(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 Pivotal Moments in History series. This volume examines the fall of Constantinople, marking the end of the Middle Ages. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the book not only relates military facts but also delves into the events leading up to Constantinople's defeat as well as exploring its effects throughout history. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Global Cities series. Photographs by Edward Parker. Readers are introduced to the history, culture, economy, environment, and challenges faced by these European cities. Each section is dense with facts, reading like an encyclopedia entry, but the "case study" sidebars focusing on specific people or issues provide insider views. Well-captioned photographs, charts, graphs, and maps appear throughout the busy pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Global Cities titles: Istanbul, Berlin, and London.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. Twelve-year-old Laleena (her name is later changed) unknowingly sells herself into slavery in order to provide for her fatherless family. She ends up in the Sultan's harem in Istanbul, where she works in the gardens and teaches painting. The promising plot lacks tension and aspects of harem life aren't satisfactorily explained, but the intriguing setting and realistic characters will draw in readers. An author's note provides background. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Sieges That Changed the World series. These two books provide relatively in-depth overviews of the sieges of, respectively, Constantinople in 1453 and Masada in the first century, as well as the events leading up to them and their aftermaths. Contemporary color photos and reproductions of period art add interest, but some maps, especially in Constantinople, would have been helpful. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Sieges That Changed the World titles: Constantinople and Masada.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Chris Rothero. This book traces historical events and cultural practices in this city first called Byzantium in 657 B.C.E., later the Roman Empire's Constantinople, and in the present-day Istanbul in Turkey. The fluent text is accompanied by historical reproductions, lifeless textbook-quality illustrations, and a few contemporary photos. Boxed quotations, many from primary sources, are frequently effective. A time line is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian