American Girl® Melody™ stands up for what's right in this all-new Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader that takes place in 1964—and includes more than 30 stickers! Melody Ellison loves singing and gardening, and is inspired by friends and family and the Civil Rights Movement to make changes in her community. Melody's story of leadership and making one's voice heard is sure to engage today's readers as they learn what it was like to be a girl in 1964. This Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader is great for American Girl fans ages 5 to 8 and includes more than 30 stickers! This exciting Step into Reading is based on an American Girl story by Denise Lewis Patrick. Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics for children who are ready to read on their own. Introduced in 1986, American Girl's flagship line of historical characters features 18-inch dolls, books, and accessories that give girls a dramatic understanding of the role women and girls played in shaping our country. Look out for these other great books: Samantha Helps a Friend (American Girl) 9780593381878 Freedom for Addy (American Girl) 9780593381915 Molly’s Christmas Surprise (American Girl) 9780593381960

In three stories featuring nine-year-old Melody, who lives in Detroit in 1964, she pursues her singing dreams and learns that leadership can be difficult, and readers must decide which activities to join Melody in.

This critical account of the American Girl brand explores what its books and dolls communicate to girls about femininity, racial identity, ethnicity, and what it means to be an American. Emilie Zaslow begins by tracing the development of American Girl and situates the company’s growth and popularity in a social history of girl power media culture. She then weaves analyses of the collection’s narrative and material representations with qualitative research on mothers and girls. Examining the dolls with both a critical eye and a fan’s curiosity, Zaslow raises questions about the values espoused by this iconic American brand.

A Celebrated Smuggler and Whisky Distiller Must Choose Between Love and Freedom in Laird of Rogues, a Scottish Historical Romance from Susan King —Scotland, 1822— When King George IV visits Edinburgh, he expects to meet the distiller of Glenbrae, his favorite whisky. So the city’s deputy lord provost, Sir Hector Graham, acts quickly to release Ronan MacGregor, Laird of Glenbrae—one of the falsely accused Whisky Lairds—from the castle dungeon to tidy him up for the royal occasion. The provost expects his daughter, who speaks Gaelic, to teach the Highlander some English and manners. What the provost doesn’t know: the notorious smuggler is, in fact, a polished lawyer from Perth. Ellison Graham, Sir Hector’s widowed daughter, sets out to transform the rough and rugged Highlander into a gentleman, only to discover he is indeed bred to the peerage, has no intention of meeting the king—and has begun to steal her heart. Sequestered at a Highland estate with Ellison, Ronan continues the ruse while doing his utmost to help his kinsmen and save his whisky business. He never expects to fall in love with the captivating widow—a secret writer of sensational adventure fiction who longs for some passion and adventure of her own. Ronan’s most guarded secret could bring him a viscountcy but ignites a bitter rivalry that threatens his whisky enterprise and soon endangers the woman he loves. Now Ellison must find the courage to face her fears—and Ronan must choose between coveted freedom and protecting the love that could change his life forever...if only he can stay out of the dungeon. Publisher Note: Readers who appreciate romance in historical settings with fantasy elements will not want to miss The Whisky Lairds Series. The Whisky Lairds Series Laird of Twilight Laird of Secrets Laird of Rogues

This fun-to-read, easy-to-use reference has been completely updated, expanded, and revised with reviews of over 12,000 great albums by over 2,000 artists and groups in all rock genres. 50 charts.