Milton McDonald Farley, the fourth child of seventeen, was born on June 8, 1908 into a world that will take him years to untangle. Predicted to become a man amongst men, his journey will not be an easy one. When his mother, Martha, dies shortly after his birth, Aunt Shalla and Uncle Carl raise him until his father, Hollis, forces him into a world of abuse at the age of ten. Milton endures the vindictive and manipulative ways of his stepmother, Marie-Joyce, until he runs away from home to the Kohls, a white German family who treats him like one of their own. During the hot summer days working on the farm, Milton makes time for his first love, Lucy, but he soon leaves her to work in Philadelphia with Dr. Zoenfeld. Despite a promising future in dentistry, Milton's dream is to become a farmer and a great landowner utilizing his own fertilizer formula, so he returns home to a life in the fields. Dealing with life's struggles of hardship, love, racism, and abuse, Milton must find a way to create his own destiny. What he learns from his family and those closest to him will change him forever.

In the humble town of Catbalogan, Samar, the Ambong family lived a life of daily struggles and unyielding love. Joselito and Periah fought tirelessly to provide for their four daughters—Monica, Jasmine, Kristine, and Sofia. Amidst their hardships, Monica's determination to alter their fate led her to Michael Kaur, a retired New Zealander who promised a new beginning. As Monica enters a new life in Lyttelton, she faces cultural challenges and builds an unexpected bond with Michael. Her journey of hope extends to her sisters, Jasmine and Kristine, as they brave new worlds in Saudi Arabia and Qatar while Sofia embarks on a path to becoming a nurse in the Philippines. Their collective sacrifices transform the Ambong family's reality, lifting them from poverty to the middle class. Yet, as they achieve their dreams, shadows from the past and new challenges test their unity. Will their bond withstand the trials, and can they fulfill their ultimate dream of building a resort in Catbalogan? "The Filipino Dream: The Ambong Family's Journey" weaves a tapestry of resilience, love, and the pursuit of a better life. Join the Ambong family as they navigate the tumultuous seas of change, anchored by their unbreakable spirit and the enduring strength of family.

Discover inspirational real-life stories of superstar athletes in this collection of sports biographies featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tim Howard, and more! Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, this collection of sports biographies will serve as a must-read source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages. Praise for Rising Above A Scholastic Teacher magazine Summer Reading List selection A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Summer Reading List selection "An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers."--School Library Journal “This collection of mini-bios about athletes who overcame major obstacles packs a powerful message—perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.”--Scholastic Teacher "So many of the obstacles that these athletes share are retold using personal interviews and primary source material that young readers will find very relatable. [T]heir stories have morals that are easily transferred to life off the court or the field. The highly relevant message is that no situation is too dire or insurmountable with the right attitude and that young people shouldn't allow setbacks to define them."--Booklist "[O]ften inspiring . . . The underdog stories reveal that dedication and perseverance pay off, as well as that sports can serve as needed outlets and refuges."--Publishers Weekly "I would rate this a 9 1/2 . . . it touch[es] your heart very often with the ways these athletes turn[ed] their lives around."--Colorado Kids

“I am a woman that came from the cotton fields of the South; I was promoted from there to the wash-tub; then I was promoted to the cook kitchen, and from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.” --Madam C. J. Walker, National Negro Business League Convention, 1912 Now, from a writer acclaimed for her novels and the memoir Crossed Over, a remarkable biography of a truly heroic figure. Madam C. J. Walker created a cosmetics empire and became known as the first female self-made millionaire in this nation’s history, a noted philanthropist and champion of women’s rights and economic freedom. These achievements seem nothing less than miraculous given that she was born, in 1867, to former slaves in a hamlet on the Mississippi River. How she came to live on another river, the Hudson, in a Westchester County mansion, and in a New York City town house, is at once inspirational and mysterious, because for all that is known about the famous entrepreneur, much that occurred before her magnificent transformation—years that trace a circuitous route across the country—remains obscure. By breathing life into scattered clues and dry facts, and with a deep understanding of the times and places through which Madam Walker moved, Beverly Lowry tells a story that stretches from the antebellum South to the Harlem Renaissance and bridges nearly a century of our history in her search for the distant truths of a woman who defied all odds and redefined conventional expectations. “Wherever there was one colored person, whether it was a city, a town, or a puddle by the railroad tracks, everybody knew her name.” --Violet Davis Reynolds, Stenographer, Madam C. J. Walker Co

Buildings, bridges, and books don't exist without the workers who are often invisible in the final product, as this joyous and profound picture book reveals from acclaimed author of The Christmas Boot Lisa Wheeler and New York Times bestselling illustrator of Love Loren Long All across this great big world, jobs are getting done by many hands in many lands. It takes much more than ONE. Gorgeously written and illustrated, this is an eye-opening exploration of the many types of work that go into building our world--from the making of a bridge to a wind farm, an amusement park, and even the very picture book that you are reading. An architect may dream up the plans for a house, but someone has to actually work the saws and pound the nails. This book is a thank-you to the skilled women and men who work tirelessly to see our dreams brought to life.

NPR Best Books of 2018 A teen girl and her robot embark on a cross-country mission in this illustrated science fiction story, perfect for fans of Ready Player One and Black Mirror. In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in.

Lorenzo Washington grew up on the Northeast side of Nashville, inheriting the many struggles of life without a father figure, and lived through segregation and poverty to become the provider for his family at an early age. His aspiration was always to become a successful entrepreneur, and as he widened his circle of influence, his personal history was tightly tied to the growing, vibrant music community of Jefferson Street in the 1950s-1970s. Through all the ups and downs of his career, from a highly successful run as a producer on the famous Music Row, multiple business ventures, run-ins with the law, and involvement in the high-powered world of professional boxing, Mr. Washington has become the nationally known curator of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum. Preserving the rich history, musical traditions, and well-known landmarks of Historical Jefferson Street has become his life's calling, and his efforts continue to excite musical enthusiasts all over the U.S. and internationally.

From bestselling author of the remarkable memoir, The Distance Between Us comes an inspiring account of one woman’s quest to find her place in America as a first-generation Latina university student and aspiring writer determined to build a new life for her family one fearless word at a time. “Here is a life story so unbelievable, it could only be true” (Sandra Cisneros, bestselling author of The House on Mango Street). As an immigrant in an unfamiliar country, with an indifferent mother and abusive father, Reyna had few resources at her disposal. Taking refuge in words, Reyna’s love of reading and writing propels her to rise above until she achieves the impossible and is accepted to the University of California, Santa Cruz. Although her acceptance is a triumph, the actual experience of American college life is intimidating and unfamiliar for someone like Reyna, who is now estranged from her family and support system. Again, she finds solace in words, holding fast to her vision of becoming a writer, only to discover she knows nothing about what it takes to make a career out of a dream. Through it all, Reyna is determined to make the impossible possible, going from undocumented immigrant of little means to “a fierce, smart, shimmering light of a writer” (Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild); a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist whose “power is growing with every book” (Luis Alberto Urrea, Pultizer Prize finalist); and a proud mother of two beautiful children who will never have to know the pain of poverty and neglect. Told in Reyna’s exquisite, heartfelt prose, A Dream Called Home demonstrates how, by daring to pursue her dreams, Reyna was able to build the one thing she had always longed for: a home that would endure.

Learn how to conquer limitations and begin to live your dreams. Rising above limitations will give you a step by step guide on obtaining total deliverance from insecurities, reaching on your inner strengths and preparing yourself to move towards the future God has in store for you. There is great wealth within you that is crying out to be released to the whole world. Each page of Rising above limitations will not only channel you into changing your focus from what life has brought to what God has for you, but it will help you start to live that life you have always dreamt about. No more limits, your future begins now…. This is a powerful book as it is not just a description but it also gives solutions to those struggling with low self-esteem. A must read, get a copy for yourself! Apostle MM Yengwa: Senior Pastor of Elshaddai Family Church. Ms Mlangeni helps us to deal with our inner injuries, which are really hindering our progress in life and coming out of devastating past experiences. By reading this book you’ll begin to live in the future designed by God for you. Bishop Sabelo Manyathi: Senior Pastor and founder of Life Bible Church International.

Spiritwind: A Book for Spiritual Adventurers is a book that teaches you and your friends about many religions, philosophies and spiritual paths. It is a spiritual adventure that is only a beginning to a journey that lasts a lifetime. Spiritwind is also a book that models for you how to have a study group for “spiritual adventuerers.”