James Cross Giblin

Edwin Booth and his younger brother John Wilkes Booth were, in many ways, two of a kind. They were among America's finest actors, having inherited their father's commanding stage presence along with his penchant for alcohol and impulsive behavior. In other respects, the two brothers were very different. Edwin was more introspective, while John was known for his passionate intensity. They stood at opposite poles politically, as well: Edwin voted for Abraham Lincoln; John was an ardent advocate of the Confederacy. Award-winning author James Cross Giblin draws on first-hand accounts of family members, friends, and colleagues to create vivid images of Edwin Booth and his brother John Wilkes, best known today as the man who shot Abraham Lincoln. He traces the events leading up to the assassination and describes the effects of John Wilkes's infamous deed on himself, his family, and his country. Comprehensive and compelling, this dual portrait illuminates a dark and tragic moment in the nation's history and explores the complex legacy of two leading men--one revered, the other abhorred. Notes, bibliography, index.

Many people believe Hitler was the personification of evil. In this Sibert Medal-winning biography, James Cross Giblin penetrates this facade and presents a picture of a complex person-at once a brilliant, influential politician and a deeply disturbed man. Giblin explores the forces that shaped the man as well as the social conditions that furthered his rapid rise to power. Powerful archival images provide a haunting visual accompaniment to this clear and compelling account of a life that left an ineradicable mark on our world.

"Out of sight, out of mind." That's what Tallahassee Higgins's mother, Liz, always says about her ex-boyfriends. But now that Tallahassee has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Maryland so Liz can start a movie career in California, the words are taking on new meaning. Aunt Thelma says that Liz is gone for good, but Talley is sure her mother will come for her. So who cares if mean Aunt Thelma hates her, if she's failing sixth grade, or if the kids at school think she's a liar? It's not like she's staying in Maryland forever. Unless Aunt Thelma is right and Liz isn't coming back.

If not for Seth Doan, the city of Cleveland wouldn't exist today... In 1798, Cleveland, Ohio, was in danger of being wiped out by a malaria epidemic. Based on fact, this book tells the remarkable story of Seth Doan, a young boy whose heroic efforts kept his family and neighbors alive and ultimately put the city of Cleveland on the map. J im Giblin's first full-length work of historical fiction, this chapter book is perfect for kids of that in-between age--too old for picture books and too young for full-length novels. The Boy Who Saved Cleveland is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

When Matt and Abby go to live with Great-Aunt Gerda in Sierra Madre Canyon after their mother dies, Matt is put off at first by the life-size wooden dolls whom Aunt Gerda talks to and calls her "children." However, when someone vandalizes the dolls and two are stolen, it is Matt, with the help of his new friend, Kristin, who foils the would-be thief and returns the dolls to Aunt Gerda.

This enduring survival story set at the end of the last Ice Age has been in print for over 20 years. When Maroo and her family become trapped on the Great Plain in blizzard conditions and with little food, they have only one chance of survival: for Maroo and her younger brother, Otak, to reach the winter camp and get help. The fastest trail to the camp is over the White Mountain, where there are treacherous glaciers, steep climbs, and mountain spirits. With the rest of their family depending on them, Maroo and Otak set out alone. But when Otak goes missing, Maroo is forced to make the most difficult of all decisions: to stay and search for her brother or to continue on to the camp in order to save the rest of her family. This modern classic offers readers a gripping tale of survival as well as a vivid portrait of prehistoric people.