(3) YA Lada (And I Darken; Now I Rise) has finally claimed the Wallachian throne. Now she must defend her crown and her country's borders from threats of all kinds, including the good intentions of her brother, Radu. With the series' hallmarks--a fifteenth-century setting evoked with copious historical and sensory detail and two diametrically opposed yet equally compelling protagonists--in full force, this volume brings the saga to a satisfying close.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) YA Warrior Lada Dracul (And I Darken) sets out to take the Wallachian throne; her brother Radu stays behind and serves young sultan Mehmed as a spy in Constantinople. Both examine their shifting loyalties and secret motivations as they commit terrible acts in the name of a greater good. Love in many forms brings the siblings pain as well as grace in this evocative historical epic. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) YA Lada and brother Radu, Wallachian hostages in the Ottoman court, befriend the sultan's son, Mehmed. As the three become embroiled in political intrigue, their characters and dynamics are complicated and deepened by a love triangle and the solace Radu finds in Islam. Brutally determined, fiercely protective warrior-girl Lada--White's imagining of a young, female Vlad the Impaler--is perhaps historically implausible, but utterly compelling. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Daily Life in Ancient Civilizations series. These engaging volumes detail everyday life in ancient civilizations, providing consistently interesting information kids will want to know. Religion, family life, dwellings, education, and entertainment are covered, along with the lasting impact each civilization has had. Frequent "How Do We Know?" sections highlight primary sources; photographs and illustrations of both past and present landmarks add visual interest. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers the following Daily Life in Ancient Civilizations titles: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt and Daily Life in the Islamic Golden Age.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Born missing an ear, the son of a brutal fifteenth-century French count is banished and raised by local farmers and fishermen, then kidnapped and sold into slavery to a kind doctor in Africa, who recognizes his intelligence. Along with plenty of adventure and intrigue, the story provides a fascinating window into an Islamic world where education and learning thrived.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(2) 4-6 This volume surveys, via text and informative original paintings, the many technological and scientific advances made, refined, or dispersed during the "Islamic Golden Age." The seventh through twelfth centuries saw progress in medicine, agriculture, optics, music, machinery, etc., to which Barnard devotes twelve topically divided double-page spreads. Tidily colored illustrations, accompanied by good captions, offer helpful amplification of the subtopics. Reading list.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2011

(4) YA This diminutive book provides basic information about the history of the Islamic Empire, beginning with the establishment of Islam and ending with the Mughals. The density of text may turn off readers; there's a lot of information packed onto each page. Thumbnail photographs of artwork, artifacts, and ruins, most from the British Museum's collection, help readers visualize the setting. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. This series explores events that had profound and long-lasting impacts on world civilizations. More than just a dry relating of facts and dates, the volumes dig deeper into the spread of Islam (Middle East) and the root causes and aftermath of the plague (Death). Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps (there is a minor mistake in Middle East), and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Pivotal Moments in History titles: The Arab Conquests of the Middle East and The Black Death.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA World of Islam series. These titles will help round out library collections. The treatments are generally matter-of-fact and even-handed. Topics addressed are complex--legal, political, and social, as well as religious--and the pages are densely packed with information. Frequent photographs break up the texts. All but Festivals include timelines. There are five other fall 2009 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World of Islam titles: The Monotheistic Religions, Islamic Festivals and Celebrations, Islam, Law, and Human Rights, Islam in America, and The History of Islam.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Time Travel Guides series. These books are written as travel guides to ancient civilizations ("Being a tourist in the Islamic Empires can also be hazardous"). This appealing approach encourages interest and provides cultural details in a unique manner (though it's not particularly well suited to doing research). Occasional inaccuracies are the result of oversimplification in an attempt to condense long spans of time and vast geography. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Time Travel Guides titles: Medieval Europe and The Islamic Empires.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(4) 4-6 Hands-on Ancient History series. Three short chapters provide a slight overview of an ancient civilization, including a bit about everyday life and typical leisure activities. A fourth chapter presents a recipe, instructions for two craft projects, and an activity. The text is more a collection of random facts than a cohesive unit. Photos of artifacts and archival pictures appear on every page. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Hands-on Ancient History titles: The History and Activities of Ancient China, The History and Activities of the Islamic Empire, The History and Activities of Ancient Egypt, The History and Activities of the Roman Empire, The History and Activities of the Aztecs, and The History and Activities of Ancient Greece.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 History in Art series. Each first chapter explains, with varying success, the relationship between art and artists. Subsequent chapters give a chronology of the main events of certain periods. Captioned, labeled images serve as examples of artistic conventions, materials, and techniques. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these History in Art titles: Ancient China, Islamic Empires, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Native Americans, and Middle Ages.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) 4-6 Battuta, a Moroccan boy, became a legendary traveler, journeying some seventy-five thousand miles by foot, camel, and ship. Rumford incorporates Battuta's own words, set down for him by a scribe, and condenses the adventure into a multilayered picture book. The sumptuous paintings add absorbing detail. This blend of romantic adventure/biography/history is a fine account of wanderlust, offering tantalizing glimpses of the medieval world. Glos.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002