The disappearance of a Reno couple from Prince William Sound, Alaska, along with a half eaten dog, apparently by killer whales, raises suspicion that a certain orca pack, called the A-T pack, led by a particularly sharp and aggressive female, the queen, may be responsible. An exploration geologist and his wife, Alaska residents and both interested in orcas, carry out investigations in the A-T pack's home waters to learn more about their behavior and habits. They are joined by a marine biologist orca specialist from southern California. A number of people are determined to communicate with the orcas, including a psychologist from Canada, a rock band from Vancouver, BC. and music for the orcas via underwater speakers. Some kids from Anchorage attempt to communicate with the whales with near-fatal consequences. Accompany the intelligent orcas as they hunt, kill and eat various types of fish and animals. They also have fun. The three investigators decide to test the interest of the orcas, under federal and state supervision, in a totally strange food to help determine if they might kill and eat humans. Small pigs, a human food, were decided upon as the best choice for testing orca reaction to strange food animals. The test is successful and part of the A-T pack is orca led but not for long.

Jurassic Underground By: R. V. Bailey A desolate location in southeastern Wyoming, named Como Bluff, has a reputation as one of the best late Jurassic dinosaur fossil localities in the world. Late Jurassic is the time period from about 160 to 145 million years ago. The location was given the name Como Bluff in the 1800’s when the Union Pacific Railway was being built through the area. In about 1865, examples of huge fossilized bones were sent to certain eastern US universities and museums and several distinguished vertebrate paleontologists traveled to Como Bluff where they found many specimens lying on the surface. Erosion of the Jurassic-age Morrison Formation, the host sedimentary strata, was the source. But, by 2010, after 140 years of surface activity by fossil collectors, there were no remaining fossils at the surface. A Wyoming University-educated geologist, Mike Mackenzie, who was born and raised in southeast Wyoming, theorized that the best way to search for more Jurassic fossils at this locality would be to excavate in the Morrison Formation underground. Mike envisioned underground viewing points where visitors would be able to see cleared off and exposed dinosaur fossils in the sediments within which they were entombed. This novel takes the reader underground where mining activity leads to a surprise discovery and unnerving encounters. A number of perceptions about dinosaurs will be questioned as explorers have thrilling and frightening adventures back in time and into dangerous Jurassic situations.

The First Extraterrestrial Signal is a fictional book. The book reveals how the entire world reacts to the first confirmed radio signal from an alien civilization. The book reveals how intelligent life on Earth gathers to discuss the signal from the aliens and how the world should react to that first confirmed radio signal from outer space aliens. From religions to governments, the intelligent beings on Earth gather to ponder what to do with the realization that there is another intelligent life in the universe way beyond the solar system and what to do with the information provided by the aliens.

Orca Soundings are teen novels for reluctant readers. Orca Currents are middle-school novels for reluctant readers. Written at a grade 2.0 to grade 4.5 reading level, these compelling contemporary novels have proven incredibly popular with teachers and librarians looking for material that will engage their most reluctant of readers. Orca has always provided professionally written teachers guides to accompany these books. Now we offer a complete resource guide to enable classroom integration of these popular titles. Including sections on reading levels, book discussion groups, literacy circles, assessment and follow-up activities, this resource guide enables a teacher to implement the Orca Soundings and Orca Currents series as part of a comprehensive independent reading and literacy unit.

In the sixth installment of the Justine McKeen, Queen of Green series, Justine is faced with the challenge of convincing the Queen of Mean that being environmentally conscious is worthwhile.