While twins Ella and Herbie help the handyman Mr. Midal work on their new home, he tells them about such inventors as Granville Woods, Dr. Henry T. Sampson, and James West, giving them a new view of their heritage as African-Americans.

The Hart family of Portland, Oregon, faces many setbacks after Ryan's father loses his job, but no matter what, Ryan tries to bring sunshine to her loved ones.

Addy and her mother forgo their Christmas plans to help the newly freed slaves arriving in Philadelphia during the Civil War.

After her brother joins the family in Philadelphia at the end of the Civil War, Addy wants to be with him as much as possible, so she is jealous when he starts spending time with her friend's cousin. Includes information about the life of African Americans in Philadelphia in the 1860s and a recipe for letter cookies.

Gabby runs in the school election with the hope that she can stop the tradition of older students pranking the sixth graders, but she'll have to beat the confident and popular Aaliyah in order to win.

"A twelve-year-old girl discovers her father is the keeper of the gateway between our world and The Dark, and when he goes missing she'll need to unlock her own powers and fight a horde of spooky creatures set on starting a war"-- Provided by publisher.

"Jake loses his cool when he learns he's about to become the middle child, and he's back to his fakester ways when new girl Bailey starts school and he'd do anything to impress her"-- Provided by publisher.

Twelve-year-old Sarah, her Chicago cousin Janie, brainy brother Ellis, and his best friend, Jasper, investigate a tragic event in their small Southern town's history.

Depicts the repeated efforts of civil rights advocates to march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, only to be interrupted by national guardsmen.