Book excerpt: Take a trip back to nineteenth century America and learn how Mark Twain's world shaped his writing. By stepping into his world, students will gain a better understanding and appreciation of his works, and their relevance to modern-day audiences. This nonfiction title builds critical literacy skills while students are engaged in reading high-interest content. Featuring TIME content, this purposefully leveled text was developed by Timothy Rasinski, a leading expert in reading research. The intriguing sidebars feature fun facts that challenge students to think more deeply about the topics and develop higher-order thinking. Informational text features include a table of contents, captions, bold font, an extensive glossary, and a detailed index to deepen understanding and build academic vocabulary. The Try It! culminating activity requires students to connect back to the text, and the Reader's Guide provides opportunities for additional language-development activities. Aligned with McREL, WIDA/TESOL, and state standards, this title readies students for college and career. This 6-Pack includes six copies of this title and a lesson plan.