THE BOOKS
The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Light the World
Mike's Role: Author
Release Date: 1/22/19
Publisher/Imprint: Macmillan/Christy Ottaviano (Holt)
ISBN-13: 978-1250120168
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In the mid-to-late-nineteenth century, a burgeoning science called electricity promised to shine new light on a rousing nation. Inventive and ambitious minds were hard at work. Soon that spark was fanned and given life, and a fiery war was under way to be the first to light—and run—the world with electricity. Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of direct current (DC), engaged in a brutal battle with Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, the inventors of alternating current (AC). There would be no ties in this bout—only a winner and a loser. The prize: a nationwide monopoly in electric current. Brimming with action, suspense, and rich historical and biographical information about these inventors, here is the rousing account of one of the world's defining scientific competitions.
Been There, Done That: Writing Stories From Real Life
Mike's Role: Creator & Editor
Release Date: 11/03/15
Publisher/Imprint: Penguin-Random/Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN-13: 978-0448486727
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Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology looks at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. The collection features award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who provide both original fictional short stories as well as the nonfiction accounts that inspired them. For this book, each author selected an experience that dealt with a family, friend, enemy, or frenemy relationship, and then used it to inspire an original work of fiction. Authors include Julia Alvarez, Karen Cushman, Margarita Engle, Dee Garretson, Nathan Hale, Matthew Kirby, Claire Legrand, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Linda Sue Park, Adam Rex, Gary Schmidt, Alan Sitomer, Caroline Starr Rose, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracy Edward Wymer, Lisa Yee, and Jane Yolen.
Been There, Done That: School Dazed
Mike's Role: Creator & Editor
Release Date: 08/23/16
Publisher/Imprint: Penguin-Random/Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN-13: 978-0448486741
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To some kids, school means homework, bus rides, or band practice. To others it means bullies, tough teachers, or pranking the substitute. In this second collection in the series, authors describe a standout story from their school days. As with the first anthology, each author contributes a narrative nonfiction account that serves as the inspiration for an original fictional short story. The contributing award-winning and best-selling middle-grade authors include Holly Goldberg Sloan, Kelly Starling Lyons, Tommy Greenwald, Wendy Mass, Bruce Hale, Jacqueline West, Ellen Yeomans, Vince Evans, Nate Evans, Sarah Prineas, Steve Sheinkin, Shaun Hutchinson, Don Tate, Varian Johnson, Howard Cruse, Meg Medina, and Bruce Coville.