Special Collections
Memorial Day for Kids
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Where Have All the Flowers Gone? The Diary of Molly MacKenzie Flaherty (Dear America)
by Ellen Emerson WhiteIn 1968 Massachusetts, after her brother Patrick goes to fight in Vietnam, fifteen-year-old Molly records in her diary how she misses her brother, volunteers at a Veterans' Administration Hospital, and tries to make sense of the Vietnam War and tumultuous events in the United States. Includes historical notes.
The Wall
by Eve Bunting and Ronald HimlerA young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Shooting At The Stars
by John HendrixShooting at the Stars is the moving story of a young British soldier on the front lines during World War I who experiences an unforgettable Christmas Eve. In a letter home to his mother, he describes how, despite fierce fighting earlier from both sides, Allied and German soldiers ceased firing and came together on the battlefield to celebrate the holiday. They sang carols, exchanged gifts, and even lit Christmas trees. But as the holiday came to a close, they returned to their separate trenches to await orders for the war to begin again. John Hendrix wonderfully brings this story to life, interweaving fact and fiction along with his detailed illustrations and hand-lettered text. His story celebrates the humanity and kindness that can persist even during the darkest periods of our history. Back matter includes a glossary, additional information about World War I and the Christmas Truce and its aftermath, and an archival photograph taken during the Truce. Also available by John Hendrix: Miracle Man Praise for Shooting at the Stars STARRED REVIEWS "Few titles at this level convey the futility of World War I as well as this one does. A first choice. " --School Library Journal, starred review "Timed with the centenary of World War I but a lesson for always, Hendrix's tale pulls young readers close and shows the human side of war. " --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Sergeant Reckless
by Patricia McCormick and Iacopo BrunoThe inspiring true story of Reckless, the brave little horse who became a Marine.
When a group of US Marines fighting in the Korean War found a bedraggled mare, they wondered if she could be trained to as a packhorse. They had no idea that the skinny, underfed horse had one of the biggest and bravest hearts they’d ever known. And one of the biggest appetites!
Soon Reckless showed herself more than willing to carry ammunition too heavy for the soldiers to haul. As cannons thundered and shells flew through the air, she marched into battle—again and again—becoming the only animal ever to officially hold military rank—becoming Sgt. Reckless—and receive two Purple Hearts.
A Revolutionary War Patriot
by Barry DenenbergSet in Massachusetts, this is the story of a boy surrounded by the politics and violence of war, who becomes a spy for the rebel colonists.
On Enemy Soil
by Jim MurphyThe Civil War JOURNAL OF JAMES EDMOND PEASE is now in paperback with an exciting repackaging!Ignorant to the bitter realities of military life, 16-year-old James enlists in the Union Army at the dawn of the Civil War. When his lieutenant assigns him to be the company historian of the G Company of the 122nd Regiment, New York Volunteers, he is initially at a loss as to what exactly he is supposed to record. As the days pass, James settles into his role, but he cannot take comfort in it. His country is divided by a bloody war, and his unit struggles through the hardships and turmoil. Through his journal entries, James poignantly captures the terror of battle, the drudgery of day-to-day life in the infantry, the loss of comrades, and the disillusionment of a young soldier.
My Secret War
by Mary Pope OsborneThirteen-year-old Madeline Beck's diaries, recorded through 1941 and 1942, reveal her experiences living on Long Island during World War II while her father is away in the Navy. B&W photos and illustrations.
My Red Balloon
by Eve BuntingA boy who has been waiting for his daddy to come home from overseas takes along something very important: his red balloon, which will help his father find him among the crowd at the pier. As the ship his daddy is on approaches the harbor, the boy loses his grip on the red balloon. Will his daddy find him in the crowd?
Memorial Day Mission
by Debbie TaylorBomber’s great grandfather was a Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. They were the first African Americans to ever become pilots! Bomber can’t wait for his “Poppy” to tell his class about being a pilot when an accident happens. Bomber now has to give the presentation! Will he get over his fear to tell the story of his great grandfather?
Memorial Day
by Sheri DeanRead a short history of the holiday and find links to other Memorial Day sites.
The Journal of Scott Pendelton Collins
by Walter Dean MyersEach harrowing day of battle in France convinces 17-year-old Scott Pendleton Collins that he may not survive. In desperation, he records his thoughts, fears, and hopes in a journal he has carried since his first days as a soldier in Basic Training at Fort Dix.
The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty
by Ellen Emerson White"This journal is based upon actual events, but all names and certain unit and operational details have been changed, in order to protect the privacy of the Marines who actually served so bravely at Khe Sanh. Although every attempt has been made to present the story as accurately as possible, based upon public records, any resemblance to actual people (other than public figures such as President Johnson) is very much a coincidence. When recounting the actions taken by certain soldiers, students of the Vietnam War may recognize the people they represent. As a result, no identifying details whatsoever are given, when these particular incidents are recounted, based upon after-action reports and other sources. All Americans owe a great debt of thanks to the veterans of the Vietnam War -- and every other war.
Includes a history of Vietnam, war timeline, glossary, and related military information."
This is the companion book to Where have all the flowers gone? : the diary of Molly MacKenzie Flaherty (Dear America), already on bookshare.
Johnny Tremain
by Esther Hoskins ForbesThis thrilling Newbery Medal-winning novel about the Revolutionary War is a classic of children's historical fiction.Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper The Boston Observer and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren.Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events of the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington. Powerful illustrations by artist Michael McCurdy help bring this classic novel for middle graders to life."This sweeping tale of redcoats and revolutionaries has a lot to offer. Forbes, a historian, writes with detail and precision, imbuing historical events with life and passion that is often lacking in textbooks." (Common Sense Media)
Fly Girls Young Readers’ Edition
by Keith O'BrienFrom NPR correspondent Keith O’ Brien comes this thrilling Young Readers' edition of the untold story about pioneering women, including Amelia Earhart, who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s—and won. In the years between World War I and World War II, airplane racing was one of the most popular sports in America. Thousands of fans flocked to multiday events, and the pilots who competed in these races were hailed as heroes. Well, the male pilots were hailed. Women who flew planes were often ridiculed by the press, and initially they weren’t invited to race. Yet a group of women were determined to take to the sky—no matter what. With guts and grit, they overcame incredible odds both on the ground and in the air to pursue their dreams of flying and racing planes.Fly Girls follows the stories of five remarkable women: Florence Klingensmith, a high‑school dropout from North Dakota; Ruth Elder, an Alabama housewife; Amelia Earhart, the most famous, but not necessarily the most skilled; Ruth Nichols, a daughter of Wall Street wealth who longed to live a life of her own; and Louise Thaden, who got her start selling coal in Wichita. Together, they fought for the chance to race against the men—and in 1936 one of them would triumph in the toughest race of all. Complete with photographs and a glossary, Fly Girls celebrates a little-known slice of history wherein tenacious, trail-blazing women braved all obstacles to achieve greatness.