Most Americans regard "kids who kill" as a bane of modern society, but the tragic tale of "Kansas Charley" reminds us that it is a long-standing issue. Charles Miller was a fifteen- year-old killer who was hanged in 1892 for the murders of two young men. Kansas Charleyvividly brings to life a thought-provoking chapter in American history and in the history of the juvenile justice system, shedding light on our contemporary predicament and encouraging us to think about what it means to continue to uphold the juvenile death penalty in the twenty-first century.

This selection of twelve stories from Kansas's past explores some of the Sunflower State's most compelling mysteries and debunks some of its most famous myths.

An action-packed series from the creators of Longarm, featuring the rousing adventures of the most brutal gang of cutthroats ever assembled—Quantrill’s Raiders. When Kansas Charley Beckett massacres a Bushwhacker's family on the Fourth of July, the only red, white, and blue Win and Joe want to see are the red of his blood, the white of his eyes, and the blue of his body as it hangs from the gallows.

This picture book about a child with a broken leg explores the role of courage and patience in the healing process—both inside and out Lulu’s leg is broken, but she’s OK. Bonnie Bear has a matching yellow cast. Her sympathy trove has new books, sweet cards, and pretty daisies. She finds new ways to do ordinary things—like taking a bath or wearing her favorite pants. As time wears on, the newness of the cast wears off and the weariness sets in. Lulu grows bored and grumpy by day. Her cast becomes itchy and twitchy at night. Eventually, it’s time to get the cast off, but Lulu’s not ready. What if her leg can’t do all of the things it used to do? What if it breaks again? A visit from Grandpa, a well-timed letter, and the power of healing help get Lulu back on her feet.

Forgotten Reformer traces criminal justice practice and reform developments in late nineteenth-century America through the life and career of Robert McClaughry, a leading reformer. As a warden of one of America's toughest prisons, as a chief of police of Chicago, as a superintendent of two different reformatories, and as one of the first wardens of the federal prison system, McClaughry developed and led a reform movement that resonates today. As a founding member of the reformatory movement that sought to "save" young first offenders, McClaughry advocated new sentencing structures, probation, parole, and rehabilitative regimes within new institutions for young first offenders called reformatories. McClaughry then successfully got these reformatory ideals placed into adult prisons. In addition, McClaughry became American's main advocate for a criminal identification method called the Bertillon system. He set up the first identification bureaus at the Illinois State Penitentiary, the Chicago police department, and the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kansas and these became models for others across the country. Finally, as a founding member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police (today the International Association of Chiefs of Police) and the National Prison Assocation (today American Corrections Association), McClaughry sought to professionalize police and prison administrators.

On his first trip to the dentist, Charley gets lots of moral support from Maisy and friends in a full-length story readers will be eager to sink their teeth into. (Age 2-5). Maisy's friend Charley has a wobbly tooth! He's going to the dentist for the first time, and he’s a little nervous. Luckily, Maisy, Tallulah, Eddie, and Cyril are happy to accompany their toothy friend to the dentist’s office, where they make some fun discoveries: a twirly chair that goes up and down, a special cup to spit in, and a proper tooth-brushing demonstration. Charley gets an x-ray, a smiley button, and a book to take home, but what will happen with his wobbly tooth?

This sampler includes a representative selection of the author's poetry & prose, including personal reminiscence of, & poetic tributes to, his late friends Ginsberg, William Burroughs & Jack Micheline. Plymell's writings share the Beat Generation's tradition of protest as well as its concern over governmental interference with individual freedoms, especially the enactment of anti-drug legislation.