Books published by publisher Second ACT Press

Maggie has been saving her delivery job money for weeks to buy her best friend, Jo, a chocolate bar for her birthday. It's 1947, and while the war is over and ration tickets are gone, food prices are going up. Then it is announced that the price of chocolate is going up too―now Maggie can never afford to buy a chocolate bar! And neither can the other kids. Maggie and her friends leap into action and wage a strike against the price hike. But what can a bunch of kids do? More than you think! Based on real events, Maggie and the Chocolate War is filled with photographs and newspaper documents covering an amazing historical moment.

The night that Rachel and Toby's parents are taken away by the Nazis, they give their daughters three gold coins. "Use these wisely to help save your lives," they tell them. They also ask the girls to promise that they will always stay together. This compelling true story follows the girls as they confront the daily horrors of Auschwitz, protecting one another, sharing memories, fears and even laughter. Always together. But when Rachel becomes ill and is taken away by Nazi guards, likely forever, Toby risks her life to use the well-hidden gold coins to rescue her little sister.

Frederick has a lot of rules for himself—like if someone calls him Freddy, he doesn't have to answer them, and he only wears shirts with buttons. But when his friend Angel—his only friend—goes missing and he is questioned by the police, he doesn't have a rule for that. Friendship is a new concept for Frederick, so when Angel asked him to keep a secret no matter what, he agreed. But do the rules of friendship apply when your friend is missing?

Sandy loves visiting her grandpa's house by the beach every summer. She and her dog Pepper play in the sand and surf, chasing the seagulls. But on this day her walk on the beach is ruined when she comes across the garbage left over from someone else's picnic—pop cans, half-eaten hot-dog buns, and even a yellow mustard container. Angry, Sandy can't understand why anyone would want to dirty her beautiful beach. She and Pepper are startled by the arrival of the 'Garbage Lady,' who helps pick up the mess. The Garbage Lady explains to Sandy that everyone has an ecological footprint—the mark they leave on the world—and that it is their responsibility to shrink it. Sandy is impressed and runs home to tell her grandpa. A wonderful introduction to environmental responsibility, the book ends with a list of everyday ways we can all shrink our footprint. Fittingly illustrated with a unique collage technique using recycled materials.

When Rosie comes home to find her mom dancing alone in the living room—on a school day—she knows something wonderful is about to happen. So when one of her two mothers announces, "Your Mum and I are getting married!" they can't wait to start planning the big day. At this party, family, friends and fun come together for a joyous celebration of love in a changing world.

Explore the true story of Iggy, a special dog who helps kids through difficult times. When children disclose abuse, they often navigate an unfamiliar chain of events, sometimes testifying in court. Iggy is a specially trained facilitator dog who helps make each child he meets feel comfortable with the job they have to do. Iggy eases their path with his gentle, nonjudgmental friendship. He can be present for police interviews, counseling sessions, court preparation and testifying. He helps children aged three to eighteen feel more confident. It's a big job, but not too big for a dog with an even bigger heart.

Ryan finds his freedom in the water, where he is not bound by gravity and his wheelchair. When he rescues his schoolmate, Jack, from the water their lives become connected, whether they like it or not. Ryan keeps Jack's secret about that day in the water, but he knows that Jack needs help. The school is full of rumors about Jack's sexuality, and he has few friends. Almost against his better judgement, Ryan decides to invite Jack on a trip to Comic Con he's planned with his best friend Cody, the captain of the school's swim team. The three boys make an unlikely combination, but they will each have the chance to show whether they are brave enough to go against the stereotypes the world wants to define them by.

Hana's Suitcase, which has been translated into more than thirty-five languages and is currently being developed into two feature-length films, tells the incredible true story of a Japanese Holocaust educator who traveled the globe to track down information about the owner of a suitcase found at Auschwitz. Her search led her to the owner's long-lost brother and a history of both love and tragedy. Since its publication in 2002, the story of Hana Brady, a little girl who wanted to become a teacher, has captured the hearts and minds of schoolchildren and adults around the globe. Now, with a stage play touring North America, Hana's story becomes even more alive. Hana's Suitcase on Stage is a unique volume that combines the story and images of the original book with the complete script of award-winning writer Emil Sher's theatrical adaptation. It's a must-read-and a must-see-for teachers and schoolchildren from coast to coast. Karen Levine has won several awards for her radio work, including two Peabody awards. Levine originally produced Hana's Suitcase as a radio documentary and later made it into a book. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. Emil Sher is a multitalented, award-winning writer whose works include stage plays, radio dramas, short fiction and essays. Sher lives with his wife and two children in Toronto, Ontario, and Morin Heights, Quebec. Hana's Suitcase on Stage opened to very positive reviews and lots of press in St. Louis in January 2007. Here are a few of the review comments: --- Riverfront Times "This is a big deal for St. Louis, and the exquisite production merits the widespread support it is receiving... The set design by Dunsi Dai enhances the story's emotional power... Late in the evening, when Hana lit a birthday candle, I was reminded of a speech from William Hanley's little-remembered 1964 drama, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. A former railroad engineer on the Auschwitz line who delivered countless Jews to their death says, "Every year a bunch of Jewish people get together and light a fat candle for the 6 million Jews the Nazis killed. A candle. For 6 million people you light the sun, maybe. But a candle?" Hana's Suitcase is only a candle, but it burns brightly. --- Jewish In St. Louis Article - "Real Characters from Hana's Suitcase Get 'Rock Star Ovation' at Holocaust Museum" --- Jewsweek Article - "'Hana's Suitcase' has premiere in America" --- St. Louis Post Dispatch "Metro Theater Company and The Edison Theatre recently celebrated their sold-out opening night performance of the U.S. premiere of "Hana's Suitcase," a true story of the Holocaust. A champagne and dessert reception was held to honor featured guests including the real-life Hana's surviving brother, George Brady and his family, who flew in from Toronto; the playwright Emil Sher, also from Canada; Fumiko Ishioka, a principal character in the play who flew in from Japan; and the consuls general from Israel and Japan." --- KSDK NewsChannel 5 "Hana's Suitcase is a thought provoking new play that is making its U.S. premiere right here in St. Louis... It's a powerful production, about two children caught in the holocaust and a young Japanese teacher's determination to tell their story. It's a production you'll want to make sure to see with your kids." --- This Week In St. Louis "This compelling new play for families and young people delivers a sensitive message about why we must teach tolerance and acceptance." --- Washington University in St. Louis Record Article - U.S. Premiere of Hana's Suitcase Comes to Edison Carol North, artistic director for Metro Theatre, directs the cast of nine, which is led by Haruna Tsuchiya as Fumiko and Leah Schumacher as Hana... "We are thrilled to be partnering with Edison Theatre to bring this powerful play to St. Louis audiences," North said. "Emil Sher's script weaves past and present in a seamless theatrical journey that takes us through the darkness of the Holocaust and into the light of hope." "Hana's story isn't sugar-coated. But there's also a moment of redemption in that the Japanese children are able to rescue her story from oblivion. By emphasizing their active involvement, Hana's Suitcase shows that children can play a positive role in shaping their world and responding to injustice―that they're not just passive victims."

The latest addition to the acclaimed Woman's Hall of Fame Series profiles ten incredible women with an itch to invent. Written in an accessible, engaging, and informative style, Incredible Women Inventors examines both the challenges and successes in the lives of Canadian and international problem-solvers. From Bette Nesmith Graham, inventor of Liquid Paper, to Elizabeth "Elsie" MacGill, the first woman aircraft designer in the world, young readers will have much to motivate them, both in science and in life.

A unique and much-needed collection, The Smart Princess takes readers inside the fantasies, dreams and disappointments of young people who are Deaf. This book is written and illustrated by winners of a national competition, the Ladder Awards, organized by the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf. In one tale a princess runs away when her intolerant aunt does not allow her to sign. Another story looks at the experience of a Deaf child at a hearing school. Two strangers, one giant and one tiny, become friends despite their difficulties in seeing each other sign.