Books in Extraordinary series

The adventures of explorers are some of the most dramatic and exciting stories in history. Most young readers know about the "big names" in exploration--Columbus, Magellan, Da Gama, and so on. But in her new series, Rebecca Stefoff not only offers new perspectives on these old timers, she also exposes her readers to some of the travelers and explorers who do not appear in the traditional history books. Consequently, the books in the series may occasionally wander off the high road of history to follow the fascinating byways of adventure and anecdote as they span all parts of the world in over 2,000 years. The result is a wide-ranging yet coherent picture of geographical discovery, and a knowledge of dozens of extraordinary men and women whose journeys of discovery have reflected and shaped our view of the world. Each book focuses on one extraordinary aspect of exploration. Accidental Explorers looks at explorers who set out to look for one thing but found something else entirely, or who made marvelous discoveries by accident or sheer luck--Jedediah Smith, who pioneered the overland crossing to California, Henry Morton Stanley, the newspaperman who explored central Africa, and others more obscure but no less colorful, such as Chang Ch'ien, a kidnapped Chinese diplomat who involuntarily explored much of Asia in the 2nd century B.C.

What makes Sonia Sotomayor extraordinary? Read this book to find out. This title explores her childhood growing up in New York City and her education, including her high-profile time at Princeton. We also follow her road to becoming the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, including her time at the court of appeals. Read about others’ perspectives on her, how life has changed for women with Sonia’s ambitions, and how Sonia has broken boundaries.

What makes Hillary Clinton extraordinary? Read this book to find out. This title explores her childhood in Chicago and her education up to her time studying law at Yale. We see her success in law and politics, first as a lawyer, then later as First Lady of the United States, and finally attaining political office on her own terms. Read about others’ perspectives on her life, how her life is different to women in the past, and how she has broken boundaries as a lawyer, a First Lady, and a politician.