Ann Kerns – författare

In every age, science and technology have played an important role in advancing human civilization. From architecture to engineering, communication to transportation, humans have invented and developed extraordinary wonders. Architecture is a key element of every culture. From the earliest huts, humans have been building a variety of structures in which to live, work, and play. Sometimes we take our buildings for granted, but architecture impacts both the functionality and aesthetics of our world. Engineering and art come together in architects’ designs to create some of the most amazing and beautiful structures that have ever existed. In this book, we’ll explore seven wonders of architecture, from the dizzying height of the Eiffel Tower, to the love-inspired Taj Mahal, to the heated competition that resulted in two of New York’s tallest buildings. Along the way, we’ll see advancements in materials, technology, and construction techniques, and we’ll learn the stories of how and why these architectural achievements became important to the world.

Knights in armor weighed so much that they had to be lifted onto their horses. Medieval barbers doubled as dentists. Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. You may have heard these common sayings or beliefs before. But are they really true? Can they be proven through research? Let''s investigate seventeen statements about the Middle Ages and find out which ones are right, which ones are wrong, and which ones stump even the experts! Find out whether King Arthur really ruled England during the Middle Ages! Discover whether a terrible plague killed millions of people! See if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction with Is That a Fact?

In this gripping story of a historic clash between repressive government forces and individuals seeking freedom, we''ll explore the reasons that led students in China to defy authority. We''ll learn the details of their demands and of the shattering events that followed when they took to the streets to press for their civil rights. "In the blink of an eye, the tank was approaching the sidewalk and closing in on me. It seemed as if the barrel of its gun was inches from my face. I could not dodge it in time."―Fang Zheng, a student demonstrator at Tiananmen Square In the spring of 1989, university students in Beijing grabbed world headlines with a courageous stand against decades of Communist authoritarian rule in China. Thousands and then millions of students and workers from all over China gathered on the city''s Tiananmen Square to support demands for democracy, clean government, and increased personal freedoms. China''s premier, Li Peng, and his supporters wanted to crush the demonstration, and the government declared martial law on May 12. The world watched as army tanks and troops reached the city center on June 2. Soldiers fired their guns as students struggled to flee. A single demonstrator captured international attention as viewers around the globe watched him face off against encroaching military tanks. The army was in control of Beijing, and thousands of demonstrators were killed, wounded, or arrested.

Villains in the Wild West tied their victims to railroad tracks. Native Americans had a use for every part of the buffalo they hunted. The West had haunted ghost towns. You may have heard these common beliefs before. But are they really true? Can they be proven through research? Let’s investigate seventeen statements about the Wild West and find out which ones are right, which ones are wrong, and which ones stump even the experts! Find out if cowboys really wore big hats, chaps, and boots! Learn whether Calamity Jane was a real person! See if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction with Is That a Fact?

Nora Reilly is an old soul. Her idea of fun is reading a Jane Austen novel in her family''s Victorian home. She didn''t expect to find a kindred spirit in the house''s oldest occupant, Tom Barnes. Tom is a sweet and handsome boy who died over a hundred years ago. His soul is trapped in the house, and he''s not alone. There are other mysterious tenants . . . and darker shadows, sinister and nameless.Does love stand a ghost of a chance against such odds? Nora''s friends aren''t so sure. They think she should give up the ghost and look for a boyfriend who is a little more lively. But Nora will do whatever it takes to make the relationship work, even against the threat of meddling ghost hunters, snooping psychics, and the worst danger of all to her first solid relationship—her parents.

Nora Reilly is an old soul. Her idea of fun is reading a Jane Austen novel in her family''s Victorian home. She didn''t expect to find a kindred spirit in the house''s oldest occupant, Tom Barnes. Tom is a sweet and handsome boy who died over a hundred years ago. His soul is trapped in the house, and he''s not alone. There are other mysterious tenants . . . and darker shadows, sinister and nameless.Does love stand a ghost of a chance against such odds? Nora''s friends aren''t so sure. They think she should give up the ghost and look for a boyfriend who is a little more lively. But Nora will do whatever it takes to make the relationship work, even against the threat of meddling ghost hunters, snooping psychics, and the worst danger of all to her first solid relationship—her parents.