(2) K-3 In dramatic double-page watercolor spreads, Ray follows Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and his five-man crew on their 101-day, 4,300-mile odyssey, in 1947, to prove that ancient Incan sailors could have reached the South Pacific by raft. Emphasizing high-seas adventure over theory, the story will capture the imagination of young readers with the drama of flying fish, gale-force winds, and giant waves. Bib.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(4) YA Ashline Wilde (Wildefire; Embers & Echoes), teen reincarnation of a Polynesian volcano goddess, teams up with her fellow demigods to stop her ex, Colt, from merging Ash and her two sisters into a single consciousness. A mash-up of the supernatural and mythological, the trilogy's final volume covers no new ground but provides a satisfying (if predictable) conclusion.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) YA Polynesian volcano goddess Ashline Wilde (Wildefire) heads to Miami in search of her missing sister, but her quest is complicated by a war with a renegade group of gods and emerging memories of her past lives. While the plot is fairly predictable and the dialogue is often artificial, this paranormal romance series is to be commended for its multiethnic casting.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Mythic World series. Each book in this series is divided into ten chapters; each chapter presents a myth along with historical context and related information about language, religion, and lifestyle. The unexciting presentation is redeemed by archival reproductions, illustrations, and photographs that add interest to the text. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Mythic World titles: Myths of Oceania, Myths of Russia and the Slavs, Myths of West Africa, Myths of China and Japan. ]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Connie J. Adams. Over forty tales--including creation myths, ghost stories, and animal tales--are presented in an overlong volume. Each section contains a lengthy introduction providing the historical background of a region, identifying specific islands, and touching on traditions of the various peoples. The margins are littered with definitions and pronunciation guides, making the book appear more educational than entertaining. Bib.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta