(4) 4-6 History's Greatest Disasters series. In recounting events surrounding the tragic Challenger disaster (including how officials ignored warnings about mechanical problems), this book gives readers a brief history of America's space program and technical details of the space shuttle and its operation. The matter-of-fact text is supplemented by photos, clear diagrams, and information sidebars. Writing exercises and a prompt to visit the publisher's website are intrusive. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 History's Greatest Disasters series. This accessible account of the 2010 oil rig explosion that led to a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico examines what happened and why and the huge environmental damage the spill caused. The matter-of-fact text is supplemented by photos, clear diagrams, and informative sidebars. Writing exercises and prompts to visit the publisher's website are intrusive. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 History's Greatest Disasters series. The 1918 pandemic killed millions, but it took researchers decades to identify the culprit as a virus and learn how it spreads to humans. A vaccine wasn't developed until 1944. A matter-of-fact text describes the illness's devastation; archival photos, graphs, and informative sidebars tell their own horrific story. Writing exercises and prompts to visit the publisher's website are intrusive. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 History's Greatest Disasters series. This accessible account of the 1986 nuclear disaster relates events chronologically, relaying some history before highlighting the lessons learned by other countries using nuclear power. Forthright on how officials' initial stonewalling and cover-up resulted in many deaths, the matter-of-fact text is supplemented by photos, maps, and informative sidebars. Critical-thinking exercises and prompts to visit the publisher's website are intrusive. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman