Stars and Stripes is a reading text for beginning-to-intermediate level ESOL students. This text is geared to young adult and adult students learning English in the United States and abroad. In the United States, the text would be more appropriate for beginning-level academic students (high school and college) or intermediate-level adult students. As such, it would be an ideal follow-up to either the Short Cuts or Voices of Tomorrow programs. Internationally, the text is suitable for beginning-to-intermediate courses (depending on the setting) in a wide variety of settings including high school, college, and institutes. As the title indicates, Stars and Stripes is a collection of stories about the United States, its people and its history. Each of the 15 chapters in the book is divided into two sections. The first section contains a reading about an historical figure or event, and the second section contains a more contemporary reading based on the same theme. (For example, chapter 5 deals with the U.S. flag. The Yesterday reading is based on the first flags that were created during Revolutionary War times, the Today reading deals with issues relating the use of the flag in contemporary times, including various works of art and fashion. The Today reading also deals with more serious issues surrounding the symbol, including flag-burning.)