(4) 4-6 All About America series. Concentrating mostly on America in the nineteenth century, these overviews present their topics on busily designed pages. Lots of text boxes, sidebars, and captioned illustrations and drawings compete for space with the main texts. There's a fair amount of information in each book, but the crowded pages may deter some readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these All About America titles: Stagecoaches and Railroads, The Industrial Revolution, Explorers, Trappers, and Pioneers, and A Nation of Immigrants.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 All About America series. This series provides snapshots of life during significant periods in American history. Important and well-known individuals and events are highlighted throughout on double-page spreads. It's all a little whitewashed, but the texts' friendly tone will draw in readers, as will the pages packed with eye-catching visuals--sketches, spot art, photos, etc. (though spreads may be difficult for some readers to navigate). Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these All About America titles: Colonists and Independence, Cowboys and the Wild West, Wagon Trains and Settlers, and Gold Rush and Riches.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Todras's respectful treatment of Grimké's public and private lives and her struggles and strengths offers a well-rounded picture of how this nineteenth-century woman of genteel birth came into her own as a social activist of grit, determination, and intelligence. The informed, restrained prose invokes compassion for the subject without becoming adulatory. Accompanied by black-and-white historical photos, this biography is well suited for its young adult audience. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey