(2) 4-6 Show Me a Sign Trilogy series. Following the events of Show Me a Sign (rev. 9/20) and Set Me Free (rev. 11/21), it is now 1810 and Mary leaves Martha's Vineyard again, this time to travel with several hearing, non-signing missionary women to England and France. "The holy relics," as she thinks of them, want to use her to learn about deaf education to expand their missionary work. Although Mary feels at odds with their imperialistic religiosity and sourpuss personalities, she can't pass up the chance to connect with deaf educators and students in France, where she knows there is an exclusively signing school for the deaf. Her first-person, present-tense account is in part a history of deaf education in England and France (ultimately, fundamental to American Sign Language and American schools for the deaf). But LeZotte also conveys Mary's experience of exclusion by "the holy relics," who are convinced of her intellectual inferiority and disregard her in communication. Mary's stalwart nature stands her in good stead: stubborn and driven in her desire to bring greater access to sign language and education to the deaf at home, she dodges the missionaries' attempts to keep her captive. Through Mary's insights and opinions (which are rather twenty-first century in articulation), LeZotte shows that the heartfelt need for Deaf culture, solidarity, and belonging is something both historical and contemporary.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Great Women series. The lives of six diverse, inspirational women--three of whom (Goodall, Yousafzai, and Winfrey) are still living--are summarized in this series, which aligns to Common Core Standards. Though only broadly chronicling their challenges and/or accomplishments, these offerings may spur interest in further study. The archival photographs included are noteworthy, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Great Women titles: Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, and Rosa Parks.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) YA McMullan's privileged childhood in North China (with missionary parents) was disrupted by the 1937 Japanese occupation; the rest of his childhood would be spent on the move, all over the globe. McMullan punctuates his spare narrative with character-revealing incidents. Each memory of the observant child becomes a richly evocative scene as well as a harmonious composition in this intimate and powerful autobiographical journey.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(2) YA Adapted by Michael French. French adapts Kidder's adult examination (first published ten years ago) of "doctor to countries" Paul Farmer, leaving the ethnographic journalistic approach intact and allowing Kidder's personal interpretations to surface. Without making Farmer a saint (and for such a dedicated and driven individual, that's not easy), French's adaptation gives young readers a thoughtful examination of a complex man operating in a complex world.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(1) YA Color by Lark Pien. Yang presents a "diptych" of graphic novels set during China's Boxer Rebellion. Boxers follows Little Bao, who learns to harness the power of ancient gods to fight the spread of Christianity; Saints centers on Four-Girl, who sits squarely on the other side of the rebellion. Yang's characteristic infusions of magical realism, bursts of humor, and distinctively drawn characters make for a compelling read. Review covers these titles: Boxers and Saints.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) 4-6 In 1975 Saigon, missionaries evacuated vulnerable disabled orphans who would be killed; Tuyet, eight, lame from polio, helps get over fifty tiny orphans flown to Canada, where she shows new caregivers how to comfort them. Skrypuch's third-person re-creation of these transitional months makes vivid the uncertainties of confronting a new language, climate, and family. Illustrated with photos. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(2) YA London's family is splintering after the death of her brother. The free-verse novel's poetic structure allows London's powerful emotions to come through unfiltered; her grief and anger are palpable, but so are her glimpses of hope and redemption. Williams has created a complete picture of the effects of suicide on those left behind and of the way love endures after death.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012

(3) YA Ripped from his family and abandoned at the lawless leper colony on Hawaii's Moloka'i Island in the 1870s, teenager Pia struggles to survive. He gradually shifts from anger to compassion through the example of a Catholic priest. The book's unique setting along with its vivid descriptions of Hawaiian history and culture are memorable. An author's note gives more background. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Modern Peacemakers series. These biographies of Nobel Peace Prize winners provide windows into worldwide political and social issues. Triumphs and controversies surrounding the winners (e.g., inaccuracies in Menchú's autobiography) are covered using primary and secondary sources. More photographs would have been useful to break up long discussions of complex issues. There are six other spring 2007 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern Peacemakers titles: Desmond Tutu, Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Mother Teresa, Elie Wiesel, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Susan Guevara. Missionaries from Spain interact (and sometimes clash) with other cultures they meet in these six tales of love, faithfulness, and sacrifice that take place in and around four Texas missions, including the Alamo. A brief, balanced introduction describes the historical context and significance. Heavy oil illustrations are appropriate for the time period, if not for the audience. Timeline.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(2) 4-6 Demi's biography is distinguished by its attention, in both words and pictures, to Mother Teresa's faith. Quotes from the Bible and from Mother Teresa's prayers effectively complement the generally chronological text. Demi's miniaturist style is also, for the most part, effective in capturing Teresa's life among the "poorest of the poor." A list of awards and honors, a map, and text references are appended.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2005

(4) 4-6 Accompanying her parents on a medical mission to Nepal, twelve-year-old Annie quickly befriends Nirmala, a local village girl, who teaches Annie about Nepal's beauty and inequities and to appreciate her younger sister. Stewart relies heavily on Annie's often corny inner thoughts to convey character development, but she creates a realistic and detailed adventure.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA In this coming-of-age story, an Inuit girl's culture is on the verge of change when a priest of the Dog Children (white men) settles in her community. Minik's first-person narration doesn't always work (she transmits complex English-language exchanges that she claims not to understand), but Dewey vividly gives a detailed account of Inuit history and beliefs.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Latinos in American History series. Whiting describes the life of the eighteenth-century Majorca-born priest, known as the "Father of California," who went first to Mexico and then to California to establish missions. Lack of any critical debate about Serra's work (converting others to Christianity) may disappoint some readers. The book features color portraits of Serra and photos of statues bearing his likeness. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Women of Achievement series. The latest additions to this series of biographies will be useful mainly for those writing reports. Although each offers a detailed account of the subject's life, the writing is pedestrian and the photographs often dreary. Some of the books offer more substance due mainly to the subject herself (e.g., Toni Morrison). Each book contains a chronology. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Women of Achievement titles: Cher, Toni Morrison, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Estefan.]

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 In American History series. The books in this series describe the history of the trails used by Native Americans, explorers, missionaries, travelers, traders, and miners. Natchez succeeds slightly better than Mission by using more narrative-styled language to recount specific events. Sometimes too dark black-and-white photos and boxed "source documents" break up the text. A time line is included. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In American History titles: The Mission Trails in American History and The Natchez Trace Historic Trail in American History.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) K-3 On My Own Biography series. Illustrated by Elaine Verstraete. Mother Teresa's extraordinary life, vision, and humanity are conveyed in this straightforward biography. The text's simple language will encourage newly independent readers, though the frequent line breaks, while also appropriate for the reading level, sometimes hamper comprehension. Earth-toned illustrations capture the tranquil mood of the story. A time line highlights important dates.

Reviewer: Mary R. Holt

(3) YA Shaping America series. Report writers will appreciate this solid volume on the settling of the American West that includes chapters on Juan de Oñate, Junípero Serra, John Sutter, John McLoughlin, and Brigham Young. Conflicts among Native Americans, Mexicans, Spanish, Americans, and British are not glossed over. Archival photos and maps, a time line, and source notes are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(3) YA Louise is an American missionary girl imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp in the Philippines during World War II. Faced with hunger, the fear of torture or death, and the loss of her teenage years to the camps, she tries to keep her family together and prop up her mother's spirits. Without being overly dramatic, Hertenstein paints a compassionate picture of ordinary courage.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA A & E Biography series. These biographies examine the lives of four twentieth-century figures who achieved fame in vastly different fields (though two--Glenn and Ventura--both ended up in politics). The books, illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs, provide a broad overview of each individual's achievements in prose that is more serviceable than inspired. Lucas contains a filmography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta