Sparkling Stars #20

When brilliant scientist Rand Reed ventures into the treacherous Matto Grasso jungles of Brazil on a vital government mission, he discovers he's not alone—a mysterious figure known as Fangs, the Wolf Boy, emerges from the wilderness to save him from enemy agents bent on stealing his research. As Reed and Fangs form an unlikely alliance against fascist operatives hunting them both, the wolf boy must grapple with his own fractured past and the savage instincts that bind him to the jungle. Their survival depends on whether Fangs can bridge the gap between the man-thing he's becoming and the wild creature he's always been.

Jim Blake discovers the discipline and traditions of the United States Military Academy as a newly arrived plebe, navigating everything from physical inspections and drill training to the rigorous honor system that governs cadet life. As the school year unfolds, he finds himself tested by academics, mandatory physical conditioning, and the strict hierarchy of cadet society—and catches the eye of the football coach along the way. With best friends Tom Stone and Bill Adams by his side, Jim experiences the defining moments of his first year, from the swearing-in ceremony and the grueling plebe hike to the coveted recognition of June Week.

This illustrated feature explores how tractors—tracked vehicles that distribute their weight across wide, bridge-like treads—have become essential machines in both agriculture and industry, replacing the need for teams of horses on farms and enabling workers to clear land, move timber, and handle heavy loads in conditions that would otherwise demand months of manual labor. From logging operations and quarries to oil fields and wartime engineering projects, the tractor's versatility and power in extreme weather and rough terrain made it invaluable during World War II and continues to reshape how we build and work in peacetime. The story traces the tractor's evolution from Benjamin Holt's tracked-vehicle innovation in the 1890s to its modern applications—demonstrating how this "harnessed power" is shaping our industrial future.

This tale of "King Gustav V" celebrates Sweden's eighty-eight-year-old monarch, a champion of democracy who remains athletically active well into his advanced years. The story showcases the king's surprising prowess at tennis and croquet—games at which his skill would rival that of far younger players. A genuine testament to a life well-lived, even as the rest of the page drifts into unrelated tales of fashion and crime.