(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Cheryl Harness. This welcome companion to Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills profiles Freya Stark, Daisy Bates, and eight other explorers, all born before 1900 and all, Cummins convincingly argues, overlooked because they were "saddled with gender barriers... Females belonged at home!" Neither author nor illustrator can contain her enthusiasm for her subjects ("She was some awesome Aussie, pistol-packin' mama!"). Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Cheryl Harness. This book introduces fourteen women who dared to enter the male arena of "extreme sports" (parachute jumping, airplane-wing walking, etc.) in the early 1900s. Like Cummins's surfeit of exclamation points and puns, Harness's sometimes overexuberant compositions reflect her enthusiasm for her subjects. The author's note provides sources. Timeline.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Cheryl Harness. Designed to resemble a vintage volume, this succinct account of intercepted letters, invisible inks, and poisoning attempts explores a less well known side of Washington's life and presents an informative look at historical espionage. Several codes are hidden throughout for readers to solve. Reading list. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta