Books in My Name Is America series

Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep's incredible JOURNAL OF WONG MING-CHUNG is now in paperback with a stunning repackaging!In 1852, during the height of the California Gold Rush, ten-year-old Wong makes the dangerous trip to America to live with his uncle, exchanging the famine and war of his native country for brutal bullies and grueling labor in America, Wong joins his uncle and countless others in the effort to strike it rich on the great "Golden Mountain." Unfortunately, he, and most of the rest of the dreamers, soon discover that there's no such thing as a Golden Mountain, only dirt, mud, and occasionally tiny flecks of gold dust--flecks that are to be turned over to the owners of the mines, in return for barely livable wages. However, someone as clever and resourceful as Wong will have to find other ingenious ways of making money if they're going to make it in America. But can they overcome the bitter, racist white Americans to find success?

Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky's exciting JOURNAL OF AUGUSTUS PELLETIER is now in paperback with a dynamic repackaging!Fourteen-year-old Augustus, half French, half Omaha Indian, sets out to proof himself worthy of Lewis and Clark on their great adventure of discovery. He follows the explorers for two hundred miles before making his presence known to the commanding captain of the Corps of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis, himself. Gus's ability to read and write makes him useful to the explorers, and he starts to keep a record of their travels. But traveling west isn't easy, and the company faces constant danger. Is Augustus a tough enough explorer to survive such hardships?

Acclaimed author William Durbin's exciting JOURNAL OF SEAN SULLIVAN is now in paperback with a dynamic repackaging!It's August 1867 and Sean has just arrived from Chicago, planning to work with his father on the Transcontinental Railroad. Sean must start at the bottom, as a water carrier, toting barrels of it to the thirsty men who are doing the backbreaking work on the line. At night, everyone is usually too tired to do anything but sleep, yet Sundays are free, and Sean discovers the rough and rowdy world of the towns that seem to sprout up from nowhere along the railroad's path over the prairie. But prejudices run rampant for both the Irish and Chinese workers -- especially when they start a deadly race to see who can lay track the fastest. Through Sean's eyes, the history of this era and the magnitude of his and his fellow workers' achievements come alive.

From Douglas Allen Deeds' journal entry: November 6 The Breens and I were lucky. We've found refuge in a deserted cabin that may have been built some ago by a fur trapper. The cabin is very crude... There holes in the roof. The stove is broke, but it is a great improvement on being outside. Outside where the storm rages, and the wind screams through the mountaintops and over the lake. Outside where the last few cattle are dying almost without complaint, as if grateful the end is near. Soon we will eat the frozen cattle... And then, when that is gone, what shall we eat? Shall we eat snow? Shall we eat the ice? Shall we eat the bark on the frozen trees? What shall we eat?

In Pat Hermes' sequel to Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth faces harsher times as she records the colony's daily struggle for survival. The My America series will be relaunched with new covers.The story of the feisty, determined Lizzie of Pat Hermes Our Strange New Land continues in this installment with the departure of both Captain John Smith and Lizzie's dear friend, Jessie. Facing new challenges, Lizzie records in her new diary all of the challenges that face the struggling colony.ndeed, food is scarce and there is no one left who can deal with the Indians wisely. As a result of starvation and disease, Lizzie watches hopelessly as many of the settlers die. She records all of this, but even more, she records the intimate lives of the children who remain there, along

In her debut for the My America series, Sharon Dennis Wyeth introduces readers to Birdsong, an amazingly literate young slave boy in antebellum Kentucky.This is the family's tryng escape from bondage.March 1858Mama and me ran. Our turn to fly. We will meet up with Daddy someday. Mr. Renfield said we will try to make that happen. Follow the drinkin' gourd said Mr. Renfield. You will taste your freedom. What does freedom taste like? Where is Daddy?Corey Birdsong is a spiritual, lively young boy in search of freedom in the same country that has made an economy of slavery. He and his family are owned by the Hart family of Kentucky. But, when they learn that Roland,Corey's father is to be sold, Roland flees to the North and Corey and his mother follow.