<DIV><DIV>These exciting true stories will inspire teens to believe in themselves and the ability of determined young people to make a difference in the world. As fun to read as fiction, the stories are engaging and accessible&mdash;a great way to encourage reluctant readers.<br> <br> <i>In Kids with Courage</i>, readers meet 18 remarkable kids with the courage to speak out, fight back, come to the rescue, and stand up for their beliefs.<br> <br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The student had a loaded gun and a room full of hostages. Police surrounded the school. Then Ruben Ortega got mad...<br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Norvell Smith knew there would be gang members in the audience. But she looked right at them and gave them a piece of her mind...<br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was the middle of winter, and the woman had no shoes. Frank Daily looked down at his Nikes and made a decision...<br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The house was filled with smoke and flames. And Melinda Clark couldn&rsquo;t find her little brother...<br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Smith threatened to kill her mother and brother. But Mercedes Jones spoke out anyway&mdash;and a sexual abuser went to jail...<br> &bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Andrew Holleman had practically grown up on the wetlands. He loved its plants, creatures, and gooey mud. Then he heard about the developer&rsquo;s plan...<br> <br> National award-winning author Barbara A. Lewis provides the inspiration to empower young people to make a difference in their communities and in the world.<br> </DIV>