Growing Up in a Tough City


Book Description

Growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey, from 1966 to 1979, Tony quickly learns that there are few rules on the streets. A child born in the city has to learn fast, and Tony is no exception. The fictionalized memoir of author Jerry McGrellis speaks to the carefree days of the past while simultaneously focusing on the current problems of inner-city youth.




Growing Up Is Hard To Do


Book Description

Growing Up is Hard to Do, yet there are very few comprehensive “how to” manuals for young people, to help them negotiate and understand what momentous changes occur on the winding road between infancy and adulthood. In this helpful, highly readable manual, Dr. Spence, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, with further sub-specialty training in Pediatric Gynecology, examines each stage of development, pointing out the many difficulties that may be encountered along the way. He tackles the issues head-on: conception, the early years, off to school with potential bullying, childhood sexual abuse and what happens during puberty. In warm, empathetic, and accessible language, concerns like sex, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and gender issues are discussed. In addition, he delves into subjects such as smoking, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drug use and the risks of the Internet and teenage driving. Nutrition, obesity, anorexia and exercise are highlighted. The last chapter comments on the value of completing one’s education and choosing an appropriate career. In treating young people for over forty years, Dr. Spence has seen many teenagers and their families suffer the tragic consequences of poor or uninformed choices. He wrote Growing Up is Hard to Do to provide honest, unfiltered information in the hope of helping young readers avoid many of the “potholes” of early life. Though the book is written specifically for young people negotiating growing up, parents, caregivers and teachers will also find it very helpful in providing information and context for further discussion.




The Eastern Stars


Book Description

The intriguing, inspiring history of one small, impoverished area in the Dominican Republic that has produced a staggering number of Major League Baseball talent, from an award-winning, bestselling author. In the town of San Pedro in the Dominican Republic, baseball is not just a way of life. It's the way of life. By the year 2008, seventy-nine boys and men from San Pedro have gone on to play in the Major Leagues-that means one in six Dominican Republicans who have played in the Majors have come from one tiny, impoverished region. Manny Alexander, Sammy Sosa, Tony Fernandez, and legions of other San Pedro players who came up in the sugar mill teams flocked to the United States, looking for opportunity, wealth, and a better life. Because of the sugar industry, and the influxes of migrant workers from across the Caribbean to work in the cane fields and factories, San Pedro is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the Dominican Republic. A multitude of languages are spoken there, and a variety of skin colors populate the community; but the one constant is sugar and baseball. The history of players from San Pedro is also a chronicle of racism in baseball, changing social mores in sports and in the Dominican Republic, and the personal stories of the many men who sought freedom from poverty through playing ball. The story of baseball in San Pedro is also that of the Caribbean in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and on a broader level opens a window into our country's history. As with Kurlansky's Cod and Salt, this small story, rich with anecdote and detail, becomes much larger than ever imagined. Kurlansky reveals two countries' love affair with a sport and the remarkable journey of San Pedro and its baseball players. In his distinctive style, he follows common threads and discovers wider meanings about place, identity, and, above all, baseball. Watch a Video




Growing Up with the Town


Book Description

In this unusual blend of chronological and personal history, Dorothy Hubbard Schwieder combines scholarly sources with family memories to create a loving and informed history of Presho, South Dakota, and her family's life there from the time of settlement in 1905 to the mid 1950s. Schwieder tells the story of this small town in the West River country, with its harsh and unpredictable physical environment, through the activities of her father, Walter Hubbard, and his family of ten children. Walter Hubbard’s experiences as a business owner and town builder and his attitudes toward work, education, and family both reflected and shaped the lives of Presho's inhabitants and the town itself. While most histories of the Plains focus on farm life, Schwieder writes entirely about small-town society. She uses newspaper accounts, state and county histories, census data, interviews with residents, and the childhood memories of herself and her nine siblings to create an entwined, first-hand social and economic portrait of life on main street from the perspective of its citizens.




Messages Men Hear


Book Description

This text is based on over 10 years research with 500 men from different classes, backgrounds, races and ethnic groups. It constructs a theory of masculinity by exploring masculine expectancies, how men form their gender identities and how those identities influence their behaviour.




No Ordinary Summer


Book Description

The time is June 1942, the beginning of Americas first summer at war. Somewhere off the coast of Massachusetts a German U-boat surfaces under cover of darkness. Aboard the U-boat are two agents of the Abwehr, Germanys military intelligence service, whom the ships commander has been ordered to drop safely on American soil. The agents have as their mission to conduct sabotage against military and industrial installations. Hitlers intention in devising such an operation is to remind Americans he has the capability and the will to bring the war to their backyard. As the two agents are bringing their equipment ashore, they are surprised by a patrolling US Coastguardsman, who is quickly killed by one of the crewmen from the U-boat but an attack dog accompanying him badly mauls one of the agents. Desperately in need of medical attention, the wounded agent must be returned to the U-boat for treatment. As the crewmen disappear into the night Erich Stinnes, alias Karl Stoner, is left with the sudden realization he will be carrying out this operation on his own. Stoner is fortunate in not only finding a job at the local shipyard but he is able to rent an apartment from an attractive woman, who is recently widowed. It is not long before the two of them begin an affair that causes Karl, already ambivalent about the war, to question the wisdom of his mission. Before he can resolve his dilemma, an incident at the shipyard exposes him for what he is. Having no choice he is forced to flee leaving Anne to suffer the consequences of her affair with a Nazi spy.




Does the Sun Shine in Heaven


Book Description

This inspirational story told by patient and author, John Amatuzio, about his long battle against leukemia, culminates a 20-year (and counting) journey of unimaginable proportions. As the patient, John was told that his type of leukemia had never been successfully cured through bone marrow transplantation using a non-related donor. The count worldwide was 0 for 20 and mounting at the time. With no other alternatives, John went through major testing, private investigator assistance, major turmoil and a donor materializing on the last possible evening in order to receive his transplant. Incredible bouts with faith and intense religious occurrences following the transplant finally led victory over defeat against insurmountable odds. Stand side by side with John as he endures 106-degree fevers, organ failure, GVHD, total body radiation treatments, Last Rites, fist fights and experimental protocols. Personal betrayals lead to loneliness and a seemingly broken life that through twists of fate and unshakeable faith bring him to thanksgiving. Readers from all walks of life will find this emotional tale thought-provoking and insightful. A must read if you or someone you love is living with cancer.




The Rough Guide to New York City: Travel Guide eBook


Book Description

This New York City guidebook is perfect for independent travellers planning a longer trip. It features all of the must-see sights and a wide range of off-the-beaten-track places. It also provides detailed practical information on preparing for a trip and what to do on the ground. And this New York City travel guidebook is printed on paper from responsible sources, and verified to meet the FSC’s strict environmental and social standards. This New York City guidebook covers: the Harbor Islands; the Financial District; Tribeca; Soho; Chinatown; Little Italy; Nolita; Lower East Side; the East Village; the West Village; Chelsea; the Meatpacking District; Union Square; Gramercy Park; the Flatiron District; Midtown East; Midtown West; Central Park; the Upper East Side; the Upper West Side; Morningside Heights; Harlem; north Manhattan; Brooklyn; Queens; the Bronx; Staten Island. Inside this New York City travel book, you’ll find: A wide range of sights – Rough Guides experts have hand-picked places for travellers with different needs and desires: off-the-beaten-track adventures, family activities or chilled-out breaks Itinerary examples – created for different time frames or types of trip Practical information – how to get to New York City, all about public transport, food and drink, shopping, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, tips for travellers with disabilities and more Author picks and things not to miss in New York City – Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Baseball, Museum of Modern Art, Pizza, Rockefeller Center, Live Jazz, Brooklyn Bridge Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money, and find the best local spots When to go to New York City – high season, low season, climate information and festivals Where to go – a clear introduction to New York City with key places and a handy overview Extensive coverage of regions, places and experiences – regional highlights, sights and places for different types of travellers, with experiences matching different needs Places to eat, drink and stay – hand-picked restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels Practical info at each site – hours of operation, websites, transit tips, charges Colour-coded mapping – with keys and legends listing sites categorised as highlights, eating, accommodation, shopping, drinking and nightlife Background information for connoisseurs – history, culture, art, architecture, film, books, religion, diversity Fully updated post-COVID-19 The guide provides a comprehensive and rich selection of places to see and things to do in New York City, as well as great planning tools. It’s the perfect companion, both ahead of your trip and on the ground.




Bad City


Book Description

This book will give you goose bumps!Dark, atmospheric, and gritty,this debut novel by Matt Mayr is anAmazon Breakthrough Novel finalist"A remarkable portrait of a world gone very wrong, as chilling as prophecy." -- Joan Barfoot, authorMatt Mayr "paints a grim but plausible picture of grinding poverty, endless violence and revenge." -- Alex Binkley, Ottawa Review of Books ----------------------------------------------------The aftermath of the collapse of civilization has an honored place in science and speculative fiction. ----------------------------------------------------Bad CityIn this inventive dystopian read, the future is bleak. Eli Baxter rules South Town with an iron fist, and traitors don’t live long. Idealistic and talented thief Simon is desperate to escape — but will a new assignment from Eli hold him back?Eli Baxter is king, ruling from the thirteenth floor of his building while henchman do his bidding. Simon Gray, a talented young thief, now disillusioned with South Town, is desperate to escape with the woman he loves. As he plots their journey north, glimpses of his childhood in South India and Northern Ontario reveal the world as it once was, fueling his desire to break away. But when he's handed a new job, one that will make Eli untouchable, Simon realizes that escape - and transcendence to love and a peaceful way of life - might be harder than he thought.




Good Kids, Bad City


Book Description

From award-winning investigative journalist Kyle Swenson, Good Kids, Bad City is the true story of the longest wrongful imprisonment in the United States to end in exoneration, and a critical social and political history of Cleveland, the city that convicted them. In the early 1970s, three African-American men—Wiley Bridgeman, Kwame Ajamu, and Rickey Jackson—were accused and convicted of the brutal robbery and murder of a man outside of a convenience store in Cleveland, Ohio. The prosecution’s case, which resulted in a combined 106 years in prison for the three men, rested on the more-than-questionable testimony of a pre-teen, Ed Vernon. The actual murderer was never found. Almost four decades later, Vernon recanted his testimony, and Wiley, Kwame, and Rickey were released. But while their exoneration may have ended one of American history’s most disgraceful miscarriages of justice, the corruption and decay of the city responsible for their imprisonment remain on trial. Interweaving the dramatic details of the case with Cleveland’s history—one that, to this day, is fraught with systemic discrimination and racial tension—Swenson reveals how this outrage occurred and why. Good Kids, Bad City is a work of astonishing empathy and insight: an immersive exploration of race in America, the struggling Midwest, and how lost lives can be recovered.