(4) 4-6 When Eugene starts hearing a vengeful voice from the past, he heads to the local newspaper office, delving into his town's and family's histories to find out the truth about what happened there during the Depression. Although flat dialogue and uneven pacing fail to create sustained suspense, the novel does effectively blend mystery and the supernatural with credible historical fiction.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) 4-6 Nick's an admitted troublemaker, but when his mysterious doppelganger starts committing increasingly sinister crimes, his small New England town is ready to string Nick up. The secret of this ghostly presence might lie in the recent influenza epidemic of 1918, but everyone urges Nick to forget the past. Collier's challenging novel effectively combines historical fiction with a genuinely spooky supernatural tale.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Possum and his friend Billy run away from their orphanage, hoping to find a rumored treasure in the mountains. Along the way, the boys hawk elixir for a con man and help out a farm family with a tragic secret. Although the ethical conflicts between Possum and his less-than-honest best friend are well depicted, many elements of this western adventure are overly familiar.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Great Inventions series. Each of these books gives an account of an invention that changed the world, chronicling its history from inception through the present day, including effects the invention has had on civilization. Young history buffs will find these books both fascinating and useful for research. The well-written books are enhanced with archival photographs, paintings, and drawings. Websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Inventions titles: Clocks, Gunpowder and Weaponry, The Cotton Gin, and The Printing Press.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Great Inventions series. Collier traces infectious diseases from the deadly Black Plague in the Middle Ages to today's efforts to find cures for AIDS and other resistant diseases. Written in lucid prose, the interesting text includes the research of Lister, Pasteur, Koch, Salk, Sabin, and others. Illustrations, including period photographs and paintings, enhance and give additional insights into the text. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Great Inventions series. Each of these books gives an account of an invention that changed the world, chronicling its history from inception through the present day, including effects the invention has had on civilization. Young history buffs will find these books both fascinating and useful for research. The well-written books are enhanced with archival photographs, paintings, and drawings. Websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Inventions titles: Clocks, Gunpowder and Weaponry, The Cotton Gin, and The Printing Press.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 After injuring his father during an argument, Jesse flees. The twelve-year-old builds a cabin and becomes friends with a mountain man but returns home when he learns Pa is seeking a reconciliation. The frontier setting is only vaguely described and a late revelation about Jesse's absent mother is unconvincing, but Collier's practical prose style keeps the story readable

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Drama of American History series. Each of these accessible if not especially gripping books highlights a period in American history, focusing on the major political and social issues of the time while including discussion about life for average citizens. Along with useful maps and charts, the archival photographs and reproductions break up the heavy text blocks. These are solid informational materials for upper elementary and middle school students. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Drama of American History series. Each of these accessible if not especially gripping books highlights a period in American history, focusing on the major political and social issues of the time while including discussion about life for average citizens. Along with useful maps and charts, the archival photographs and reproductions break up the heavy text blocks. These are solid informational materials for upper elementary and middle school students. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Drama of American History series. Each of these accessible if not especially gripping books highlights a period in American history, focusing on the major political and social issues of the time while including discussion about life for average citizens. Along with useful maps and charts, the archival photographs and reproductions break up the heavy text blocks. These are solid informational materials for upper elementary and middle school students. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Drama of American History series. Each of these accessible if not especially gripping books highlights a period in American history, focusing on the major political and social issues of the time while including discussion about life for average citizens. Along with useful maps and charts, the archival photographs and reproductions break up the heavy text blocks. These are solid informational materials for upper elementary and middle school students. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Drama of American History series. Illustrated with period photographs, paintings, and useful maps that effectively break up the heavy blocks of text, each book in this series focuses on the major political and social themes of a specific period. The prose is clear and concise, albeit with a somewhat advanced vocabulary. The books include separate bibliographies for students and teachers. Ind. [Review covers these Drama of America History titles: The Changing Face of American Society, 1945–2000; The Middle Road; The United States in the Cold War, 1945–1989; The United States in World War II, 1941–1945.]