New Releases by James Lincoln Collier

Twelve-year-old Jesse runs away from home and tries to survive on his own in the nearby mountains.

Thirteen-year-old George suddenly finds himself the darling of a New York television company where plans are made to turn him into a singing, guitar-playing teen-age idol.

History is dramatic -- and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in this compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.

Discusses attitudes and events that led up to the Civil War, particularly the institution of slavery.

Discusses the events and personalities that shaped this country, from the hotly contested election of 1800 that brought Thomas Jefferson into office through the westward expansion to the War of 1812 and James Madison''s presidency.

Young Tim Meeker is caught between his brother''s patriotism and his father''s Tory sympathies in this story of the American Revolution.

Examines the possible origins of jazz, its variety, greatness, and individual artists.

Traces the rags-to-riches career of the clarinetist and his role in popularizing jazz music in the post-Depression 1930s, assesses his elusive personality, and reevaluates dozens of his landmark recordings

Living with irresponsible parents in a seedy part of a big city in 1910, thirteen-year-old Roger falls in with a gang of murderous burglars and discovers an unpleasant secret about his father.

Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the great genius'' of jazz--its major composer and leader of probably the most significant of all jazz bands. Yet, other than his own not-very-revealing autobiography and a collection of reminiscences of his band members, there has never been an indepth biography of this preeminent figure in twentieth century music and entertainment. Here at last is the definitive critical biography of both the man and his music. James Lincoln Collier, author of the highly acclaimed Louis Armstrong: An American Genius, has produced a fascinating work which tells the full story of Edward Kennedy Ellington, from his childhood as the pampered and adored only son of a middle-class Washington black family to his death in 1974, hailed as "America''s greatest composer" (according to the New York Times obituary) and mourned at his funeral by more than 10,000 people. Collier describes Ellington''s charisma--his sense of being special even from childhood, when he would announce to his cousins "I am the grand, noble, Duke; crowds will be running to me,"...the formation of his band, including some of the greatest names in jazz history, among them, Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Lawrence Brown, and Paul Gonzavles...his arrival at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem in the 1920s...his involvement with his manager Irving Mills, who manipulated and cheated him and even put his name on some of Ellington''s songs, but who made him famous...his relationship with his family, including his troubled relationship with his son, his marriage and many affairs (including involvements with some of his own musician''s women). But most of all, the book is about the creation of the music, from classic songs like "Sophisticated Lady" to the "sacred concerts" of Ellington''s last years. Collier maintains that it is not necessary to see Ellington as a "composer" in the narrow sense of the word but as something just as important: an improvising jazz musician. His instrument was a whole band.This is a controversial book--not all will agree with Collier''s assessments--but it will enthrall jazz buffs as well as anyone interested in a fascinating life and times.

A 12-year-old boy cannot lose his attachment to a teddy bear.

Best Books for Senior High Readers A thoroughly researched biography of this jazz great who was also a popular entertainer.

Young people search for hominids on another planet similar to Earth and experience all the dangers Earth possessed in prehistoric times.

Two boys boarding at an English school begin to fear for their roommate''s life when the school officials simply ignore the fact that he has a broken leg.

Harold is sent to a psychiatrist for reporting that he had seen a medieval city. He later enters the city and travels back in time.

Describes string, woodwind, brass, percussion, and keyboard instruments and outlines their importance in the production of various types of music.

A twelve-year-old boy, whose problems include having to take "Square" music lessons, an attachment to a childhood teddy bear, and a father who earns a living creating comic strips, gets involved with jewel thieves in an attempt to break the dull routine.