(4) YA It's 1798, four years after the Terror in France when the guillotine threatened, and fifteen-year-old Hortense attends a girls' boarding school outside Paris. Accomplished in her studies, she dreams of composing her own music. Being the (real-life) stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte, however, comes with certain expectations. This fictional account favors authentically portraying history and period mentality over granting its characters great depth. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) YA In Battlesaurus: Rampage at Waterloo, Napoléon claimed victory at Waterloo with his terrifying battlesaurs; now he is determined to invade England. Brave Willem and his friends must find a way to stop the French using guile, new weapons, and even other dinosaurs. This action-packed, satisfying conclusion to Falkner's alternate-history duology again successfully combines magic, fantasy, and historical elements.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA This novel is set in an alternate-reality 1815 during the Battle of Waterloo. Dinosaurs are still alive, and Willem, a Flemish teen, plays a key role in protecting his village from these rampaging beasts. Political intrigue (from village to nation-state level), magic, fantasy, and historical battles blend together in an exciting, thrilling adventure.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA In 1799, Eliza Monroe (daughter to the future president) arrives at her French boarding school and meets Josephine Bonaparte's daughter Hortense and Napoleon's sister Caroline. She is quickly embroiled in their family drama and the girls' schemes, which grow complicated and dangerous. The prose is somewhat dense, but it's offset by the suspense of the fictionalized insider-look at France's powerful families.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) 4-6 Burleigh's straightforward style and clear focus make accessible this account of the rapid rise and fall of the skilled military leader and emperor of France. The period artwork, accompanied by helpful captions, enhances the cleanly designed presentation. An author's note and two maps are included. Bib.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Art Encounters series. A well-known painting and its creator feature in each of these works of historical fiction. In Garden, a Persian girl seeks refuge at an artists' colony. In Mountains, a Chinese American boy goes to live with his uncle in Shanghai. A wounded soldier (Napoleon) works for Jacques-Louis David. The tales are complex and engrossing, with the artists' techniques illuminated in the stories' contexts. Timeline. Review covers these Art Encounters titles: Deep in the Mountains, Jackal in the Garden, and A Brush with Napoleon.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel. This book bravely attempts to represent the medium of music in words and pictures. Celenza clearly tells of Beethoven's oncoming deafness, his admiration for and then disenchantment with Napoleon, and the different inspirations for the four movements of his Third Symphony. The art includes cartoonish people who appear in the foreground and a toile-style background featuring flowers and images of peasant life. A CD is included.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Fourteen-year-old Betsy develops an unlikely friendship with Napoleon during the first years of his imprisonment on the island of St. Helena. Loosely based on an actual person, this Betsy is a rambunctious, free-spirited girl. The fast-paced story peppered with reminiscences of Napoleon's exploits may motivate readers to learn more about him. An author's note and source notes are appended.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Battles that Changed the World series. This volume profiles all of the major players, the terrain, and movements of Napoleon's last stand. Illustrated with color photos and historical reproductions, this book is marred by too small and infrequent maps. A timeline is appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(2) K-3 I, Crocodile is a view of Napoleon's Egyptian campaign and its aftermath by a wily, self-important observer--a plump aquatic reptile with literary ambitions and a flair for drama. Taken to Paris along with other plundered Egyptian artifacts, our hero finds himself unceremoniously installed in a fountain. The text is reportorial in tone, a perfect complement to the extravagant, expressive illustrations.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2000

(2) 4-6 Blumberg incisively presents the 1803 Louisiana Purchase in the context of global politics, individuals' ambitions, and, quite frequently, shortsighted views of potential gains. The contest between Napoleon's ambition and Jefferson's vision is the focal point that gives unity to the whole. A well-told tale, handsomely produced and profusely illustrated with reproductions and maps. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1998

(4) 4-6 History of Warfare series. As a group, the books explore how war has changed throughout history--contrasting political and cultural influences, as well as advancements in technology and weaponry. Individually, each volume examines a number of conflicts within one historical era, identifying the participants and their beliefs and discussing key battles. Readers drawn to the historical reproductions and diagrams of battles may find the texts dry. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta