(3) 4-6 Boys of Wartime series. Twelve-year-old Michael is determined to do something to prove his worth after his brother is taken prisoner by the Nazis and his father goes missing. Michael joins the French resistance, risking his life to fight for what he believes in. His experiences teach him about the complexities and horrors of war in this accessible and informative book. A historical note is appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 After saving a presidential candidate from getting bonked on the head by a sign, middle-school student Aidan becomes an overnight hero and is asked to join the campaign trail. Before long, Aidan realizes that celebrity is not what he expected. This story provides a sanitized glimpse into a simplified political world where kids can learn a little about the political machine.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) K-3 Illustrated by James E. Ransome. Vibrant acrylic and oil paint illustrations accompany this story of Frederick Douglass's childhood from plantation life to city life in Baltimore, where his owner's kind wife taught him the alphabet and introduced him to literacy and the idea of freedom. The powerful narrative provides a solid introduction to Douglass and the topic of slavery.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Twenty-seven children and teens (ages ten to seventeen) living in modern Afghanistan share their stories and their hopes and fears as they consider their futures in a war-torn country. Readers who seek understanding of other cultures, specifically through the experiences of youth, will learn much through the eyes of these children. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Secret Journeys of Jack London series. Illustrated by Greg Ruth. While returning home from the Yukon, Jack is abducted by pirates, whom he soon discovers are werewolves. Jack's humanity is challenged by the savagery of the supernatural crew, but he maintains that their human sides can best the beasts within. Fans of The Wild will enjoy this exciting second installment in the adventure series.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 Cully Pennyacre's father has disappeared mysteriously, leaving the twelve-year-old in the care of his maiden aunts. When Cully takes a position at a local antique store for the summer, he discovers some shadowy business in which the owner and his father are involved. The ending is hasty, but this intriguing fantasy will interest readers.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Cousins Nouri, a Shiite, and Talib, half Sunni, describe life in Baghdad amid the second Iraq War, during which Iraqis also fought amongst themselves over religious differences. But in winter 2008, snow covered the city for the "first time in anyone's memory," sparking an unofficial ceasefire. Though the reader is aware that peace won't last, this poignant wartime narrative is subtly hopeful. Glos.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Lucy Thomkins reluctantly travels to Kansas Territory with her family in 1855. Her parents dream of a new life in a free state, while Border Ruffians from Missouri force their slavery agenda on the settlers. Lucy turns to poetry to express her disappointments, befriends a girl whose parents help runaway slaves, and comes to love her new, free home in this well-written historical novel.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA To escape the memories of her fiancé's death, Zora Stewart leaves Baltimore to help her widowed aunt at her homestead in Oklahoma. She is pursued by a wealthy suitor from Baltimore and must choose between him and a young farmer she meets. In the meantime, she discovers she has a supernatural ability to find water underground. Fans of The Vespertine will enjoy this companion book.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu. Florence Mills was born an entertainer. This brightly illustrated, inspiring story follows "Baby Flo" from her days of singing in the streets of Washington, DC, to her on-stage debut at age seven. An author's note includes a brief biography of her years as an entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance and her early death from tuberculosis at age thirty-one.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 In 1950s Appalachia, sixth-grader Lydia Hawkins chronicles the challenges she faces when she is sent away to live with her uncle while her mother is in jail. Reflecting on the secrets in her family's past, Lydia considers how she can change the future. The compelling characters and setting as well as a dialect-rich voice create a pleasing story about overcoming adversity.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 In 1959, Bobby and his family (who are white) are driving from Ohio to Florida, visiting Civil War battlefields along the way. Interspersed with their story are first-person accounts from relatives of African American Jacob, who has gone missing. The two groups converge on a dramatic bus ride. Issues of racism, family, violence, and death swirl through the story, remaining primarily unresolved at the end.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Shannon. Nine chronological sections provide snapshots of life in early America. Short fictional narratives are followed by historical information illuminating the issues raised in the tales, from religious freedom to slavery to children's rights. The narratives can be stilted, but they're a good hook for reluctant readers. Cartoon illustrations accompany the stories; archival photographs, illustrations, and maps are included in the history sections.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Life in the American Colonies series. Simple page structure and straightforward language make these books accessible to young audiences curious about life during colonial times. Topics such as underwear and witch trials will interest readers. Photos, illustrations, maps, and accompanying captions enhance understanding. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Life in the American Colonies titles: The Real Story about Government and Politics in Colonial America and The Scoop on Clothes, Homes, and Daily Life in Colonial America.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Omar Rayyan. Eleven-year-old P (short for Princess) lives on a ranch in Oklahoma. After rescuing an orphaned opossum, the strong-willed girl brings it home, despite the rule her father (who's serving in Iraq) has against pets. P's plan to return her pet to the wild leads to a dramatic confrontation. Animal-loving readers will sympathize with P throughout this well-paced coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Boys of Wartime series. Will Edmonds dreams of being a soldier like his brother. However, he remains home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, too young at twelve to join the Union Army. To his surprise, Will finds himself amidst one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War. Throughout Calkhoven's accessible and exciting text, Will learns about the complexities and horrors of war. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) YA Growing up in Georgia during World War II, fifteen-year-old Caleb, who is African American, struggles to find his way. Working at a white-owned restaurant, he meets a German POW imprisoned nearby. Their ensuing friendship is idealized, but Caleb's inner battles over family and loyalty are compelling.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA In this disaster survival story, multiple hurricanes have resulted in high waters along the Gulf of Mexico. Fifteen-year-old Stephen faces a dangerous journey through lawless regions of flooded land to find his mother in New Orleans. Stephen's struggles to balance survival with the violent acts required to save himself provide an intriguing look at human nature in the face of extreme disaster.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Secret Journeys of Jack London series. Illustrated by Greg Ruth. Seventeen-year-old Jack London heads to the Yukon Territory in search of riches and adventure. He encounters friends, foes, and supernatural forces that complicate his journey, all the while battling nature, humankind, and self to return home a new man. It's not deep, but adventure seekers will enjoy the tale's frozen North action. Occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations help set the scenes.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Earl J. Madden. This collection of photos and remembrances details the transformation of a rundown Depression-era Wisconsin farm into a National Historic Landmark. The Leopold family collected observations of the land and natural world during each season as they restored the buildings and property during the late 1930s and 1940s. History buffs will enjoy this look at family traditions and natural life. Timeline.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King