“One word—inspiring—comes to mind over and over as I read this manuscript. The stories in this book reveal that distinct pathways in life can be purposeful and fulfilling with some rewards coming early and others being long delayed…. All of the men and women in these stories will surface again and again in the lives of the readers as they advance through their school years. In that sense, this book is foundational to higher learning.”
—Dr. Donald Draayer, Minnetonka School Superintendent, 24 years, and a National Superintendent of the Year
"Our children need heroes—models of strong, compassionate, courageous individuals who speak out and step up to do what is right. They Stood Alone! provides glorious examples and will help our children recognize that they, too, can make a difference. I highly recommend this inspiring book. It should be in the hands of every parent, teacher, or child advocate who cares about our children's moral futures!”
—Michele Borba, EdD, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions and Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing
Imagine this: For centuries everyone has believed that the sun and all the planets revolve around the earth. But by studying the old books and observing the heavens, you have concluded that the earth and all the other planets revolve around the sun. Your theory is so radical that you are hesitant to tell others about it. Your name is Nicolaus Copernicus. Although at first your beliefs are denounced and ridiculed, your observations are eventually proved correct. In time, you come to be called the founding father of modern astronomy.
Or imagine this: It’s the early 19th century and women have few legal rights. Married women can’t own property, their wages belong to their husbands, and they don’t even have the right of guardianship over their children. You know the laws are unfair, but as a young woman yourself, what can you do? Your name is Elizabeth Cady Stanton. You spend your life fighting for women’s rights, and later many give you credit for being the architect and founder of the Women’s Rights Movement.
Nicolaus Copernicus and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are just two of the twenty-five extraordinary men and women whom you will have a chance to meet in this inspiring book that explores and celebrates people who had the courage to follow their own convictions, even when everyone around them said they were wrong. They were people of vision who saw life from a new perspective and were willing to question conventional wisdom. And their revolutionary breakthroughs changed and shaped the course of history.
Author Sandra McLeod Humphrey invites you to have the courage to stand alone too, hold on to your dreams, and follow your heart wherever it may lead. Like the twenty-five pioneers who lived before you, you too may someday make a difference.
176 pages (photos)
Paperback: $14
