Summer’s over and it’s time for Sunny Lewin to enter the strange and unfriendly hallways of middle school. When her Gramps calls her from Florida to ask how she’s doing, she always tells him she’s fine. But the truth? Sunny is NOT having the best time. Not only is the whole middle school thing confusing but life at home is confusing, too. Sunny misses her brother Dale, who’s been sent to boarding school. But when Dale comes back, she STILL misses him because he’s changed.
Brave men and women have taken up the sword since ages of old, and a fascination with this formidable weapon grips dedicated followers to this day. Here is a celebration of swords and swordsmen that spans time and place — from ancient warriors such as Beowulf to medieval knights; from stealthy ninja and samurai to legendary maidens of war.
Sylvia Acevedo is the CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA and a longtime advocate for underserved communities and girls’ and women’s causes. She began her career as a rocket scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and has also worked as a technology executive for multiple companies. Sylvia has written a memoir for young readers called Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girls Scouts to Rocket Scientist.
In this interview with our sister project, Colorín Colorado, she talks about her bilingual, bicultural childhood growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico and her sister’s tragic illness that had lasting impacts on her family, how joining the Girl Scouts changed her life, and her work as a rocket scientist. She also discusses what Girl Scouts can offer young women today and the importance of giving all children opportunities in STEM. And in case you’re wondering, Sylvia told Roger Sutton of Horn Book that her favorite Girl Scout cookies are Thin Mints!
In 1950’s Appalachia, the Collins family leads a hard existence. The youngest sister, Carolina, is adrift, when her guitar-playing cousin, Tadpole, unexpectedly arrives. Tadpole’s beautiful singing and positive outlook inspire the family, but when they learn he’s on the run from an abusive uncle, they worry the uncle will come and take Tadpole away.
