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Imagine...
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!
What People Are Saying...
"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. In that sense, this is a book of 'HOPE,' not wishful thinking but hope that is driven by intrinsic motivation, a desire to give rather than take from the world, and a deep belief in the difference that one person can make when an ability, idea, or goal is taken to its highest level…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. It gives an emotional as well as an intellectual mindset to the 25 people who made a difference and, thus, they become the giants for the current generation of readers upon which to rest their feet."
Dr. Donald Draayer
Minnetonka School Superintendent, 24 years
A National Superintendent of the Year
"They Stood Alone! digs deep into the lives of those individuals who made it possible for all of us to have our own personal heroes. Through these twenty-five examples we, too, can learn how to make a difference in the lives of others and give back. This is a book that is both powerful and significant. A must read for all."
Terry Hitchcock,
motivational speaker, author, consultant
"They Stood Alone! is a book all young people should read. It contains the stories of real-life heroes and heroines who showed the courage and inspiration to truly make a difference in the world. The twenty-five men and woman featured in this book are an eclectic group ranging from scientist and explorers to civil rights activists and authors. Their dedication and commitment encourage all of us to strive to do our best and to live a meaningful life."
Philip Bigler
1998 National Teacher of the Year
"They stood alone and stood out! Seldom, if ever, do kids have a vision without a role model. Sandra Humphrey's new book They Stood Alone! provides kids everywhere with extraordinary people who had beliefs and convictions and stood by them to make an enormous difference. These stories will galvanize youngsters to action!"
Gene Bedley
1986 National Educator of the Year
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