South Central

The Akashic Noir series’ forensic study of Southern California sharpens its focus on one of Los Angeles’ most recognized neighborhoods.

Ice-T here offers his hip-hop generation’s Horatio Alger story: the narrative of an orphaned child who, drawn inexorably into a harrowing life of crime, ultimately turns away from the streets and, through self-discipline and a single-minded work ethic, forges a path to international fame as a musician and film-and-television star.

Coffee and brightly painted oxcarts. Quetzals, coastlines, and the Montverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Learn the ABCs of Costa Rica in this exotic, colorful tour of the small but treasure-filled Central American country.

When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: He can't fall in love...

In the final installment, Keyshia and Bully return with devastating news that could cause harm to their whole family. While Bully works to protect his household, it seems like he could never win. Every day is an uphill battle for the newlyweds. As each day goes by, Bully realizes he's not ready to be a father like he thought he was.

Keyshia felt like bad luck followed behind her. Plus, she didn’t have any luck with men. Everyone she gave her heart to only left it in shattered pieces. Right now she is facing the most pain she has ever felt. Her granny’s cancer diagnosis is up and down and she doesn’t know what the future holds.

From the acclaimed Ojibwe author and professor Anton Treuer comes an essential book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native young listeners alike.

"The Roots of El Salvador: Tracing the History of a Nation" is a comprehensive historical account of El Salvador's past, beginning with the indigenous peoples and spanning to modern times. The book delves into the country's rich pre-colonial history, including the Mayan civilization and its impact on El Salvador's cultural heritage. It also explores the tumultuous period of Spanish colonial rule and the subsequent struggles for independence.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.

Famed inventor Henry "Hank" Witherspoon has gone missing, and it's up to Jack and his brilliant siblings, Ava and Matt, to find him. At Hank's ransacked lab, the siblings discover clues to the project he's been working on - a new way to generate and store electricity, inspired by the electric eels of the Amazon.

Welcome to Peru! Hike through the clouds to ancient cities of the Andes Mountains. Hear the calls of birds in the Amazon rain forest. Learn about the people, places, and traditions of this beautiful South American country.

It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at 13, has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in Manaus, hundreds of miles up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exotic world bursting with new experiences in this highly colourful, joyous, and award-winning adventure.

The definitive book on the hunt to find the most ruthless serial killer in Los Angeles' history, told by the fearless reporter who broke the story. In 2008, Christine Pelisek broke the story of a terrifying serial killer who went unchecked in Los Angeles for decades, killing the most vulnerable women in one South Central neighborhood.

Haiti is a country that has experienced many hardships—most recently, a devastating earthquake in January of 2010. It is also a country with a rich history and a culture that is famous for its unique, colorful painting and sculpture styles. Listeners will learn about Haiti’s landscape, its vibrant culture, and the work being done to rebuild Haiti today.

Central and South America were full of great civilizations. This book discusses five of the most famous: the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas, and Maya. These civilizations first showed up in Central and South America over 1,000 years ago, and some descendants of these tribes are still living in these regions today!

From the Canadian Rockies to the Panamanian jungle, Motorcycle Therapy rumbles with comic adventure as two men, fleeing failed relationships, test the limits of their motorcycles and their friendship. Join the horn-honking, signal-flashing, wheelie-popping pair as they endure painful bee stings, painful snake bites, and (when they talk to girls) painful humiliation.

Sloths spend their days hanging upside down from tree branches. Learn about these slow-moving mammals and their habitats in Sloths.

From Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner Katherine Rundell comes an exciting new novel about a group of kids who must survive in the Amazon after their plane crashes. Fred, Con, Lila, and Max are on their way back to England from Manaus when the plane they're on crashes and the pilot dies upon landing. For days they survive alone, until Fred finds a map that leads them to a ruined city, and to a secret.

For 12-year-old Diego and his family, home is a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents farmed coca, a traditional Bolivian medicinal plant, until they got caught in the middle of the government's war on drugs and were mistakenly convicted of drug possession. Diego's parents are locked up, but he can come and go: to school, to the market to sell his mother's handknitted goods and to work as a "taxi", running errands for other prisoners. But then his little sister temporarily runs off while under his watch, earning his mother a heavy fine.

Cuba is a group of several islands. Long ago, one of the islands was called Treasure Island because it was a home base for many Caribbean pirates. Young listeners will learn about life in modern Cuba—the school system, the delicious food, and the vibrancy of Cuban culture.