(4) YA Day of Disaster series. These fictional stories pose the question: when disaster strikes, would you survive? An unsuspecting family or group of friends must work together to endure nature's challenge, whether it be an earthquake (Aftershock), blizzard (Freeze), or tsunami (Water). Wide margins and easy prose make the formulaic stories accessible to hi-lo readers, but they should also appeal to fans of survival narratives. There are three other spring 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Day of Disaster titles: Aftershock, Deep Freeze, and Wall of Water.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA Atlas of Cursed Places series. In each tame horror story set in a haunted locale--a lighthouse (Tower), cave (Breakdown), and mountaintop (Anchor)--the protagonist finds clues to lifting the site's curse in the mysterious Atlas of Cursed Places. Breakdown is less conclusive than the others, as the curse is never explained or resolved. This hi-lo series is harmless but inessential. There are three other fall 2016 books in this series. Review covers the following Atlas of Cursed Places titles: Skeleton Tower, Breakdown, and Deadman Anchor.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin