(2) 4-6 Tales of Triumph and Disaster! series. In our introduction to Henry Early in A Flicker of Courage (rev. 1/20), the big reveal was that this reluctant hero, a gothically neglected child, is a "spell-breaker." In this second fantasy-adventure offering, Henry and his fellow spell-breakers tackle the dilemma of a boy who has been turned into a beast by archvillain ruler Vlad Luxor, an egomaniac with magic powers prone to impetuous attacks on his own subjects. (Lest you miss it, the satire is driven home with a parallel plot in which Luxor is determined to build a wall around his kingdom.) The narrative in which Henry and the gang go on a quest to free Jason, the beast-boy, is action-driven to say the least, with heaping handfuls of exclamation points and italics to help sustain the energy. What saves this from overkill are three original elements. First, the writing laughs at itself, winking at the reader with comparisons that would be strong contenders in a bad simile contest. Second, the illustrations are darkly and weirdly hilarious. Finally, there's an undercurrent of moral subtlety: Jason is a whiny, homophobic bully, and the spell-breakers heartily dislike him, but they still fulfill their duty to rescue him. Without much editorial comment, Caletti presents Henry as an embodiment of the decency and justice that can override personal antipathy and disapproval.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(4) YA Day of Disaster series. These fictional stories pose the question: when disaster strikes, would you survive? An unsuspecting family or group of friends must work together to endure nature's challenge, whether it be an earthquake (Aftershock), blizzard (Freeze), or tsunami (Water). Wide margins and easy prose make the formulaic stories accessible to hi-lo readers, but they should also appeal to fans of survival narratives. There are three other spring 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Day of Disaster titles: Aftershock, Deep Freeze, and Wall of Water.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA Day of Disaster series. These fictional stories pose the question: when disaster strikes, would you survive? An unsuspecting family or group of friends must work together to endure nature's challenge, whether it be an earthquake (Aftershock), blizzard (Freeze), or tsunami (Water). Wide margins and easy prose make the formulaic stories accessible to hi-lo readers, but they should also appeal to fans of survival narratives. There are three other spring 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Day of Disaster titles: Aftershock, Deep Freeze, and Wall of Water.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA Day of Disaster series. These fictional stories pose the question: when disaster strikes, would you survive? An unsuspecting family or group of friends must work together to endure nature's challenge, whether it be an earthquake (Aftershock), blizzard (Freeze), or tsunami (Water). Wide margins and easy prose make the formulaic stories accessible to hi-lo readers, but they should also appeal to fans of survival narratives. There are three other spring 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Day of Disaster titles: Aftershock, Deep Freeze, and Wall of Water.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on weather-related events in the U.S. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster and four or five chapters detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: California Wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and Joplin Tornado.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on two earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Asia. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster, followed by chapters that detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: Indian Ocean Tsunami and Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on weather-related events in the U.S. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster and four or five chapters detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: California Wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and Joplin Tornado.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on weather-related events in the U.S. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster and four or five chapters detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: California Wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and Joplin Tornado.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, this volume focuses on the earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. A brief introduction describes the disaster, followed by five chapters that detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on two earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Asia. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster, followed by chapters that detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: Indian Ocean Tsunami and Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 It's a Disaster! series. Natural disasters in the form of extreme weather and earthquakes are explained in large print and illustrated with photographs. Beginning readers will learn how these events originate and how they can keep safe during them. The simple texts get the basic information across; depictions are factual (if incomplete) and vivid without over-dramatizing. Four-word picture glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these It's a Disaster! titles: Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, and Tornado.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Disaster Watch series. With an emphasis on understanding the threat, recognizing warning signs, and having an action plan, this series' focus is on reducing fatalities and property damage. Photographs, sidebars, maps, and graphs combine with primary sources and an accessible text to provide a comprehensive introduction to the featured disaster. The overly busy design may challenge some readers. The concluding quiz underscores the survival theme. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Disaster Watch titles: Earthquakes, Extreme Storms, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and Wildfires.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Disaster Watch series. With an emphasis on understanding the threat, recognizing warning signs, and having an action plan, this series' focus is on reducing fatalities and property damage. Photographs, sidebars, maps, and graphs combine with primary sources and an accessible text to provide a comprehensive introduction to the featured disaster. The overly busy design may challenge some readers. The concluding quiz underscores the survival theme. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Disaster Watch titles: Earthquakes, Extreme Storms, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and Wildfires.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Disaster Watch series. With an emphasis on understanding the threat, recognizing warning signs, and having an action plan, this series' focus is on reducing fatalities and property damage. Photographs, sidebars, maps, and graphs combine with primary sources and an accessible text to provide a comprehensive introduction to the featured disaster. The overly busy design may challenge some readers. The concluding quiz underscores the survival theme. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Disaster Watch titles: Earthquakes, Extreme Storms, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and Wildfires.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Disaster Watch series. With an emphasis on understanding the threat, recognizing warning signs, and having an action plan, this series' focus is on reducing fatalities and property damage. Photographs, sidebars, maps, and graphs combine with primary sources and an accessible text to provide a comprehensive introduction to the featured disaster. The overly busy design may challenge some readers. The concluding quiz underscores the survival theme. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Disaster Watch titles: Earthquakes, Extreme Storms, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and Wildfires.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale