(2) YA Vera, the first-person narrator of this historical horror novel, awakens in 1943 Lithuania and understands that she is a golem. Her creator, Ezra, has made her from the body of his teenage daughter, Chaya (a partisan fighter who was shot and killed a few months earlier), for the purpose of avenging Chaya's death. Vera can access Chaya's memories and emotions, and she is bound to follow her creator's commands. As Vera meets Akiva, who loved Chaya, and as she completes her mission, she and others wrestle with thoughtfully presented questions about where Chaya ends and Vera begins, and about Vera's desire for more autonomy. This dark tale grows even darker by book's end, but with its portrayal of proactive Jewish characters during the Holocaust and its emphasis on vengeance -- and on emet, the Hebrew word meaning truth carved into a golem's forehead -- it acknowledges that anger can be valid, especially in extreme situations. A glossary defines relevant terms, including those from the Jewish folkloric concepts the novel incorporates.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(4) K-3 National Park Explorers series. Two-page chapters highlight the most basic facts about national parks in this simplistic, succinctly written series for beginning readers. Many high-quality photographs enhance the superficial content ("Sunset at the Grand Canyon is a special time. Watch the sun sink below the beautiful rocks!"). While adequate as introductions, young nature lovers will want more information. An activity is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following National Park Explorers titles: Death Valley, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Symbols of Freedom series. These simple, easy-to-read texts begin with an introduction to national parks, then ably present the history of each park, highlighting the plants and animals that live there and showcasing some of the most notable sights. Well-captioned photographs illustrate each volume; maps also add detail to the text. The thoughtful, eye-pleasing design makes navigation easy. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Symbols of Freedom titles: Mesa Verde National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Denali National Park and Preserve, Everglades National Park, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by John Winch. Based on a true event, this sparse yet lyric narrative describes a wagon train that went astray in Death Valley in 1850 and Old Crump, the faithful ox that carried four children out on his back. Illustrations of the ragged, starving pioneers show awkward human figures but realistic, detailed desert animals; the California landscape is rendered in warm desert colors and often incorporates photos of the desolate terrain.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Based on journals, letters, and other primary documents, the book follows the stories of four families as they traveled from Salt Lake City to California in 1849, some of them fatefully taking a false shortcut through Death Valley. The low-key account is illustrated with black-and-white photos of uneven quality, maps, and drawings. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Diane Dawson Hearn. Newly independent readers will appreciate the simple text of this nonfiction easy reader, which provides a good introduction to the terrain and to the wildlife and plants that thrive in Death Valley. The illustrations are clear and attractive, and plants and animals are labeled; unfortunately, the artwork makes many of the labels difficult to read.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee