(2) 4-6 In 1952 the body of an Iron Age child was discovered in a bog in Germany. In this hybrid volume--part fiction, part nonfiction--Lowry takes the known archaeological facts of this real-life discovery and crafts them into two different stories. In the first, the child, a girl named Estrild, rebels against the restrictive role of women in her agrarian village and presents herself, with the boys, to be a warrior. She is killed, punished for her boldness. The second story's protagonist is Varick, a boy who had appeared as a supporting character in the first one. Disabled and neglected, he is a keen observer of nature, a thinker, a proto-scientist. He dies of pneumonia. Interspersed with each of these stories is an essay; in these, Lowry casts a wide net, covering the art and science of archaeology, natural history, Iron Age lore, and, most innovatively, her own process in writing historical fiction. In what ways can we connect to the past without imposing our own realities on a time that was so different? How does one's own life conform to the accepted shape of fiction? The stories are tightly woven and moving, built of gritty, convincing detail and written in the cadenced rhythm of which Lowry is a master. But it is in the essays that she tackles, head-on, big questions of mortality and meaning in a way that is most unusual, honest, and deeply respectful of her young audience.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Isabel Greenberg. The mysterious life and death of King Tut and the story of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tut's tomb are recounted in an engaging narrative. The majority of the book focuses on Carter's excavation and what was learned from the site. Greenberg's colorful, stylized illustrations recall the hybrid 2D/3D aesthetic of ancient Egyptian artwork, even in their depiction of modern people.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Fern shares with readers the life of archaeologist Carter--his boyhood fascination with all things Egyptian, his dreams of one day finding a mummy (he eventually discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922), and his dedicated self-study of Egyptology--emphasizing his painstaking attention to detail throughout. Kulikov's mixed-media illustrations, which reflect the hues of the Egyptian desert, beautifully complement and extend the text, incorporating occasional comedic touches. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) 1-3 Best friends Hammy and Gerbee (hamster and gerbil, respectively) break from their class during a science museum visit to create mischief involving toilet paper, mummy role-playing, and slapstick humor. The entertaining characters are rendered via thick, relaxed lines in this graphic novel. Nine short, fast-paced sections will engage new readers; easy-to-follow sequences, simple speech-bubble dialogue, uncomplicated wordplay, and visual punch lines should draw in reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(4) K-3 Creep Out series. This parapsychology series superficially explores fear and types of creepy locations. Each slim book highlights what makes the place so scary through matter-of-fact yet evocative writing: "Tombstones stand around you... You shiver. You are in a cemetery." Colorful photographs appear manipulated to enhance the creep factor. Short, simple sentences make for an easy read, though one pretty scary for the intended first-grade-and-up audience. Review covers these Creep Out titles: Caves, Cemeteries, Ghost Towns, Haunted Houses, Old Jails, and Tombs.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 1-3 Spy Next Door series. In Mutant, boring third grader Dexter Drabner dreams of being a skateboarding spy like Toby Falcon; when his rat-flatulence-collecting science teacher accidentally turns a pet into a mutant monster, Dex's dreams come true. Curse finds the newly minted skateboarding spy-hero facing a mummy's ancient curse. This new series is chock-full of cartoons and slapstick situations reminiscent of Captain Underpants but with less successful humor. Review covers these titles: The Spy Next Door: The Curse of the Mummy's Tummy and The Spy Next Door: Mutant Rat Attack!

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Monster Mania series. A wide-range of legendary "monsters" are discussed in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific category and details stories from ancient times up through modern pop culture. Color illustrations and photographs feature various depictions of the creatures. The occasionally crammed paragraphs and hurried texts still provide lots of information for curious readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Mania titles: Sea Monsters, Beastly Monsters, Magic Monsters, and Undead Monsters.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Egypt's Ancient Secrets series. This series about ancient Egyptian culture focuses on things related to death: tombs, mummies, and monuments. While that may sound morbid, color photographs and illustrations in bright, eye-catching layouts offer an enticing entry point into this part of the culture. However, the repetitive nature of the topic and reuse of some graphics and information across the series are drawbacks. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Egypt's Ancient Secrets titles: Ghost Ship, The Great Pyramid, King Tut, The Sphinx, Tomb Robbers, and Valley of the Golden Mummies.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Egypt's Ancient Secrets series. This series about ancient Egyptian culture focuses on things related to death: tombs, mummies, and monuments. While that may sound morbid, color photographs and illustrations in bright, eye-catching layouts offer an enticing entry point into this part of the culture. However, the repetitive nature of the topic and reuse of some graphics and information across the series are drawbacks. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Egypt's Ancient Secrets titles: Ghost Ship, The Great Pyramid, King Tut, The Sphinx, Tomb Robbers, and Valley of the Golden Mummies.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Egypt's Ancient Secrets series. This series about ancient Egyptian culture focuses on things related to death: tombs, mummies, and monuments. While that may sound morbid, color photographs and illustrations in bright, eye-catching layouts offer an enticing entry point into this part of the culture. However, the repetitive nature of the topic and reuse of some graphics and information across the series are drawbacks. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Egypt's Ancient Secrets titles: Ghost Ship, The Great Pyramid, King Tut, The Sphinx, Tomb Robbers, and Valley of the Golden Mummies.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Egypt's Ancient Secrets series. This series about ancient Egyptian culture focuses on things related to death: tombs, mummies, and monuments. While that may sound morbid, color photographs and illustrations in bright, eye-catching layouts offer an enticing entry point into this part of the culture. However, the repetitive nature of the topic and reuse of some graphics and information across the series are drawbacks. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Egypt's Ancient Secrets titles: Ghost Ship, The Great Pyramid, King Tut, The Sphinx, Tomb Robbers, and Valley of the Golden Mummies.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 How to Live Like... series. Illustrated by Maurizio Campidelli. These volumes are divided into short chapters, each of which discusses one particular aspect of life in the historical occupation, none in great detail. The presentation is colorful, with each page fully illustrated in a cartoony style; the easy-to-read texts are each narrated by a wise-guy youth from the era, which adds levity but grows rather tiresome. Related facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following How to Live Like... titles: How to Live like a Samurai Warrior, How to Live like an Aztec Priest, and How to Live like an Egyptian Mummy Maker.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Tombquest series. Alex evades resurrected Death Walkers to track down his missing mother and her magic Egyptian scrolls, only to be captured by The Order's sinister leader: his estranged father. Alex must stop The Order before they can merge the realms of the living and the dead. These series-concluding volumes (with online components) offer fans deep characterization and high stakes alongside formulaic action. Review covers the following Tombquest titles: The Final Kingdom and The Stone Warriors.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Tombquest series. Alex evades resurrected Death Walkers to track down his missing mother and her magic Egyptian scrolls, only to be captured by The Order's sinister leader: his estranged father. Alex must stop The Order before they can merge the realms of the living and the dead. These series-concluding volumes (with online components) offer fans deep characterization and high stakes alongside formulaic action. Review covers the following Tombquest titles: The Final Kingdom and The Stone Warriors.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 In fictional 1934 Harbortown, a reward for information about a kidnapping tempts both Peter (who wants to go to camp to escape his bullying brothers) and Tunie (who needs medicine for her ailing father). They sneak into a museum to find clues and discover cursed mummy Horus, who joins their investigation. The fantastical mystery's plot is compelling and its characters appealing.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lisa Brown. A dainty mummified cat emerges from a small coffin. He prowls the pyramid, looking at paintings depicting first his happy life with an Egyptian queen, then her death. Ultimately, cat and queen are reunited. Rhyming couplets and the gouache, watercolor, and ink illustrations' bright colors offset the eeriness of the subject. Information on Egyptian burial customs and a key to the illustrations' hieroglyphic messages are appended.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. Ms. Beasley's class, including Eugene and friends Charlie and Sally, tours a museum, and the guide's promise of treasure triggers the emergence of the Sunnyview Superhero Squad. Led by Captain Awesome (Eugene), the trio chases "clues" through galleries, identifies potential villains, and finally finds treasure. New readers and superhero fans won't be disturbed by the frenetic action. Frequent cartoons include several "by" Eugene.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Time Shift series. Illustrated by David Antram. These books provide information relating to structures and customs of ancient and medieval times. Colorful illustrations use split pages to capture scene changes, while the bare-bones texts relate the history, purpose, construction, and rituals of castles and pyramids; Mummies extends information about pyramids through discussion of the preservation of bodies entombed within. More substantial facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Time Shift titles: Castle, Mummies, and Pyramid.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Tombquest series. In their third adventure, Alex and friends return to Egypt to continue searching for Alex's mother and ancient magic scrolls--while also trying to banish the Death Walkers his mom accidentally summoned. The sinister Order seems to know their plans in advance; can Alex uncover the traitor before it's too late? Despite a formulaic structure, this book (with online component) offers an action-packed mystery.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Tombquest series. When Alex's mother uses ancient Egyptian scrolls to save his life, she inadvertently resurrects loathsome Death Walkers. After his mom disappears and a secret society emerges to use the scrolls' power for evil, Alex and best friend Ren must banish the mummies and rescue her. Despite a formulaic structure, this series (with an online component) provides ample mystery, action, and humor. Review covers the following TombQuest titles: Amulet Keepers and Book of the Dead.

Reviewer: Russell Perry