Karen Blumenthal

Bonnie and Clyde: we’ve been on a first name basis with them for almost a hundred years. Immortalised in movies, songs, and pop culture references, they are remembered mostly for their storied romance and tragic deaths. But what was life really like for Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in the early 1930s? How did two dirt-poor teens from west Texas morph from vicious outlaws to legendary couple? And why? Award-winning author Karen Blumenthal devoted months to tracing the footsteps of Bonnie and Clyde, unearthing new information and debunking many persistent myths. The result is an impeccably researched, breathtaking nonfiction tale of love, car chases, kidnappings, and murder set against the backdrop of the Great Depression.

John Taliaferro Thompson had a mission: to develop a lightweight, fast-firing weapon that would help Americans win on the battlefield. His Thompson submachine gun could deliver a hundred bullets in a matter of seconds but didn't find a market in the U.S. military. Instead, the Tommy gun became the weapon of choice for a generation of bootleggers and bank-robbing outlaws, and became a deadly American icon. Following a bloody decade and eighty years before the mass shootings of our own time Congress moved to take this weapon off the streets, igniting a national debate about gun control. Critically-acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal, author of Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition and Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929, reveals the fascinating story of this famous and deadly weapon of the lives it changed, the debate it sparked, and the unprecedented response it inspired in Tommy: The Gun That Changed America."

A bold picture book biography about Mary Katharine Goddard, the only woman whose name is printed on the Declaration of Independence, by award-winning authors Karen Blumenthal and Jen McCartney, and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Who was Mary Katharine Goddard? Born in 1738, she was homeschooled by her mother in reading and math. She took over her brother's printing shop a few years later and became an expert in printing newspapers, essays, and posters. When the American Revolution started, she published important news that helped the fight against the British - even if it meant that if she was caught, she'd be punished for treason. In 1776, Mary was asked to print the Declaration of Independence - she is the only woman whose name is on the Declaration. That was Mary. Follow Mary's revolutionary journey in this captivating picture book biography perfect for fans of I DISSENT and COUNTING ON KATHERINE.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the law that opened the door for greater opportunities for girls and women, with this refreshed edition of the nonfiction illustrated middle grade book about an important victory in the fight for equality. Not long ago, people believed girls shouldn't play sports. That math and science courses were too difficult for them. That higher education should be left to the men. Nowadays, this may be hard to imagine, but it was only fifty years ago all of this changed with the introduction of the historical civil rights bill Title IX. This is the story about the determined lawmakers, teachers, parents, and athletes that advocated for women all over the country until Congress passed the law that paved the way for the now millions of girls who play sports; who make up over half of the country's medical and law students; who are on the national stage winning gold medals and world championships; who are developing life-changing vaccines, holding court as Supreme Court Justices, and leading the country as vice president. All because of Title IX and the people who believed girls could do anything--and were willing to fight to prove it. This updated edition of Let Me Play includes new chapters about how Title IX is being used in the fight for transgender rights and justice for sexual assault survivors and a refreshed epilogue highlighting the remarkable female athletes of today and the battles they're still fighting.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the law that opened the door for greater opportunities for girls and women, with this refreshed edition of the nonfiction illustrated middle grade book about an important victory in the fight for equality. Not long ago, people believed girls shouldn't play sports. That math and science courses were too difficult for them. That higher education should be left to the men. Nowadays, this may be hard to imagine, but it was only fifty years ago all of this changed with the introduction of the historical civil rights bill Title IX. This is the story about the determined lawmakers, teachers, parents, and athletes that advocated for women all over the country until Congress passed the law that paved the way for the now millions of girls who play sports; who make up over half of the country's medical and law students; who are on the national stage winning gold medals and world championships; who are developing life-changing vaccines, holding court as Supreme Court Justices, and leading the country as vice president. All because of Title IX and the people who believed girls could do anything--and were willing to fight to prove it. This updated edition of Let Me Play includes new chapters about how Title IX is being used in the fight for transgender rights and justice for sexual assault survivors and a refreshed epilogue highlighting the remarkable female athletes of today and the battles they're still fighting.

A riveting look at the tumultuous history of abortion rights in the United States leading up to the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, by award-winning author and journalist Karen Blumenthal. Tracing the path to the 19th century to the pivotal decision in Roe v. Wade and the continuing battle for women's rights, Blumenthal examines, in a straightforward tone, the root causes of the current debate around abortion and its repercussions that have rippled through generations of American women. This urgent book is the perfect tool to facilitate discussion and awareness of a topic that affects each and every person in the United States.

_______________'For young people who are just beginning to be interested in politics, or any of us who want a better understanding of Hillary Clinton, this book is an excellent place to start.' - Bob Schieffer, CBS News_______________First . . . student commencement speaker at WellesleyFirst . . . woman to become full partner at Rose Law FirmFirst . . . Lady of the United StatesFirst . . . First Lady to hold a postgraduate degreeFirst . . . First Lady to win a Grammy AwardFirst . . . elected female Senator of New YorkFirst . . . woman to be a presidential candidate in every primary in every stateFirst . . . First Lady to seek the presidency_______________"Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. . . . And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on." - Hillary Rodham ClintonAs a young girl growing up in the fifties, Hillary Diane Rodham had an unusual upbringing for the time: her parents told her, "You can do or be whatever you choose, as long as you're willing to work for it." Hillary took those words and ran. Whether it was campaigning at the age of thirteen in the 1964 presidential election, receiving a standing ovation and being featured in LIFE magazine as the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley, or graduating from Yale Law School, she was always one to stand out from the pack.And that was only the beginning. Today, we have seen Hillary in many roles, from First Lady of the United States to the first female Senator of New York, and most recently as the United States Secretary of State. An activist all her life, she has been devoted to healthcare reform, child care, and women's rights, among many other things. And she's still not done.Critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal gives us a sharp and intimate look at the life of Hillary Rodham Clinton, American politics, and what the future holds. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs, this is the must-have biography on a woman who has always known her public responsibility, who continues to push boundaries, and who isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

"For young people who are just beginning to be interested in politics, or any of us who want a better understanding of Hillary Clinton, this book is an excellent place to start." --Bob Schieffer, CBS News Thorough and evenhanded. --The New York TimesThis paperback edition is revised and updated with three new chapters about the Democratic primary race against Senator Bernie Sanders, the presidential campaign against Donald J. Trump, and the 2016 election. As a young girl, Hillary Diane Rodham's parents told her she could be whatever she wanted--as long as she was willing to work for it. Hillary took those words and ran. In a life on the front row of modern American history, she has always stood out--whether she was a teen campaigning for the 1964 Republican presidential candidate, winning recognition in Life magazine for her pointed words as the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley College, or working on the Richard Nixon impeachment case as a newly minted lawyer. For all her accomplishments, scrutiny and scandal have followed this complex woman since she stepped into the public eye--from her role as First Lady of Arkansas to First Lady of the United States to becoming the first female U.S. senator from New York to U.S. secretary of state. Despite intense criticism, Hillary has remained committed to public service and dedicated to health-care reform, children's issues, and women's rights. In Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History, critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal gives us an intimate and unflinching look at the public and personal life of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and political cartoons, this is a must-have biography about a woman who has fascinated--and divided--the public, who continues to push boundaries, and who wasn't afraid to reach for one more goal, becoming the first woman nominated as the presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party. Praise for Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History: After decades in the public eye, Hillary Rodham Clinton is still an enigma, as Blumenthal (Tommy: The Gun That Changed America) emphasizes in this compelling portrait of the former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State's journey from budding activist to presidential aspirant. --Publishers Weekly, starred review Thorough and evenhanded. . . . Blumenthal, a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter, is part of a current wave of narrative nonfiction authors who write for teenagers with such directness and clarity that adult readers, too, may gain a deeper understanding. . . . Providing nuanced but clear explanations for the ways Hillary's personality and personal history have shaped her political career is where Blumenthal's method really pays off. --The New York Times A richly detailed study that is as perceptive as it is engaging. --Kirkus Reviews An in-depth portrait that gives teens a real feel for the woman behind the politics. --Booklist

Filled with period art and photographs, anecdotes, and portraits of unique characters from the era, this fascinating book by an award-winning author looks at the rise and fall of the disastrous social experiment known as Prohibition. It began with the best of intentions. Worried about the effects of alcohol on American families, mothers and civic leaders started a movement to outlaw drinking in public places. Over time, their protests, petitions, and activism paid off--when a Constitutional Amendment banning the sale and consumption of alcohol was ratified, it was hailed as the end of public drunkenness, alcoholism, and a host of other social ills related to booze. Instead, it began a decade of lawlessness, when children smuggled (and drank) illegal alcohol, the most upright citizens casually broke the law, and a host of notorious gangsters entered the public eye. Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition is fast-paced non-fiction perfect for anyone who's interested in American history, paricularly the 1920s, gangsters, bootleggers, the history of alcohol in the US, the Eighteenth Amendment and the Constitution, and American politics. Read more thrilling nonfiction by Karen Blumenthal: Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History (A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist)Tommy: The Gun That Changed AmericaSteve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different Praise for Bootleg: A Kirkus Best Teen Book of the Year A School Library Journal's Best Nonfiction Book A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist "A fast-paced, gripping narrative . . . An informative, insightful account of a fascinating period of American history." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Gangsters, guns, and political battles--this book has them all--and presents them in compelling prose . . . a lively read." --School Library Journal, starred review "Lively anecdotes and personal stories keep the reading brisk and often quite jovial." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "A highly readable, well-shaped look at the Eighteenth Amendment . . . a top-notch resource." --Booklist, starred review "The scope is ambitious, but Blumenthal investigates various tangents with telling anecdotes, quotes, statistics, photographs, and illustrations without losing her focus on the bigger picture. Whether you consider ongoing problems with substance abuse or increasingly polarized political discourse, the book is startlingly relevant to modern times in many ways, marking Blumenthal as one of the more intellectually adventurous authors writing for young adults today." --Horn Book Magazine

Text in Arabic. Steve Jobs was loved, hated, admired and dismissed. He was a living legend, the 21-year-old genius who founded Apple in his parents garage. Critically-acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal takes us to the core of this complicated and legendary man, from his adoption to the pinnacles of his career. Framed by Jobs inspirational Stanford commencement speech and illustrated throughout with black and white photos, this is the story of the man who changed our world.

_______________'Through original interviews, a smart use of source material, and a wonderfully easy-going style, Blumenthal gives a full portrait of Jobs ...This is a smart book about a smart subject by a smart writer' - Ilene Cooper, American Library Journal_______________Inventor. Visionary. Genius. Dropout. Adopted. Steve Jobs was the founder of Apple, and he was all of these things.Steve Jobs has been described as a showman, artist, tyrant, genius, jerk. Through his life he was loved, hated, admired and dismissed, yet he was a living legend; the genius who founded Apple in his parent's garage when he was just 21 years old, revolutionising the music world. He single-handedly introduced the first computer that could sit on your desk, and founded and nurtured a company called Pixar, bringing to life Oscar-winning animations Toy Story and Finding Nemo.So how did the man -- who was neither engineer nor computer geek -- change the world we live in, making us want every product he touched?On graduation day in 2005, a fifty-year-old Steve Jobs said: "Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots. My second story is about love and loss. My third story is about death."This is his story.Critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal takes us to the core of this complicated and legendary man, from his adoption and early years through to the pinnacles of his career, his dismissal from his duties at Apple (for being too disruptive and difficult) to the graduation where he gave the commencement speech just 6 years before his death, giving life to what were soon to become some of most famous quotes of his career, ending with the message: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.""Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

A riveting biography of the groundbreaking innovator who was a giant in the worlds of computing, music, filmmaking, design, smart phones, and more. A finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award "Your time is limited. . . . have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." --Steve Jobs From the start, his path was never predictable. Steve Jobs was given up for adoption at birth, dropped out of college after one semester, and at the age of twenty, created Apple in his parents' garage with his friend Steve Wozniack. Then came the core and hallmark of his genius--his exacting moderation for perfection, his counterculture life approach, and his level of taste and style that pushed all boundaries. A devoted husband, father, and Buddhist, he battled cancer for over a decade, became the ultimate CEO, and made the world want every product he touched, from the Macintosh to the iPhone, from iTunes and the iPod to the Macbook. Critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal takes us to the core of this complicated and legendary man while simultaneously exploring the evolution of computers. Framed by Jobs' inspirational Stanford commencement speech and illustrated throughout with black and white photos, this is the story of the man who changed our world. Read more thrilling nonfiction by Karen Blumenthal: Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History (A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist)Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of ProhibitionTommy: The Gun That Changed America Praise for Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different: A Biography: "This is a smart book about a smart subject by a smart writer." --Booklist, starred review "Students who know Steve Jobs only through Apple's iTunes, iPhones, and iPads will have their eyes opened by this accessible and well-written biography." --VOYA"An engaging and intimate portrait. Few biographies for young readers feel as relevant and current as this one does." --The Horn Book Magazine"A perceptive, well-wrought picture of an iconic figure." --Kirkus Reviews"Blumenthal crafts an insightful, balanced portrait." --Publishers Weekly

Karen Blumenthal, like most people, is mystified by the stock market. Just why is it, she wonders, that seemingly good news can send a stock plummeting and bad news can send it skyrocketing again? In Grande Expectations, she shows how money is made and lost by following one of America's hottest growth stocks, Starbucks, through a year of rapid store openings, fancy new drinks, and clever promotions, revealing how the many players--big and small investors, company management, analysts, and the media--propel its shares up and down. Blumenthal pulls back the curtain on the stock market to expose its quirks and inner workings, from the power of a penny of earnings and the unexpected impact of a stock split to the image-enhancing effects of a brand of bottled water. With a fly-on-the-wall, character-driven narrative, Grande Expectations not only makes investing interesting but also will help you make smarter and savvier investing choices by: -Understanding how big pension and mutual fund managers decide whether to buy more Starbucks--or dump it -Seeing the unique ways that analysts and other finance professionals assess an investment--dissecting not only the numbers but also the company's management, demographics, and global opportunities -Learning how Starbucks executives manage our expectations and keep excitement percolating about the business--and the stock -Watching how a stock is traded and how that might affect your buying or selling -Gleaning how multibillion-dollar private hedge funds make money on infinitesimal changes in a stock's price -Entering the dark, strange world of the short sellers -Realizing how different people can make absolutely opposite bets and all still come out ahead You'll come away with new insights into how the stock market really works--the power of expectations, stock buybacks, and profits--and explore Starbucks' phenomenal growth and whether it is sustainable. By unraveling the market's mysteries, Grande Expectations shows how investing can be both profitable and understandable. Get ready for the ride of your life--and a lifetime of fruitful stock market success.

Over six terrifying, desperate days in October 1929, the fabulous fortune that Americans had built in stocks plunged with a fervor never seen before. At first, the drop seemed like a mistake, a mere glitch in the system. But as the decline gathered steam, so did the destruction. Over twenty-five billion dollars in individual wealth was lost, vanished gone. People watched their dreams fade before their very eyes. Investing in the stock market would never be the same. Here, Wall Street Journal bureau chief Karen Blumenthal chronicles the six-day period that brought the country to its knees, from fascinating tales of key stock-market players, like Michael J. Meehan, an immigrant who started his career hustling cigars outside theaters and helped convince thousands to gamble their hard-earned money as never before, to riveting accounts of the power struggles between Wall Street and Washington, to poignant stories from those who lost their savings -- and more -- to the allure of stocks and the power of greed. For young readers living in an era of stock-market fascination, this engrossing account explains stock-market fundamentals while bringing to life the darkest days of the mammoth crash of 1929.