From the Publisher: As you read Ten Real-Life Stories, you will meet a fascinating variety of people. The one thing they have in common is they are real. So are their stories. Here are a few of the people you will learn about: Vingo, a man released from prison, going home to a wife who may not want him; Richard, a little boy who invented a father to hide his embarrassment; Paul, so afraid of bullying that he betrayed a friend at school; Lupe, a retarded girl who wasn't; Ben, whose mother would not allow him to fail; Marvel, who fooled everyone into believing she could read, and Jean, who found that education could counter the hard blows of life.

As you read Ten Real-Life Stories, you will meet a fascinating variety of people. The one thing they have in common is they are real. So are their stories. Here are a few of the people you will learn about: Vingo, a man released from prison, going home to a wife who may not want him. Richard, a little boy who “invented" a father to hide his embarrassment. Paul, so afraid of bullying that he betrayed a friend at school. Lupe, a "retarded" girl who wasn’t. Ben, whose mother would not allow him to fail. Marvel, who fooled everyone into believing she could read. Jean, who found that education could counter the hard blows of life.

"'Abuse' is an ugly word. And to many people, abuse is an ugly reality of life. This book tells the stories of two men and two women whose lives have been painfully marked by abuse. As a child, Kenyon was beaten first by his mother, later by his father and stepmother. Dawn grew up surrounded by abusive people, then married a violent man. Ryan's stepfather terrorized his entire family, physically and emotionally. Eunice was only a child when an adult relative targeted her for sexual abuse. The things that Kenyon, Dawn, Ryan, and Eunice experienced could have destroyed them inside. But that's not what happened. Read Surviving Abuse to learn how people can grow strong and healthy even after suffering at the hands of others."--Back cover.

Profiles twenty young men and women of a variety of ethnic backgrounds whose courage and determination have helped them overcome such obstacles as poverty, racism, abuse, neglect, illness, and drugs.

After a lifetime of abuse, Maria Cardenas was finally living in peace with her daughter. But soon, that little girl would be able to read better than her mother. What could Maria do? School was a nightmare for Daisy Russell. She couldn't wait to get away from a place where she felt stupid and worthless. But once she dropped out, she discovered a burning desire to learn to read. Was it too late? As a child, Julia Burney escaped from the poverty and violence of her home into a world of books. As an adult, she saw children growing up without that escape available to them. How could she help? In Reading Changed My Life! Three True Stories, you'll learn what happened to Maria, Daisy, and Julia. They are three courageous women whose stories will touch and inspire you.

How do some people accomplish so much with their lives? Is it that they’re just lucky? Or amazingly smart? Or is it that they are ordinary people who have learned to motivate themselves, even when the going gets tough?Read about real-life people who have faced real-life obstacles—maybe some of the same obstacles that stand between you and the achievement of your dreams. Despite their problems, all have found ways to motivate themselves to succeed. Here are four of the people you’ll meet in this book: Paul, who flunked out of college and into a minimum-wage job. Dawn, whose chaotic life was filled with violence, drinking, and drugs. Peggy, a college student clinging to a boyfriend who liked her best when she was failing. Grant, whose drunken accident on graduation night was an appropriate end to his high school career.

To help students experience the joys and benefits of reading, Townsend Press presents the Townsend Library - a collection of high-interest classics. Each Townsend Library book has been carefully edited to maintain the original story while updating language and style for today's readers. - Publisher.