(4) YA Undertaken Trilogy series. His mother's death plunges Silas Umber (cursed with the familial ability and responsibility to take care of ghosts) into a final shivery plight. Infused with varied folkloric influences and a classic gothic sensibility, this series-closer is slow moving and at times overly explained. Fans with an intellectual interest in the genre, however, will appreciate the detailed, atmospheric writing.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Undertaken Trilogy series. Silas Umber returns to his ancestral estate of Arvale, home to many of his predecessors' ghosts as well as, surprisingly, the tortured, vengeful ghost of a long-ago banished Umber daughter. Despite crisp writing and atmospheric eeriness, the occasional intrusion of modernity jars with an old-fashioned sensibility, and the book gets mired in its own mythology. Best for genre fans.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Loren Long. Through predominantly black spreads, young bat Chiro reluctantly navigates the way from his cave to the pond all by himself for a late-night feeding. The allegory of facing fears of the unknown is as gentle as Long's subdued colors and nightscapes. However, echolocation, described as a song but illustrated as a beam of light, may present a confusing conceptual leap.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(3) 4-6 This volume ostensibly created by the "Order of the Golden Quills" is a faux nonfiction encyclopedia illuminating the proper method for attracting benign hobgoblins and avoiding their evil opposite, the goblin. Collected from folklore and literature around the world, the book is richly illustrated to feel like a lavish rare text. Occasional flaps and foldouts further the visual interest.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) YA Undertaken Trilogy series. With his father missing, Silas and his mother return to the family's ancestral home of Lichport, a place haunted by ghosts, graves, and talking corpses. Silas learns of his magical birthright, but he must contend with a murderous relative. Berk's gothic novel is slow paced, but it's filled with intriguing ideas and genuine creepiness.

Reviewer: Bec Schaffner

(3) 4-6 This fictionalized amalgamation of original and secondary source materials is presented with panache. In an effort to "piece together the story," the authors succinctly sum up Shakespeare's life and works with the help of snippets from his plays. Contemporaneous images and literary excerpts, in addition to pop-ups, foldouts, and removable letters, help set the scene for readers.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) 4-6 Purportedly compiled by the "Order of the Golden Quills," this volume details merfolk from tales and mythologies around the world. A wide variety of creatures, their customs, and habitats are touched on. The often ornately scripted text is accompanied by intricate illustrations and numerous foldouts.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Purportedly a collection of information gathered by the "Order of the Golden Quills," this book features page sections detailing aspects of the lives of giants from folktales and myths from around the world. The text, sometimes ornately scripted, is accompanied by intricately detailed illustrations and occasional fold outs. While individual sections are informative, the overall lack of cohesion is frustrating.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Although the authors have attempted to organize the book's information thematically--e.g., creation myths, hunters, tricksters--the result is still a mishmash of everything Native American. Each chapter opens with a poem (attributed to Dunn in the back matter) and introduction to the retold myths that follow. The engaging illustrations include photographs of Indian artifacts and both historic and contemporary Native American artwork. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey