Hallie Murray

Though many teens and children did not fully understand what was happening in the early days of Adolf Hitler's reign, they certainly felt the effects of anti-Semitism. Students in Nazified schools were forced to perform the Hitler salute every day, and Jewish students were increasingly persecuted by teachers and peers alike. Friends turned against friends, and there was enormous pressure on young Gentiles to adhere to Hitler's racist policies, as Aryan teens were compelled and eventually forced to join the Hitler Youth or the League of German Girls. Students may find parallels between the pressure to conform in these groups and the echo chambers of social media. These stories of Nazi teens will spur discussion of the recruiting tactics and bonding rituals of racist groups in America today.

Of the estimated six million Jews who died during the Holocaust, it is believed that at least three million died in work camps, where Jews were forced on pain of death to work on behalf the German military or perform backbreaking labor, and death camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. Originally built as prisons for Adolf Hitler's political opponents, these camps became the last stop for those deemed unacceptable under the Nazi regime, whether because of their race, religion, sexuality, or other attribute. Readers will learn of the horrors of the gas chambers, which could kill hundreds at once, the countless crematoria for burning dead bodies, and the horrific experiments of the infamous Joseph Mengele. Survivors' accounts of these atrocities will spur student discussion of trauma and PTSD, while tales of resistance attempts will engender conversation about courageous action in the face of almost certain death.

Nazi control of Germany was marked by the insidious escalation of anti-Semitic policies, as Jews were first forced to self-identify, then were violently pushed to relocate from their apartments to the poorest areas of town, where their movements and livelihoods were tightly controlled by German soldiers. The ghettos were isolated from the rest of the city and subject to ever-increasingly restrictions the resulted in overcrowding, disease, and starvation. Readers will also learn the terrifying aftermath of the liquidation of the ghettos, as it was revealed that they were primarily meant as holding cells on the way to death camps. These stories will not only open conversation into the horrors of anti-Semitism in Germany, but will also lead to discussions of anti-Semitism and Jewish ghettos elsewhere in history.

By the time it became clear how horrific the situation in Germany would become for non-Aryans, many Jews had been rendered incapable of leaving by the slow acceleration of Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitic policies. As more Jews were stripped of their jobs, homes, and basic rights, many lacked the resources to flee, and those that successfully escaped faced terrifying obstacles even after they left Germany. This book offers readers a first-hand look at the stories of teens who managed to escape the Nazi regime, surviving only through a combination of gut instinct and luck. Readers will also see parallels between the plight of those fleeing Germany and the refugees from Syria and other countries facing similar crises today and will discover the complex reasons some people simply didn't leave before it was too late.

The Tenth Amendment says that the powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the individual states and their residents and can not be taken away from them. Like the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment's wording is vague and abstract and often debated, especially when applied to such important contemporary issues as the drinking age, gun ownership, health care, environmental standards, and controlled substances. Through full-color and black-and-white photos, engaging text, and primary sources, students will learn why this amendment was created, how notions of states' versus federal rights have changed throughout history, and how this ongoing conflict between state and federal government affects their lives.

A hot button issue that is in the news daily, the right to bear arms is one of Americans' most provincial and cherished rights. There are more guns per capita in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Through engaging and enlightening text, the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, is studied in-depth. Analyzing the varying views on the amendment, students will get the opportunity to learn about the different interpretations of the amendment. The history of the amendment, as well as its creators, supporters, and detractors are studied thoroughly. Primary source documents allow readers to examine the amendments themselves and come up with their own conclusions. Full-color and black-and-white photos help students better understand the Bill of Rights and its creation. Further reading and sidebars encourage students to explore the amendments further, and a glossary helps students master new vocabulary.

A hot button issue that is in the news daily, the right to bear arms is one of Americans' most provincial and cherished rights. There are more guns per capita in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Through engaging and enlightening text, the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, is studied in-depth. Analyzing the varying views on the amendment, students will get the opportunity to learn about the different interpretations of the amendment. The history of the amendment, as well as its creators, supporters, and detractors are studied thoroughly. Primary source documents allow readers to examine the amendments themselves and come up with their own conclusions. Full-color and black-and-white photos help students better understand the Bill of Rights and its creation. Further reading and sidebars encourage students to explore the amendments further, and a glossary helps students master new vocabulary.