(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maithili Joshi. Dahl's introduction to a little-known pioneer in aviation history tells the story of a determined, diminutive young woman in the male-dominated world of early-twentieth-century trick flying. After seeing an aeronaut perform at the North Carolina State Fair in 1907, Broadwick (1893-1978) is determined to take to the sky. At the next year's fair, she makes her debut as "The Doll Girl" and begins a career that would include more than eleven hundred jumps from balloons and airplanes and many firsts as a female aeronaut. Notably, a jump gone wrong leads Broadwick to create the ripcord that is still used today. Dahl's fast-paced narrative is interspersed with quotes from her subject ("It burned me up having to dress like a baby doll and having that name tacked on me!") and contemporaries, adding color and immediacy. (While the text does not shy away from some of the difficult aspects of Tiny's life, including her past as a child laborer, it solidly avoids other such biographical details as being a child bride and an abandoned preteen mother.) Joshi's movement-filled illustrations often show Broadwick from the back gazing into the distance, clearly a woman looking toward new horizons. An author's note offers additional history, along with a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) YA In 1934, eighteen-year-old aspiring Chicago actress Henny wins a ticket to Los Angeles and the promise of a screen test. Unfortunately, it turns out, there are men in Hollywood looking to take advantage of aspiring starlets. Henny encounters the ghosts of young women who were murdered in the business, whom only she can see, and she must team up with Declan--a stunt performer who seems immune to injury even in the most punishing situations--to seek justice. Their supernatural abilities are mere assets to their wit and determination as they navigate glitzy parties and the seamy underbelly of Los Angeles in a novel that will likely have greater appeal to historical fiction and mystery fans than to fantasy readers. The story, which unfolds in alternating first-person narrations, is tightly wound and truly stress-inducing in places, with emotional revelations that cause characters to doubt everything they thought they knew. The descriptions of 1930s movie sets and surrounding scenery are lush and convincing, with animated minor characters fleshing out a well-researched setting. The novel shares characters with Murder for the Modern Girl (rev. 7/22)--Henny is that book's protagonist's younger sister --and will likely entrance readers both familiar with and new to the world.

Reviewer: Sarah Berman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(3) 4-6 Magic Misfits series. Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hilton. Escape-artist Leila, who has two adoptive dads and was first introduced in The Magic Misfits, is this second entry's protagonist. The six Misfits use magic tricks, codes, and logic to confront another scheme, here involving clowns, ghosts, and a psychic with surprising secrets; meanwhile, the series' overall mystery, involving a disbanded adult magic club, deepens further. Once again, spot and full-page grayscale illustrations and beginner magic tricks appear throughout.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) 4-6 Broke and down on his luck, Hollywood stunt cat Mr. Puffball convinces his friends to sign up for Celebrity Castaway Island, a Survivor-like reality TV show. But what starts as a tropical paradise vacation with some friendly competition becomes a death-defying adventure with surprising twists. Mr. Puffball's third spoof-y memoir is replete with humorous mayhem, feline puns, and copious comics-style drawings.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 4-6 Edge Books: Circus Science series. Written in consultation with a postdoctoral physicist, these titles explore physics concepts integral to the circus. Short narrative paragraphs provide exciting introductions to various circus stunts and brief explanations of, for example, force and displacement in glass-walking (prominent safety disclaimers are included). Simple hands-on science experiments encourage further exploration. Attractive layouts and color photos invite sequential reading or random browsing. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Edge Books: Circus Science titles: Contortion, German Wheels, and Other Mind-Bending Circus Science and Fire Breathing, Sword Swallowing, and Other Death-Defying Circus Science.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 4-6 Dangerous Jobs in Action series. Simultaneously exciting and sobering, these fast-paced, true-life profiles of people in dangerous careers each begin by summarizing the job, indicating the risks, and presenting basic stats. Chapters then relate the nail-biting stories of people caught in life-threatening situations while performing these jobs; some survive, some do not. Well-chosen color photos and closing discussion questions accompany each entry. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Dangerous Jobs in Action titles: Stunt Performers in Action, Deep-Sea Fishermen in Action, Ice Road Truckers in Action, and Smoke Jumpers in Action.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: World Record Breakers series. With a high-energy narrative, this survey of stunts covers a range of death-defying feats, from freefall jumps and trips over Niagara Falls to wire-walking and endurance tests. Sidebars offer quick additional facts and relevant vocabulary definitions, while dynamic photographs round out the presentation. Despite a haphazard organization and layout, this broad overview will intrigue aspiring adrenaline chasers. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Xtreme Jobs series. This series surveys professions in which participants experience extreme danger and risk death. Each formulaic book presents a brief history of the profession, inherent dangers, qualifications required, techniques involved, and key individuals. The content will thrill would-be adventurers. The abbreviated texts are enhanced by numerous photographs and text boxes. Job facts and an extended glossary provide additional information. Ind. This review covers these Xtreme Jobs titles: Rodeo Clown, Test Pilot, Astronaut, Daredevil, Search & Rescue, and Stunt Performer.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Xtreme Jobs series. This series surveys professions in which participants experience extreme danger and risk death. Each formulaic book presents a brief history of the profession, inherent dangers, qualifications required, techniques involved, and key individuals. The content will thrill would-be adventurers. The abbreviated texts are enhanced by numerous photographs and text boxes. Job facts and an extended glossary provide additional information. Ind. This review covers these Xtreme Jobs titles: Rodeo Clown, Test Pilot, Astronaut, Daredevil, Search & Rescue, and Stunt Performer.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Blazers: Awesome Special Effects series. This volume contains high-energy spreads of text and color photos that describe and illustrate film special effects involving high-risk athletics, such as characters who break through glass and jump from altitudes onto moving vehicles. There's little transition between each stunt, but young film buffs and adrenaline junkies will be fascinated by this insider view of movies. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 This playful memoir of a cat who dreams big is a nod to the best and worst sides of the movie biz. Mr. Puffball chases his dream to become an actor, eventually becoming stunt cat for his idol, El Gato, whose flaws (and claws) come out. Cat puns and silly comics-style illustrations compensate for the obscure Old Hollywood references (explained in a glossary).

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Wild Stunts series. Introducing daring feats--whether for movie roles, to break records, or simply for thrills--these easy-to-read volumes are full of images and facts young adrenaline junkies crave. Historical background on the use of stunts in film and the early days of motorcycles is provided. The books' energetic photographs are sometimes obscured by design graphics or blocks of text. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Edge Books: Wild Stunts titles: Stunning Motorcycle Stunts and Mind-Blowing Movie Stunts.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Wild Stunts series. Introducing daring feats--whether for movie roles, to break records, or simply for thrills--these easy-to-read volumes are full of images and facts young adrenaline junkies crave. Historical background on the use of stunts in film and the early days of motorcycles is provided. The books' energetic photographs are sometimes obscured by design graphics or blocks of text. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Edge Books: Wild Stunts titles: Stunning Motorcycle Stunts and Mind-Blowing Movie Stunts.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 1-3 Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures series. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. Written by Josh Greenhut. In installments eleven and twelve, Stanley continues to travel around the world saving the day. The two-dimensional hero catches a thief at the Louvre by posing as a painting and he helps a daredevil friend escape from Alcatraz in California. The slim standalone plot lines are laid out in short action-packed chapters that incorporate some general cultural markers. Cartoonish illustrations appear throughout. Review covers these Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures titles: Escape to California and Framed in France.

Reviewer:

(3) YA After traumatic childhoods of sexual abuse in a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1950s Canada, best friends Tevan and James, now in their twenties, join a traveling carnival sideshow as death-defying stunt performers. Tevan's raw first-person narration, alternating between past and present, skillfully reveals the young men's emotions concerning sex, love, friendship, and trust and makes for powerful--though often painful--reading.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Kel Gilligan, intrepid stunt kid, shows off some daring feats: eating broccoli, using the potty, and getting dressed (solo!). Astonished asides ("Without a net? / He's crazy!") from onlookers (his family) help make this hero's depiction, laced with action-packed graphic illustrations, utterly clever. The clear joke--that there's greatness in a child successfully completing everyday tasks--will resonate with independence-loving children.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 4-6 Mission Impossible series. Captioned photographs in color and black and white combine with sidebars and straightforward text to introduce a variety of dangerous events in past and recent history that required quick thinking, skill, and a bit of luck. Each incident is restricted to a double-page spread, limiting the scope of information and sometimes marginalizing the event. This series may motivate further research. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mission Impossible titles: Rescue Squad, Spies, Stunt Crews, and Survivors.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Race Car Legends series. These updated books include behind-the-scenes details that are sure to please racing fans. Andretti profiles the life and career of this racing great; Pit Crew and Stunt Driving reveal the hard work and discipline necessary to make racing look easy. The design is unremarkable and the texts bland, but the books are quite informative. Sidebars and captioned photos of varying quality appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Race Car Legends titles: The Pit Crew, Stunt Driving, and Mario Andretti.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. Engaging, easy-to-read text introduces these action-packed and often dangerous careers (Stunt Double warns readers not to try to duplicate the stunts in the book). The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebar tidbits will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Atomic titles: Fighter Pilot, Mountain Rescue Team, and Stunt Double.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ted Lewin. In Atlantic City in 1936, Ivy and her father, who is employed as a boardwalk photographer, take in the many sights, but Ivy's favorite is the horse who jumps off a high platform into a tank of water and the girl who rides him. At summer's end, Ivy gets a memorable ride on the diving horse. Lewin's picture-postcard-style watercolors add the right nostalgic feel to this gentle, historical story.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam