(3) YA Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia is training to pass three rigorous challenges so she can be decreed rightful heir to Alderaan's throne. But she also desires to help her parents as they secretly develop a rebellion against the Empire. Gray compellingly fills in Leia's backstory with friendships and a romantic relationship, and through her protagonist's courageous actions, Gray repeatedly hints at the great leader Leia will eventually become.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Illustrated by J. G. Jones. Deckhands aboard a transport barge hear six short stories about Jedi Luke Skywalker; the framing story helps tie the overall narrative together. Using different perspectives, Liu creatively relates both familiar and new events to further illuminate Luke's character. Preceding each legend are quotes from Star Wars films and Jones's full-color illustrations, which pay homage to Ralph McQuarrie's conceptual illustrations for the original movie trilogy.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time series. In this installment in his time-traveling series, mouse Geronimo (the series' purported author) and crew hop in three different time machines that take them on adventures in the Ice Age, ancient Greece, and the Renaissance. As usual, the formulaic volume is heavily illustrated and graphically busy. Additional features include historical facts, pop quizzes, activities, craft projects, and a puzzle.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) YA Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Thane and Ciena joined the Academy to follow their lifelong dream of flying for the Empire. But Thane becomes disillusioned and joins the Rebellion, forcing Ciena to choose between her loyalty to the Empire and the friend she loves. Setting up events of the franchise's latest film, The Force Awakens, the fast-paced story seamlessly builds onto the Star Wars universe.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 Journey of A... series. Stock photographs of people on phones and at computers, illustrators working, the printing process, etc., support an easy-to-read text. From an idea's development to a book's design, production, and distribution, the collaborative efforts of all involved are presented in a straightforward, albeit dull, narrative. A final page summarizes the process from concept to reader. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Journey of A... series. Stock photographs of dairy cows, machines, milk containers, and consumers support an easy-to-read text that explains where milk comes from, how it's processed, and how it reaches grocery store shelves. The presentation is straightforward and uncomplicated though fairly superficial. A final page summarizes the two-day process from cow to glass. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. These overviews of two important rivers cover topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and are organized by geographic regions. Starting at the river's source, the author takes readers on a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up-to-date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these River Journey titles: The Ganges and The Yangtze.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. These overviews of two important rivers cover topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and are organized by geographic regions. Starting at the river's source, the author takes readers on a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up-to-date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these River Journey titles: The Ganges and The Yangtze.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. This overview of the Nile and its environs covers topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and is organized by geographic regions. Starting at the river's source, the author takes readers on a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up to date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. This overview of the Rhine and its environs covers topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and is organized by geographic regions. The author takes readers from the river's source to the end--almost as if offering a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up to date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. This overview of the Mississippi River and its environs covers topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and is organized by geographic regions. Starting at the river's source, the authors take readers on a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up to date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 River Journey series. This overview of the Amazon River region covers topics thematically (nature, history, people, change, and economy) and is organized by geographic regions. Starting at the river's source, the author takes readers on a guided tour. Extended by well-captioned photos, the accessible text is up to date and will be useful to report writers. Addresses, reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Journey to Freedom series. A large typeface, wide margins, and plentiful sepia photographs will draw reluctant readers to this brief biography of the African-American athlete who broke baseball's color line. Though the tone is superficial, the book sufficiently covers Robinson's professional accomplishments and provides a rushed overview of his personal life. A time line is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Journey to the Past series. Each of the historical locales featured in this series is given a guidebook-like treatment, with preliminary pages providing basic information on topics such as where to sleep at night and what type of currency to use. Illustrated with mediocre art, double-page spreads introduce various neighborhoods, workplaces, and festivals. The final section includes photographs of some of these areas today. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to the Past titles: Classical Athens, Imperial Rome, Ancient Egypt, Mayan Tikal, Medieval Paris, Florence in the 1400s.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Journey to the Past series. Each of the historical locales featured in this series is given a guidebook-like treatment, with preliminary pages providing basic information on topics such as where to sleep at night and what type of currency to use. Illustrated with mediocre art, double-page spreads introduce various neighborhoods, workplaces, and festivals. The final section includes photographs of some of these areas today. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to the Past titles: Classical Athens, Imperial Rome, Ancient Egypt, Mayan Tikal, Medieval Paris, Florence in the 1400s.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Journey to Freedom series. Brief texts, archival reproductions, and photos explore three significant eras in African-American history. Though the surveys in this series are generally overbroad and written in facile prose, Underground Railroad is enhanced by the inclusion of some intriguing anecdotal material. The format, which includes wide margins and many black-and-white photos and historical reproductions, should appeal to reluctant readers. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to Freedom titles: Slavery, The Civil Rights Movement, The Underground Railroad.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Journey to the Past series. Each of the historical locales featured in this series is given a guidebook-like treatment, with preliminary pages providing basic information on topics such as where to sleep at night and what type of currency to use. Illustrated with mediocre art, double-page spreads introduce various neighborhoods, workplaces, and festivals. The final section includes photographs of some of these areas today. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to the Past titles: Classical Athens, Imperial Rome, Ancient Egypt, Mayan Tikal, Medieval Paris, Florence in the 1400s.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Journey to the Past series. Each of the historical locales featured in this series is given a guidebook-like treatment, with preliminary pages providing basic information on topics such as where to sleep at night and what type of currency to use. Illustrated with mediocre art, double-page spreads introduce various neighborhoods, workplaces, and festivals. The final section includes photographs of some of these areas today. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to the Past titles: Classical Athens, Imperial Rome, Ancient Egypt, Mayan Tikal, Medieval Paris, Florence in the 1400s.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta