Living in America

Throughout America's nearly 250-year history, the nation has both embraced immigrants and made them the targets of hate crimes, exclusion laws, and discrimination. Refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers, and others from around the world have crossed U.S. borders in search of work, food, shelter, and religious freedom. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the challenges immigrants in the United States face, from language barriers to health care access, and the benefits immigration provides to the economy and society. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of Zoom founder Eric Yuan and electrical engineer Katya Echazarreta.

The system of government in the United States has both united and divided Americans throughout the nation's nearly 250-year history. Fueled by activists, an abundance of fake news, polarizing media platforms, and an increase in hate crimes, political parties are deepening the divide between citizens. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the origins and evolution of Democratic and Republican politics and each party's views on economic, social, racial, and gender issues, while offering solutions for healing the divide. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of presidents Richard Nixon and Donald Trump.

Fake news is nothing new. Since the earliest days of the United States, people have spread falsehoods and lies though word of mouth and every type of media, from newspapers and radio to propaganda films, television, and the Internet. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history of fake news and circular reasoning faced by Americans, including the rise of social media and current events such as COVID-19 and the "stolen election" of Donald Trump. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of journalist Martha Roundtree and social psychology professor Sander van der Linden.

The topic of racism is a divisive one for Americans, especially as stories of racial profiling, police brutality, and discrimination increase and go viral every day. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history, power, and effects of racism in the United States, focusing on Indigenous and American Indian segregation, Chinese exclusion, Hispanic and Muslim prejudice, and the legacy of slavery within the Black community. It explores anti-minority laws and bias, cultural appropriation, 14th Amendment cases, and rights inequalities. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of George Floyd and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.

The topics of gun control and gun laws are divisive ones for Americans, especially as firearm violence in the United States increases and death tolls rise. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history of mass shooting tragedies in the United States, from restaurants and churches to schools such as Columbine and Sandy Hook. It explores theories about mass murder motives and possible solutions for prevention, including better mental health services and assault weapon bans. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of advocate Sue Klebold and criminology researchers Jillian Peterson and James Densley.

In a democracy, such as the United States, citizens elect government officials to represent them by exercising their constitutional right to vote. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history of suffrage in America, including how and when women, Black, and American Indian voters, among others, were granted voting rights through acts and amendments. It explores the election process, registration, ballots and polling places, and barriers to strong turnouts, such as ID laws and language access. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of suffragist Alice Paul and political leader Stacey Abrams.