Kathy Furgang – författare

Engaging text breaks down the complicated subject of the stock market and explains what it is, its history, what really happens on Wall Street, and how it can affect readers personally. Students will gain valuable fiscal knowledge that will serve them well in school and in life.

When we flick on a lamp switch, we rarely think of the science and engineering behind the light. This straightforward and accessible text informs readers about the interconnected network that electricity takes as it moves from suppliers to users. From power stations and voltage switches to the power lines that lead to our homes, readers will gain a greater understanding of the energy we use every day. A follow-up activity utilizes a maze that allows readers to trace the correct path of electricity through a power grid.

In 1956, the United States celebrated the opening of its first interstate highway. Since then, the country has been connected from one end to the other with a matrix of highways and superhighways. This compelling book introduces readers to the engineering feat of building the superhighways that have allowed us to live more connected lives. Readers will learn about the fascinating challenges that engineers face when building superhighways over waterways and roads, underground, and with the latest safety features. A follow-up activity provides students with a road map and encourages them to write directions from one city to another.

We take it for granted every day, but clean water is one of the most important resources we have. This behind-the-scenes look at where our water comes from and where it goes after we use it gives readers a fascinating look at how our cities and towns are structured. Readers will be given a stimulating look at our sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants, which track the water through the system. A follow-up activity encourages readers to track their water usage for a week to emphasize the importance of clean water.

This book explores the life of Pope Francis, a Roman Catholic pope of many firsts. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and even the first from the Southern Hemisphere. This thoughtful and insightful book discusses the pope''s early life as Jorge Mario Bergoglio and his work as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before studying to become a priest. The book''s focus will be on his concern for and work with the poor, and his outreach to people of different faiths.

One of America''s bestselling children''s book authors cartooned his way to fame. This accessible, easy-to-follow book about Diary of a Wimpy Kid author, Jeff Kinney, offers fascinating facts about the creator''s life and work. From his time as a cartoonist for his college newspaper to his international fame as an author, Kinney has stayed dedicated to the art of storytelling. Millions of children around the world have enjoyed the antics of Kinney''s lovable middle school character, Greg Heffley. It''s not just doodling. Kinney''s humorous work has captured the hearts of kids everywhere, and has them reading, too.

This visual and instructive look at satellite maps and street maps helps readers understand the symbols, road markings, and land features of these types of maps. Concentration on a smaller area helps readers really study them carefully. A follow-up activity encourages readers to draw their own street map of their town or neighborhood.

One of the most important things about living in today''s modern world is the ability to travel. Bridges are one of the most important aspects of our modern transportation system. Since the beginning of civilizations, simple bridges have been used to get people over rivers, across valleys, and even across mountains. Today, technology allows engineers to design the most amazing architectural marvels in the world. This resource explores the fascinating history of bridge building and focuses on the engineering accomplishments that will allow safe and sustainable transportation today and far into the future.

Give your readers a fascinating biography about one of the most honored and respected actresses in Hollywood. This accessible, easy-to-follow book about Viola Davis provides an engaging timeline of the actress''s life. Viola''s early years helped shape the roles she chose as an adult. Playing everyday Americans such as wives, mothers, and hired help got her noticed by moviegoers and critics alike, and led to her becoming the only African-American woman to be nominated for three Academy Awards. The engaging text is accompanied by dynamic, full-color photographs, as well as direct quotes from Viola herself.

You may know her from the Harry Potter movies as Harry''s pal, Hermione Granger, but Emma Watson has come a long way since the hit films shot her to fame as a young child. In her post-Potter years, Emma has acted in serious films, graduated from an Ivy League university, and become a serious activist. This compelling book about Emma''s life provides an inspiring look at how her career and education inspired her to speak out for women''s rights around the world, eventually being named a United Nations Women Goodwill ambassador. The straightforward, engaging text is supplemented by full-color photographs, quotes from the actress, and fun facts.

In recent years, the prime minister of Canada has made a name for himself on the international political stage, becoming known for his dynamic personality and influential leadership style. This fact-filled book explores the life the young leader, beginning with his early years as the son of Canada''s fifteenth prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, and examining how his education and early days in politics helped him find his own voice. Vivid color photographs enhance the engaging text, and direct quotes from the prime minister give readers a clearer picture of one of today''s most compelling political figures.

About three million sports injuries occur each year and almost one-third of all injuries experienced during childhood are sports-related. They can be caused by accidents while playing, by improper or inadequate stretching or warming up, by using incorrect equipment, or by not playing the game properly. This title includes information on common injuries, sprains and strains, broken bones, dealing with the effects of an injury, and the path to recovery. It also offers valuable advice on sports injury prevention: following coaches’ advice, wearing proper equipment, respecting other players, and playing according to the rules.

Since the late 1990s, Leonardo DiCaprio has been the most prominent celebrity environmental activist in the United States. This biography takes a close look at the events in DiCaprio''s life that led him to become to be an activist. Readers will examine his current environmental activities and his recent environmental film, The Eleventh Hour. This biography also looks ahead to future environment-related projects that this global star has lined up.

This title in the Your Carbon Footprint series discusses practical tips and strategies for students who want to minimize the negative environmental impact of transportation, The relevant science is explained, but real focus is on hands-on activities and practices that will help individuals make a difference.

While digital and computer technology have advanced by leaps and bounds in the past twenty years, allowing individuals to conduct a wide array of personal, educational, and professional activities on personal computers and hand-held devices, the social rules for computer and Internet use have not yet caught up to the technology. Issues of basic civility and digital etiquette, or "netiquette," increasingly arise, with no clear guidelines in place to help people police their own behavior when online and monitor the activities of others in the "digital community." This book provides solid guidelines for young computer users to follow to help them avoid giving or receiving offense and even more serious forms of online trouble. Covering everything from the proper use of library computer terminals and Wi-Fi cafes to digital plagiarism, this book instructs readers in how to promote civil online behavior, alert the appropriate authorities to inappropriate or harassing behavior, and create a safe, welcoming, and polite cyber-community.

The stock market is something that school kids hear about every day—on the news, in class, at the dinner table. They probably know that it’s somehow closely related to the economy and economic good and bad times, but beyond vaguely sensing that the stock market is a sort of economic barometer, they may have little practical knowledge about what it is and how it works. This book provides both a broad overview of stock trading and a more fine-grained, "insider" perspective on the international buying and selling that both drives the economy and reflects its health, that both funds corporations and measures their performance, and that increasingly plays a central role in either wealth creation or wealth loss for ordinary American families. It’s essential reading for all young people who will soon be embarking on their adult lives and making crucial decisions about their own money.

While jury trials in criminal cases are recognized as vitally important to safeguarding the Constitutional rights of the accused, the right to a jury trial in civil cases is a less understood, celebrated, and valued right. This book is an invaluable reminder of just how important the Seventh Amendment is to the promotion and preservation of fairness and justice in America. By entrusting a jury of ordinary and impartial citizens to decide the outcome of lawsuits, the framers of the Constitution and Bill of Rights removed the power from the judges, who could potentially be swayed and corrupted. The Seventh Amendment levels the playing field, guaranteeing that a citizen''s voice and interests carry as much weight as that of a wealthy individual, major corporation, or powerful government. The historical context that motivated the drafting and passage of this amendment is discussed, as is the evolution of civil law, jury trials, and the application of the Seventh Amendment in American history, from colonial times to the present. Contemporary, straight from the headlines cases—including Toyota’s recent woes—illustrate the relevance of the Seventh Amendment and its application to cases involving consumer protection, environmental cleanup, medical malpractice, and corporate wrongdoing.

One of the more elusive and nebulous of Constitutional amendments, the Ninth Amendment essentially guarantees unnamed and unspecified individual rights not explicitly enumerated within the Constitution or the other amendments. From its ratification, the amendment has caused confusion and uncertainty. Even Supreme Court justices have been unsure how to interpret it and unclear about exactly what individual rights it extends to American citizens. The vagueness of the amendment’s wording has discouraged many people from basing their claim to a specific right on the Ninth Amendment. This book penetrates the veil of mystification that surrounds the amendment and explains exactly why it was proposed and ratified, and why it was worded in the way it was. It shows how consensus about how to interpret and apply the amendment has very gradually emerged through the course of several landmark Supreme Court Cases. Indeed, the story of the Supreme Court''s grappling with the Ninth Amendment provides a window onto some of the most seminal and iconic moments in American history, including New Deal politics, labor activities, fair housing laws, and past and current hot-button issues of privacy.

In a world where full body scans are permitted before someone boards an aircraft, it is no wonder people are concerned with the issue of privacy rights. The issue of privacy has always been a complex one, and the events of September 11, 2001 made it that much more complicated. Privacy rights had to be weighed against the importance of protecting Americans’ lives and monitoring terrorist activity. This stirring tome covers the roots of privacy in America, landmark Supreme Court cases that settled privacy rights issues, and privacy and law enforcement (police brutality, racial profiling, police searches, and government surveillance). One chapter is devoted to the right of privacy for students, including privacy and the Internet. The Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are printed in the back matter.

At the current rate of extinction, more than one million species will be forever gone from Earth by the year 2050. Extinction is the greatest danger to biodiversity and to food webs. This book lays out the startling facts regarding the scope of this looming problem, but also provides necessary hope and encouragement—detailing the ways in which scientists, engineers, and climatologists are gathering the knowledge and testing the technologies necessary to slow and eventually reverse climate change, preserve vulnerable habitats, fight invasive species, create “doomsday” seed banks, and even clone endangered species. Readers will be empowered by learning practical, everyday strategies through conservation, volunteerism, political action, and a reduction in the carbon footprint of themselves, their family, and their wider community.

Learning how to get along with family not only strengthens the family and each member''s emotional security, it also provides individuals with valuable relationship-building tools and skills that will serve them well outside the family. These skills aid in school and at work, with friends, classmates, teachers, co-workers, bosses, neighbors, romantic partners, and one''s own children. Studies show that strong family relationships help teens stay away from drugs and alcohol. Strong bases also help them stay out of trouble with the authorities, such as police or school officials. For many teens, improved school performance is also a benefit of strong family relationships. There is no one secret to help you get along in complex relationships. There are, however, sensible tips to help you not only merely get along with family members, but build healthy, enriching, rewarding, and enduring relationships that will provide strength, support, and security throughout your life. This volume enables readers to pursue healthy relationships with these tips and serves as an essential guidebook to the most central and important relationships of your life. Readers are encouraged to be actively involved with the 10 Great Questions to Ask and Myths and Facts sections that are provided.

This book supports teens that are dealing with the death of a loved one, whether it is a family member or a close friend. The first chapter explains the general work of the grieving process, emphasizing that the particular way in which one grieves and the length of grieving are unique for each person. Other chapters present common reactions and advice for specific situations, such as the death of a parent or sibling or the suicide of a classmate. Coping strategies for the early aftermath of the death and for long-term adjustment are included. In addition to using self-help strategies, teens are encouraged to seek out professional help and/or support groups. Helpful resources are provided in the For More Information section.

In the wake of the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 and the ensuing federal stimulus efforts, no economic subject has drawn as much attention or attracted as much controversy as the national debt and federal and state budget deficits. This book clearly explains how and why governments borrow money, how and why they engage in deficit spending, and the short-term and long-term effects such practices have on the economy. Even-handed and nonpartisan, this book allows readers to understand the actual economic mechanics at work beneath all the hype. As such, it is a welcome, calming corrective to a partisan debate that has obscured economic realities and muddled the effort to guarantee a sound economy for future generations of Americans.

All signs of economic activity or non-activity are actually part of a large group of statistics and data known as economic indicators. With the help of economic data and the analysis of economic indicators, economists can locate the economy’s present position within the cycle and anticipate its next movements. This book introduces readers to the fascinating and revelatory realm of economic indicators— leading, lagging, and coincident indicators. Readers will be initiated into the mysteries of economic analysis and forecasting and learn exactly how economists “read the signs” and come up with solid data that provides reliable and accurate information about the upward or downward direction in which the economy is headed.

For teens hoping for a career in music, an internship or volunteer opportunity is a great way to get a foot in the door. Serving as a valuable guide, music lovers are introduced to the wide variety of work experiences available to them, including positions in music performance, music publishing, music production, music education, music therapy, instrument tuning and repair, and more. Readers learn how to find and land an interesting internship or volunteer opportunity in their community, as well as how to make the most of the experience. A varied list of music-related organizations to contact supplements the creative ideas in the text.