Books published by publisher Zest Books, 2013

Regine Stokke began to blog about her day-to-day life shortly after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in 2008. Her stated purpose at the time was to give people a sense of what it was like to live with such a serious illness, and her blog became an almost instant classic. She writes openly about the emotional and physical aspects of her 15-month struggle to survive and explains how her disease impacts her life. In the course of her illness, Regine participated in photography exhibits, went to concerts, enjoyed her friends and family, and advocated for registering as a blood and bone marrow donor. She was a typical teenager with an incredible will to live, and the lessons that she learned have relevance for us all. Through her eyes, readers will discover a more vivid worldand a new appreciation for life, art, and the power of the human spirit.

Arguably one of the most prominent US Supreme Court Justices at the moment, Sonia Sotomayor has paved her own way to enact profound changes and reforms, despite the obstacles that stood in her way. And she certainly has had her share of adversity: she was diagnosed with diabetes when she was just eight years old, lived in housing projects in the Bronx in her youth, and fought (and still is fighting) against blatant discrimination throughout her career. Now in her early 60s, Justice Sotomayor has already made history in being appointed to the Court as the first Latina justice, the third woman justice, and one of the three youngest justices in this position.

History of full of liars. Not just little-white-telling liars, but big-honkin', whopper-telling liars—people who can convince us that even the most improbable, outrageous, nonsensical stories are true. And the worst part is that we'll believe it. Whoppers tells the story of history's greatest liars and the lies they told, providing a mix of narrative profiles of super-famous liars, lies, and/or hoaxes, as well as more obscure episodes. Famous liars include people you might have learned about in school, like P. T. Barnum, who basically made a living lying to people for money; liars you might never have heard of before, like Victor Lustig, who managed to "sell" the Eiffel Tower twice in the 1920s; and hoaxes like the Loch Ness Monster Photo Hoax. The book will also include illustrations, sidebars, and infographics.

This incredibly wide-ranging collection of maps—all inspired by literary classics—offers readers a new way of looking at their favorite fictional worlds. Andrew DeGraff's stunningly detailed artwork takes readers deep into the landscapes from The Odyssey, Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice, Invisible Man, A Wrinkle in Time, Watership Down, A Christmas Carol, and more. Sure to reignite a love for old favorites and spark fresh interest in more recent works as well, Plotted provides a unique new way of appreciating the lands of the human imagination.

A comprehensive guide for young adults on how to organize schoolwork, lockers, bedrooms, and even schedules. Take a quiz to identify your organizing style and get great advice about making decisions, purging closets, and creating the perfect space to relax, work, and store belongings. With fun and useful illustrations, easy-to-follow charts, and ample doses of humor, Where's My Stuff? is an incredible asset for anyone who wants to get it together and keep it together, for good. Newly updated for readers living in a digital world, this 2nd edition includes tips on managing online files and backups, digital planners, and more. Written in collaboration with professional teen organizer Lesley Martin.

Galileo, Einstein, Curie, Darwin, Hawking ― we know the names, but how much do we really know about these people? Galileo gained notoriety from his battle with the Vatican over the question of heliocentrism, but did you know that he was also an accomplished lute player? And Darwin of course discovered the principle by which new species are formed, but his bold curiosity extended to the dinner table as well. (And how many people can say they've eaten an owl!) In Eureka! John Grant ― author of Debunk It!, Discarded Science, Spooky Science and many others ― offers fifty vivid portraits of groundbreaking scientists, focusing not just on the ideas and breakthroughs that made them so important but also on their lives and their various...quirks.

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.

Every teacher, school, and class is unique, but there are certain things that successful students have in common no matter what. Make the Grade helps students everywhere stay on top of schoolwork by dissecting the school week as students actually experience it, and offering realistic solutions to common problems, from difficult teachers and over-booked schedules to boring homework and the endless variety of distractions. This book also includes sections on memory tricks, reading tips, note-taking, organization, and test preparation.

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.

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.

Riots over the medical use of cadavers, public access to institutions for the insane, and full-blown surgeries without the aid of anesthetics or painkillers. Welcome to the middle ages of American medicine.Bleed, Blister, Puke, and Purge exposes the extraordinary practices and major players of American medical history, from America's colonial era to the late 1800s. It's hard to believe that today's cutting-edge medicine originated from such crude beginnings, but this book reminds us to be grateful for today's medical care, while also raising the question: what current medical practices will be the horrors of tomorrow?

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!