(2) YA Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892–1980) and her husband, William Friedman, "are now recognized together as the two most influential code-breakers in American history." Elizebeth, however, remains largely underappreciated, so Moss shares a fine-spun account of her career and its many impressive contributions (some of which are still classified by the U.S. government). Moss follows the trajectory of this fascinating, singular woman's life (with details about William's work as it parallels Elizebeth's, but without shifting the focus from her) as she solves supposedly unbreakable codes containing enemy plans during both world wars. In between wars, Elizebeth's job at the Treasury Department requires her to risk her safety testifying at high-profile organized-crime trials, gaining unwelcome notoriety in the press. She faces sexism throughout her career, often not receiving proper pay or credit. But Moss emphasizes that Elizebeth -- who proudly leads her own code-breaking team -- doesn't let any of these challenges deter her from doing the work she loves. As in Moss's The Woman Who Split the Atom (rev. 7/22), chapters begin with brief comics by the author that provide visual context for the historical scenes. Hand this to fans of Fleming's recent The Enigma Girls (rev. 5/24). Archival photographs, a helpful "What Are Codes? What Are Ciphers?" section, a glossary, a timeline, notes, a bibliography, and an (unseen) index are appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. Sixth in line to choose an instrument in her family's band, Viola Smith (1912–2020) makes a life-changing decision when she picks the drums. At first her efforts result in a "terrible racket," but "Papa showed her the proper way to hold the sticks," and the Smith Sisters Orchestra makes its jazzy debut. Only thirteen and already touring the Midwest, Viola seeks "musical advice" from some of the greats and becomes "bolder, flashier, and faster." Even after her sisters step away from the stage in the 1930s, Viola leans into a life in music. Robbins's biography skillfully focuses on the pivotal moments in Smith's career: from her childhood in small-town Wisconsin to the formation of her own band, the Coquettes, to her classical timpani training. Chapman's upbeat illustrations create movement, sound, and emotion constantly swirling around "the fastest girl drummer in the world." With a decidedly midcentury feel, the art reverberates with Smith's active enthusiasm, with ripples from cymbals, starbursts from the bass drum, and twirling lines that trace the paths of her perpetually in-motion mallets. Robbins and Chapman collectively convey the vivacity and joy of this exceptional musician, and back matter further describes Smith's advocacy for women in music.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod. The tart green apple is a relatively recent variety, and we have one unsung woman from culinary and agricultural history to thank. Fortson's picture-book biography introduces the woman whose combination of skill, determination, and luck produced the Granny Smith apple. Maria Ann Smith's journey begins as the Industrial Revolution in England takes away migrant farm labor opportunities for her to support her family. Immigrating to Australia as a skilled laborer, Smith eventually buys her own orchard, where a strange new apple grows out of a compost pile. The narrative of Smith's life story is interspersed with inset text boxes addressing topics such as apple grafting and Australian history (some of which may be hard for readers to follow). Detailed watercolor illustrations provide glimpses into the life of a migrant farm worker and orchardist. Back matter includes a timeline of Smith's life and an author's note on the effects of British colonization on Australian Indigenous communities.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) 4-6 Cause-and-Effect Disasters series. Five disastrous events in American history are explored from a cause-and-effect perspective. Each volume includes four succinct chapters, first establishing setting before relating the major events and their aftermath/results (e.g., the Chicago Fire and 1888 Blizzard precipitated future building codes and public warning systems). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentations. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Cause-and-Effect Disasters titles: The Jamestown Colony Disaster, Death in the Donner Party, Hurricane Katrina and the Flooding of New Orleans, The Great Chicago Fire, and The Children's Blizzard of 1888.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator(s) of a popular classic kids' product. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Barbie Developer Ruth Handler, Board Game Builder Milton Bradley, Crayola Creators Edward Binney and C. Harold Smith, Lego Manufacturers the Kristiansen Family, Play-Doh Pioneer Joseph McVicker, and Slinky Innovators The James Family.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Pop Culture Bios series. Each volume in this series superficially discusses the featured young celebrity's childhood, early projects, rise to current stardom, and, when applicable, causes (e.g., Watson's free-trade clothing line; Wilson's focus on positive body image). Sidebars define unfamiliar lingo and offer "favs," "peeves," and other trivia. Brightly colored layouts and copious stock photos emphasize the text's casual, teenybopper-magazine tone. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Pop Culture Bios titles: Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Nicholas Hoult, Emma Watson, Jaden Smith, and Rebel Wilson.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) YA African-American Icons series. These accessible, simplistic biographies trace the lives of contemporary African American leaders in the arts. The uncomplicated prose may appeal to report writers who are also reluctant readers. While the books' original design was uninspired, it did include plenty of photos--which these new editions have oddly omitted. Discography (Smith), filmography (Berry; Smith). Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Icons titles: Maya Angelou, Walter Dean Myers, Toni Morrison, Halle Berry, Will Smith, and Oprah Winfrey.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Linda Shute. In a tight, lucid narrative, Jones details Captain John Smith's two-thousand-mile Jamestown-based exploration of the Chesapeake Bay during the summer of 1608. Derived largely from primary source material, the exciting account is illustrated with soft-hued drawings and sketches. It's also enlivened by spot-art vignettes of wildlife creatures whose speech balloons help clarify events and add occasional humor. Reading list.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Big Buddy Biographies series. This series offers very basic biographical information about popular stars. The texts, though sugarcoated and very light on content ("In the 1990s and early 2000s, Michael faced some personal challenges"), are easy to read, and their subjects are of interest to children. Many photographs appear throughout; captions and brief "Did you know?" sidebars give additional information on the stars' lives. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Biographies titles: Jaden Smith, Lea Michele, and Michael Jackson.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by François Roca. This awe-filled biography describes how Elinor Smith became the youngest licensed pilot in the United States and, in 1928, at age seventeen, flew under all four bridges along Manhattan's East River. Roca's capable illustrations depict a confident Smith and Manhattanites at their most elegant. An author's note tells more about Smith's later life and of Brown's interviews with the pilot. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Dawson. Rosenstock describes the life of Louise Smith, one of the first women racecar drivers. Louise loved to go "Fast! Faster! Flying!" and pursued any opportunity to race. The easy-to-read text applauds the spirit and independence of a young woman in a man's sport; an appended author's note adds details. Dynamic illustrations capture the 1940s and 1950s rural setting.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. Faced with an unjust new tax, Julia and Abby Smith protested: since they couldn't vote, this was taxation without representation. After the sisters’ cows are confiscated, the American Woman Suffrage Association, as well as newspapers nationwide, took up the story. Van Rynbach and Shea appealingly present the resourcefulness of two nineteenth-century women. McCully’s illustrations show the aging sisters and their humorously vivacious cows.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2011

(4) YA Profiles in Economics series. This series explores the lives and work of four philosophers and economists. The books show shared--and divergent--ideas the men gained from classical sources and from each other. Though the texts tend to focus on minutiae ("Cheese and fruit, especially strawberries, were favorites of Adam"), they do present well-rounded portraits of their subjects. Many archival paintings and photographs accompany the texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Profiles in Economics titles: Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Karl Marx.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David McPhail. This biography of the first woman to be elected to both houses of Congress, not to mention the first woman to run on a major-party presidential ticket, is unusually attentive. Included are idiosyncratic details (e.g., Margaret’s nickname for her grandfather), thematic bottom-of-the-page timelines ("The right to vote," "US Women in Congress"), and quiet, humanizing illustrations in pastel hues. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Cooper bases his history mainly on John Smith's writings. The book's frequent illustrations are reproductions of Smith's own paintings or engravings based on them. Quotations are also carefully attributed in context and in source notes at the end (though the unfortunate repeated typo, "Croatian" for Croatoan, is worth noting). Cooper's straightforward narrative is occasionally enlivened with kid-friendly comparisons. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Kathleen Isaacs

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Diaz. Krull uses the relatively few known facts about the Powhatan princess to trace her life from age eleven through adulthood, touching on her volatile relationship with John Smith and marriage to John Rolfe. Krull rounds out the story with background information about Jamestown. The narrative is smooth and readable, and Diaz's lush digitally colored cut-paper illustrations feature bright borders around the text. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(2) 4-6 Schanzer calls explorer John Smith "probably the greatest escape artist on the planet" in his day. She organizes her account by his various "escapes," revealing a restless, quick-thinking spirit. The economical text gives just enough background to contextualize Smith's experiences. Comic-strip panels summarize some of his exploits, while traditional spreads relate others in more detail. A larger-than-life figure well worth rediscovering. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2007

(3) YA In this carefully researched fictional account, alternating first-person narratives of Pocahontas and John Smith recount the 1607 interaction between the Powhatan and the English in Jamestown, Virginia. In his stirring interpretation of this clash of cultures, Bruchac crafts a riveting portrait of a brave and proud man and a satisfying picture of Pocahontas as a curious and peace-loving Powhatan girl. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Kristin Cashore

(4) 4-6 African-American Biographies series. These books provide overviews of the lives of prominent African Americans. The readable text superficially covers each subject's childhood, mentors he or she encountered, struggles through adversity, and contributions to society. The accompanying photographs don't always match the text, but the books are sufficient introductions for report writers. There are ten other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these African-American Biographies titles: Zora Neale Hurston, Marcus Garvey, Robert Parris Moses, Paul Robeson, Bessie Smith, and Medgar Evers.]

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 4-6 In American History series. Each of the books in this series attempts to delineate the numerous causes and significant events that helped form a specific era in American history. These three books feature black-and-white photos and illustrations of uneven quality, boxed quotes from source documents, and timelines. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In American History titles: Jamestown, John Smith, and Pocahontas in American History; The Harlem Renaissance in American History; The Dust Bowl and the Depression in American History.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang