Betsy's books
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Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II
(Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
*Best Book for Young Adults, American Library Association
*Best Book for the Teen-Age, New York Public Library
*Notable Book for Children, Smithsonian Magazine
"This compelling account of the army nurses of WWII breathes life into an often overlooked corner of American history. Nearly 60,000 American women signed on to serve as nurses during WWII, and Kuhn (Not Exactly Nashville) interviewed dozens of them, relating their stories here with an eye to the sort of detail that children in particular will savor. She chronicles the grimmest aspects of wartime duty--air raids, deprivation and death, being taken prisoner--but she also includes some surprises. The nurses wash out undies in helmets, whip up a wedding dress out a parachute and make fudge in a foxhole. The book's chronological framework covers the years between Pearl Harbor and the postwar occupation forces, interweaving episodes from the Pacific Theater to North Africa, the liberation of Dachau and beyond." Publishers Weekly
The Race for Space: The United States and the Soviet Union Compete for the New Frontier (Lerner/Twenty-first Century Books)
*Notable Social Studies Trade Book, NCSS/CBC
*Recommended, National Science Teachers Association
"A compelling portrait of the United States' rivalry with the former Soviet Union over space technology.... The emphasis is on the historical aspects of the rivalry and not the astronautic science, and how this "competition" influenced government, the arts, and popular culture. The fast-paced, simple text conveys Americans' excitement at the time as well as their fears of the USSR becoming more advanced than the United States. Facts are interwoven with quotes and anecdotes from everyday people and well-known figures from horror writer Stephen King to Hillary Clinton....This is a great read for young space enthusiasts as well as children who enjoy American history." Michael Santangelo, Brooklyn Public Library, NY in School Library Journal
The Race for Space: The United States and the Soviet Union Compete for the New Frontier (Lerner/Twenty-first Century Books)
*Notable Social Studies Trade Book, NCSS/CBC
*Recommended, National Science Teachers Association
"A compelling portrait of the United States' rivalry with the former Soviet Union over space technology.... The emphasis is on the historical aspects of the rivalry and not the astronautic science, and how this "competition" influenced government, the arts, and popular culture. The fast-paced, simple text conveys Americans' excitement at the time as well as their fears of the USSR becoming more advanced than the United States. Facts are interwoven with quotes and anecdotes from everyday people and well-known figures from horror writer Stephen King to Hillary Clinton....This is a great read for young space enthusiasts as well as children who enjoy American history." Michael Santangelo, Brooklyn Public Library, NY in School Library Journal
Gay Power: The Stonewall Riots and the Gay Rights Movement, 1969
(Lerner/Twenty-First Century Books)
*Junior Library Guild Selection
*Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top 40
(From the publisher) "On the night of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. They intended to shut the bar down--part of the mayor's order to clean up illegal businesses. The cops didn't expect much trouble, especially from the gay men and women dancing and socializing at the bar.... But when the police raided the Stonewall, the bar's customers decided to take a stronger stand. They hurled rocks and bricks at the police. They chanted "Gay Power!" This uprising gave birth to a new liberation movement. Gay men and women organized, demonstrated for their rights, and celebrated their sexual identities.... In this riveting story, we'll explore the decades of discrimination and abuse that gay people endured in earlier eras. We'll also learn how gay people continue to fight for equal rights and recognition."
The Force Born of Truth: Mohandas Gandhi and the Salt March, India 1930
(Lerner/Twenty-first Century Books)
*Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top 40
(From the publisher) "With this salt, I am rocking the foundations of an Empire." Mohandas Gandhi, 1930
On April 6, 1930, Mohandas Gandhi stood on the coast of the Arabian Sea in western India. He and his followers had walked 241 miles to reach this place. Now, at the end of their long journey, Gandhi made a simple gesture marking the beginning of a revolution: he reached down, grabbed a clump of sea salt, and raised it overhead. This signaled to all Indians to embark on a course of civil disobedience.... In this story, we'll learn how Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent action overpowered the British government. And we'll witness how Gandhi's actions influenced civil rights movements around the world."
Not Exactly Nashville
(Delacorte)
Grand Ole Opry, here they come--Ellen and her best friend Valery long to be country music singers like the wonderful Marna Marshall, so they decide to write a song and enter Marna's "Rising Star Contest." The prize is an appearance on her TV show! An ordinary summer vacation turns into something special, as they learn to collaborate and to harmonize in friendship as well as on the stage.
"In accurately depicting the inner turmoil, aspirations, and confusion that beset those on the brink of adolescence, Kuhn creates a lively and readable tale." Kirkus Reviews
Top Ten Jockeys (Sports Top Ten)
(Enslow)
From greats of the past like Isaac Murphy to contemporary riders like the tremendous Gary Stevens, this book introduces ten of the top jockeys ever to participate in the exciting sport of thoroughbred horse racing.