(3) YA Countries of the World series. This travel guide-like volume begins with a tourist's view of Egypt: "You have just stepped out of a time machine--or so it seems...You have just arrived in Cairo." Chapters cover all the expected details for report-writers: geography, flora and fauna, history, people, culture, politics, economics, and contemporary life. Vivid photographs and useful maps in an eye-pleasing design enliven the presentation. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Night Fall series. Luke's home life, already strained, gets worse after his mother's death. As his stepfather becomes increasingly hostile, Luke, now running the family funeral home business, must make sense of the messages he's receiving from the dead. Flat characters prevent the story from creating anything more than superficial suspense, but the spooky premise and accessible text may grab reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins