Garth Sundem - Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World

Copyright 2010 by Garth Sundem

Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change was originally published in 2006 as The Doggy Dung Disaster.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sundem, Garth.

Real kids, real stories, real change : courageous actions around the world / by Garth Sundem.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-57542-350-0

1. ChildrenBiographyAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 2. CourageAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 3. Creative abilityAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 4. DiligenceAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 5. ChildrenPolitical activityAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 6. Social actionAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 7. Altruism in childrenAnecdotesJuvenile literature. 8. BiographyAnecdotesJuvenile literature. I. Title.

CT107.S798 2010

920.0083dc22

eBook ISBN: 978-1-57542-763-8

Free Spirit Publishing does not have control over or assume responsibility for author or third-party websites and their content. At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited within are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in this book; and all have been verified as of June 2012. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed here is not as described, please contact Free Spirit Publishing. Parents, teachers, and other adults: We strongly urge you to monitor childrens use of the Internet.

Photos on cover, top to bottom: Courtesy of Haruka Maruno. Used with permission.; istockphoto.com/anandkrish16; Courtesy of www.bethanyhamilton.com. Used with permission.

Photos in book: stamps: istockphoto.com/bunhill and istockphoto.com/tupungato , istockphoto.com/jfmdesign

Reading Level Grade 5; Interest Level Ages 913;
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level U

Editor: Douglas Fehlen
Cover and interior design: Michelle Lee Lagerroos
Editorial assistant: Heidi Hogg

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Thanks to my family for carting me around the world as a child and helping me understand that while cultures differ, heroes are universal. Thanks also to Ms. Pikiewiczs sixth-grade classes in Bozeman, Montana, for their enthusiasm and insightful commentskeep writing!

Haruka Maruno invents an environmentally friendly poop scooper and saves Japan from mountains of smelly dog poop.

When Omar Castillo Gallegos learns about the destruction of the Mexican rainforest, he takes a walka long walkto save it.

An Illinois housing development threatens the habitat of turtles. Thats when Henry Cilley gets tough.

Harshit Agrawal founds an environmental protection club in India to cut down on the use of bagspaper and plastic.

Koalas and wallabies arent the only things in Australia that need Amy Beals helpthe Murray River is getting lower every year.

Its a bird! Its a plane! Its Aika Tsubotas comic book! The book on protecting the environment is the talk of Japanand the world!

What would you do if people told you girls cant climb mountains? If youre Santosh Yadav, you prove them wrong.

Farliz Calle is student-body president, but can she stop a civil war? With the help of the Colombian Childrens Peace Movement, she plans to find out.

Ivan Sekulovic and Petrit Selimi are from opposite sides of an ethnic conflict. That doesnt stop them from uniting for peace.

What would you do if you werent included in some classes because of your race? Malika Sanders doesnt take this injustice sitting down.

Jean-Dominic Levesque-Rene is watching The Simpsons when he feels a lump in his neck. He fights his cancer at the same time he fights use of the chemicals that caused it.

Iqbal Masih escapes from a Pakistani rug factory and speaks out against child laboreven though he knows theres danger involved.

Talk about a cool science-fair project! Ryan Patterson invents a sign-language translator. Will it help him get a date?

Junichi Ono is an art prodigy who uses drawings to help heal the world.

A bad day at the beach turns tragic when a tsunami strikes the coast of Thailand. But because of Tilly Smith, many people in danger find safety.

Chen Chiu-Mian is in the house and shes fighting for workers rights in China.

In Ghana, many kids spend their days gathering firewood. That is until P.B.K.L. Agyirey-Kwakye decides to plant some trees!

To a six-year-old, $70 is a lot of money. But thats what Ryan Hreljac has to raise to dig a well in Uganda. And thats just the beginning.

Like a lot of people living in Hawaii, Bethany Hamilton loves surfingjust not with sharks. After losing her left arm, will she find the courage to surf again?

After Izidor Ruckel is adopted from a Romanian orphanage he becomes the voice of all the children left behind.

Fatema Begum uses chickens, a sewing machine, and an education to free herself from a match factory in Bangladesh.

The sign says Alexs Lemonade Stand for Cancer50 Cents a Glass. Alexandra Scott isnt just raising money for cancer researchshes fighting for her life.

Mawi Asgedom and his family walk across the desert to escape war in Ethiopia. Can they find a better life in a new land?

Rudy Garcia-Tolson is a powerhouse triathlete with no legs but a lot of heart.

Kruti Parekh eats fire and walks over hot coals. But her biggest trick is bringing trash back to life.

Whats so unusual about Christopher Paolini? Well, for starters, hes the author of the best-selling Eragon .

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son is a chess champion from Vietnam who sets out to make history.

Mattie Stepaneks books of poetry not only make the bestseller list but change peoples lives.

Wang Yani is a master with a paintbrush. Find out how she tours the world with her paintings of monkeys.

Vaishali Kiran Grover uses her skills as a scientist to keep snails out of her garden and stumbles onto a major discovery.

Cool articles, Web sites, and books for learning more about heroes.

Its still a little weird to think of myself as a hero.After losing my left arm to a tiger shark on Halloween morning of 2003, I just kept living my life the best way I knew how. Sure, I tried to be brave, and sure, it was hard to get back in the water, but what choice did I haveit wasnt like I was never gonna surf again!