(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. Hannah, dressed as a boy pirate, returns in her third and final Revolutionary War–era adventure. She must complete her mission for the Continental navy while foiling the treasure-stealing maneuvers of an evil pirate captain. The pace drags in places, but historical facts woven throughout leave readers with a fair sense of the time period. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. In 1866 Lee Chin works on the transcontinental railroad, earning money to free his sister from bondage in China (Iron). In Nazi-occupied Poland, the title character escapes the Warsaw ghetto (Simon's). Sarah Wright attempts to exonerate her father, accused of witchcraft (Devil's). The character-driven narratives can be choppy. "The Real History Behind the Story" is appended to each. Reading lists, websites. Review covers these Historical Fiction Adventures titles: The Iron Dragon, Simon's Escape, and The Devil's Door.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. In 1866 Lee Chin works on the transcontinental railroad, earning money to free his sister from bondage in China (Iron). In Nazi-occupied Poland, the title character escapes the Warsaw ghetto (Simon's). Sarah Wright attempts to exonerate her father, accused of witchcraft (Devil's). The character-driven narratives can be choppy. "The Real History Behind the Story" is appended to each. Reading lists, websites. Review covers these Historical Fiction Adventures titles: The Iron Dragon, Simon's Escape, and The Devil's Door.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. In this sequel to Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution, the girl-disguised-as-a-boy main character and her fellow crewmates are captured by the British. Incarcerated aboard a prison ship, they endure terrible conditions before making a daring escape. Though the narrative is drawn out, the story ably incorporates accurate historical information. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. In Jesse, a boy's eagerness to join the Union fight is tempered by the brutality of war. In Hannah, a girl seeking revenge against the British for the murder of her family joins an American privateer ship disguised as a boy. Their adventures occasionally drag. Additional historical facts are appended. Reading list, websites. Review covers these Historical Fiction Adventures titles: Jesse Bowman and Hannah Pritchard.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Jane Begin. Mouse brothers Louie and Dan are an odd couple when they set out to live on their own: Louie is timid and neat, and Dan is courageous but a slob. When Dan nearly becomes cat food, however, Louie's quick thinking saves the day in this satisfying new edition. Finely detailed, realistic drawings evoke a domestic mouse-size coziness and contain humorous details for the observant reader.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 American Adventures series. Illustrated by Bert Dodson. This sequel to Luke: 1849--On the Golden Trail finds the young Iowan aboard a clipper ship bound for California's gold fields. Predictable adventures (shark attacks, pirate chases) and an engaging, albeit formulaic, mystery (a cabin boy turns out to be a runaway girl) make for navigable historical fiction. An author's note describes clipper ship travel in the 1850s.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 American Adventures series. Illustrated by Bert Dodson. In this second story about Joseph, the Civil War is rapidly encroaching on Brandon Mills, Kentucky. The divided loyalties of the town's citizens are demonstrated when Joseph's stepfather takes an anti-slavery stand, loses his business, and is abducted by the local "Vengeance Committee." The fast-paced but familiar story is illustrated with scratchy line drawings. An author's note provides some historical background.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 American Adventures series. Illustrated by Bert Dodson. In this sequel to Thomas, the Bowden family moves to Pennsylvania and begins running an inn while Mr. Bowden fights in the Revolutionary War. A chance encounter at the inn causes Thomas to be kidnapped by Tory gunrunners, who eventually hand him over to Iroquois Indians. Despite a predictable story line, the plot moves quickly and many characters have a surprising measure of complexity.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta