustrated book has demonstrated her capabilities and strengths in political and community leadership and activism, both in the United States and around the world. Written in an approachable, journalistic tone and rounded out by beautiful color portraits, history, key political processes, terminology, and thought-provoking quotes, this book will inspire and encourage women everywhere to enact change in their own communities and to pursue opportunities in public affairs.

The Mother Daughter Cookbook offers a unique team approach to cooking. Developed by professional chef Lynette Rohrer Shirk and approved by many up-and-coming young cooks (including her daughter), the book is designed to turn once confusion-wrought, team-cooking kitchen time into pure fun mother-daughter bonding time. Sound impossible? Lynette makes it a piece of cake.

College is about way more than just frats and finals. It's a time to learn new skills, encounter different cultures, test out potential careers, and take a stab at something new just because it sounds cool. To leave college a better, smarter, and more interesting person than you were when you started, all you need is an open mind, a willing spirit, and (of course) this book! These 77 entries cover everything from negotiating the terms of an apartment rental to attending a school-sponsored lecture event to hosting a movie marathon―and supplemental sidebars provide tips for doing everything cheaply and well. (But remember: The most important thing to do? Graduate!)

By the year 2025 nearly 2 billion people will live in regions or countries with absolute water scarcity, even allowing for high levels of irrigation efficiency. In the face of this emerging global water crisis, how should the planet's water be used and managed in the 21st century? Current international water policy sees nature competing with human uses of water. Hunt takes issue with this perspective. She suggests that nature is the source of water and only by making the conservation of nature an absolute priority will we have water in the future to apply to human uses. This book looks at the complexity of the problem; it provides a wide array of ideas, information, case studies and ecological knowledge--often from remote corners of the developing world--that could provide an alternative vision for water use and management at this critical time.

Super-Pop offers a maximum-pleasure, minimum-effort way to become smarter, happier, and more likely to survive your next family function (or a shark attack). This hilarious and wide-ranging guide sorts nearly 500 different bestsellers, blockbusters, and underappreciated gems into quirky top ten lists, like “Outwit Death: Essential Lessons in Survival,” and “Achieve Mindfulness: Movies That Will Show You the Way (With Wise Elders Now Included).” So whether you’re looking for some motivational workout music, need help planning a July 4th double feature, or just want to pick up some knowledge without straining your brain, this book has you covered. With new insights on old classics and fresh ideas for jaded eyes, Super Pop makes sense of pop culture – and then puts pop culture back to work!