Released October 2012 by Seven Stories Press: The young people’s version of A Different Mirror. It tells the story of multicultural America through the lives and experiences of people–including children and teenagers–from the many ethnic and racial groups that came together to make the American people.

Turning this book into a version for young readers was a very special project for me. The author, Professor Ronald Takaki, was not only a scholar who did amazing, important work in examining the America’s ethnic history. He was also a treasured friend. I know he would be delighted to see his work becoming available to kids.

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Have you ever wondered why animals do the things they do, or what your dog or cat is really thinking? I explored scientists’ answers to these questions in the four books of my new series, Animal Behavior Revealed. I’ll post an update as soon as I know when these books will be released and available for purchase.

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One of the most exciting projects of my writing career was A Young People’s History of the United States. It was a chance to bring the work of a great scholar to a new audience of young readers.

Famed historian Howard Zinn published A People’s History of the United States in 1980, then updated it over the years. He focused on the “ordinary people” who are often left out of official history books–including young people who helped shape history. Zinn was especially interested in people and ideas that challenged the  forces of oppressive government and big business. His probing look at American history, with its emphasis on stories that are often neglected, became a bestseller. I’m honored to have been chosen to adapt the 2003 edition of this important work into an American history for younger readers.

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Stephen King may be the most famous modern writer in the world–and he’s written more books than most of the others. I love good horror fiction, so it was a blast to research and write this 2011 biography for teens–and a true pleasure to receive this glowing starred review from Booklist. The book not only covers King’s life and career but also offers critical interpretations of the King stories and books most often found on school reading lists.

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The most fascinating puzzle we humans have ever tried to solve is our own origins. From fossil fingerbones to DNA discoveries, I surveyed the latest news about human origins in my four-book 2010 series called Humans: An Evolutionary History. Two noted experts in the field–paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall and molecular biologist Rob DeSalle of the American Museum of Natural History–contributed their scientific expertise.

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Thanks to Marshall Cavendish Corporation for the use of photographs from the company’s online catalog.

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