Many towering figures are credited with shaping the course of American history. For each of these celebrated lives, there were countless others -- writing the real story of America. In My Own Words introduces young readers to these lesser-known Americans and their stories. This exciting series reveals the tales of four ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances through their personal writings. Readers will be amused by the sly Yankee humor that Revolutionary War soldier Joseph Plumb Martin brings to his stirring account of the war for independence. The thrilling writings of John Wesley Powell -- the first white man to explore the Grand Canyon -- allow readers to sense the profound awe Powell and his crew felt discovering the Canyon's natural wonders, as well as the dangers and hardships they faced daily.