In Their Own Words

Get inside the head of LeBron James: basketball star, activist, philanthropist, and one of the most influential athletes in the world. This collection of quotes has been curated from LeBron James's numerous public statements-interviews, social media posts, television appearances, and more. It's a comprehensive picture of his legacy as one of the world's most recognizable and influential athletes, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. The quotes in the collection touch on sports, community, life lessons, opportunity, equality, justice, and more. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7–12 about LeBron James's ideas. LeBron James's meteoric rise to basketball fame started when he was just a teenager, being billed by Sports Illustrated as "The Chosen One" while he was still playing for his high school team in Akron, Ohio. He became the top overall selection for the 2003 NBA draft and signed an unprecedented $90 million endorsement deal with Nike before he ever played a professional game. James spent the first seven years of his career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he would establish himself as a premier player in the league before going on to play for the Miami Heat and the L.A. Lakers. His unmatched athleticism and drive have led to multiple NBA championships, MVP awards, Olympic gold medals, and more points scored than anyone else in the history of professional basketball. Off the court, he has spoken up for racial equality, founded a school for at-risk children in his hometown, launched multiple media companies, and even tried his hand at acting. Since emerging on the global stage, James has become a source of inspiration for people all over the world. Now, LeBron James: In His Own Words Young Reader Edition offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world's most influential athletes by collecting over 100 of his most insightful quotes to create a comprehensive picture of LeBron James and his legacy for young readers everywhere. Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.

Get inside the head of one of the most influential musicians of our time, a pop music phenomenon turned titan of industry and cultural icon: Taylor Swift. This collection of quotes has been carefully curated from Swift's numerous public statements-interviews, op-eds, social media posts, and more, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. It's a comprehensive picture of her meteoric rise to the top, her ever-savvy business sense, and her increasingly outspoken perspective on the music world and beyond. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7–12 about Taylor Swift's ideas. Swift's catchy, chart-topping songs have propelled her to become one of the bestselling musicians of all time. But in the nearly 20 years she's been making music, she has also amassed enough power to buck the norms of an industry notorious for controlling the images of its often very young female artists. Her latest, unprecedented record deal gives her ownership of all her master records, the ability to dictate the terms of her albums' streaming releases in order to maximize her profits, and a requirement that her label share proceeds from the sale of its stake in Spotify with its musicians. She has championed the rights of artists to earn fair royalties, and more recently, she has inspired tens of thousands of fans to register to vote. Swift's achievements have earned her spots on both Forbes's Most Powerful Women and Time's 100 Most Influential People lists. Now, for the first time, young readers find her most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place. Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.