Traces the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today's world.

"One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued...

The author details his immersion in a world of hardcore drugs, revealing the mental and physical depths of addiction, and the violent relapse one summer in California that forever changed his life, leading him down the road to recovery.

"Escape from the ordinary and break into Alcatraz, America's most famous prison! The island of Alcatraz has always been a place that's fascinated visitors, from the Native American tribes who believed it was home to evil spirits to the Spanish explorers who discovered the island. In modern times, it was a federal prison for only 29 years, but now draws over a million visitors each year. Learn the history of America's most famous prison, from its initial...

As the center of the United States entertainment and technology industries, California has a major cultural impact on the rest of the country.

"Marine biologist Brent Hughes discovered a surprising connection between sea otters and sea grass at an estuary in northern California. Follow science in action as Hughes conducts the research that led to this major discovery."--

Chronicles the friendship between Marine Major Brian Dennis and Nubs, a pack leader of wild dogs in Iraq who bonded with Dennis, but when Dennis was relocated seventy miles away and could not bring the dog with him, Nubs traveled across the freezing desert to find his human friend.

"California condors once soared the US Pacific Coast, but by 1982, their dwindling numbers forced conservationists to bring the few remaining birds into captivity. California Condor follows the condor's journey from its brush with extinction to today's efforts to eliminate lead poisoning and other threats that continue to endanger the species. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features...

An alphabet of things characteristic of the state of California, which consists of a short rhyme for each letter followed by further explanation of the item associated with that letter and its place in California history.

James Marshall's discovery of gold on January 24, 1848, would be heard by people all over the world. By 1849, twenty-two million Americans came down with a terrific case of gold fever. The journey across hostile land and the accounts of the travelers themselves will illuminate one of the largest mass migrations in American history.