(2) YA Reef brings her keen eye for character to the "Lady with the Lamp." At a time when a woman was expected to "[obey] her husband," Florence Nightingale acquiesced to no one, finding meaning in her work and advancing the nursing profession like few before or since. Making fine use of primary sources, Reef paints a complete picture of the complex woman. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) K-3 A straightforward text of declarative sentences describes Florence Nightingale's childhood, training, service in Crimean War hospitals, and lifelong crusade to reform nursing and health care. The true draw of this clear picture book biography, however, is Demi's simple line-drawn illustrations with collage elements: close reader attention will reveal rats, chamber pots, leaky roofs, and other engrossing details. Reading list, timeline.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Siblings Jack and Annie are off on two more time-traveling adventures for Merlin the Magician. They journey to mid-nineteenth-century Egypt in search of Florence Nightingale in High Time and to Coney Island at the turn of the last century in Houdini. The series' formula, which blends magic, adventure, sibling dynamics, and history, is successful in these fiftieth and fifty-first installments. Review covers these Magic Tree House titles: High Time for Heroes and Hurry Up, Houdini!

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 History Makers series. This series of introductory biographies offers very young readers the broad details of these historical figures' lives and impacts. In addition to archival photographs, each simple text is supplemented by a running timeline; although many events on it are not mentioned in the narrative, the format is visually appealing. Overall this series provides decent jumping-off points for further research. Glos., ind. Review covers these History Makers titles: Anne Frank and Her Diary, Florence Nightingale and a New Age of Nursing, Martin Luther King and the Fight for Equality, Nelson Mandela and His Struggle for Freedom, and Winston Churchill and World War II.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) YA Gutsy sixteen-year-old parlormaid-turned-nurse Molly Fraser ministers to wounded soldiers in a Crimean hospital run by the no-nonsense Florence Nightingale. Despite arduous toil and abominable conditions, Molly finds herself falling in love with both a doctor and a soldier. Molly is a believable character in this engaging work of historical fiction that pays homage to Nightingale's groundbreaking accomplishments.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 A Morse code message embroidered on a crinoline leads Enola Holmes to a kidnapper--and Florence Nightingale. Once again, the feisty fourteen-year-old detective matches wits with her older brother, and for the first time, Sherlock rethinks his "proper and traditional" plans for his "daredevil, oh-so-clever" sister. This fifth book in Springer's series is a riveting read, and it's Enola's strongest outing yet.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Famous Lives series. Effectively integrating historical context into the discussion, these biographies present an overview of each subject's life and notable contributions. The large format includes photos, archival reproductions, and a spacious layout, making the books accessible and easy to read. The quality of the writing is uneven, but readers will gain a basic appreciation of these important figures in history. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Famous Lives titles: Florence Nightingale, Gandhi, The Dalai Lama, and John Lennon.]

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 On My Own Biography series. Illustrated by Nicolas Debon. Considering vocabulary and sentence limitations, these authors adequately present the lives of their subjects: Banneker pioneered as a black farmer, surveyor, and almanac writer; Coleman as a black woman pilot; and Nightingale as a wealthy Englishwoman who founded a nursing school and corps. The biographies' illustrations are colorful if somewhat static. Afterword, timeline. [Review covers these On My Own Biography titles: Benjamin Banneker, Bessie Coleman, and Florence Nightingale.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Groundbreakers series. These formulaic biographies offer a basic overview of each subject's life and accomplishments. Illustrations, captioned color photos, and text boxes clutter the pages but help to break up the readable texts. These books will be adequate for report writers, however, those looking for more substance will need to search elsewhere. A time line is included in each book. There are five other books in this series. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(2) 4-6 Throughout her biography, Gorrell takes pains to dispel the popular view of the founder of modern nursing as a "sweet, patient angel of mercy." Readers drawn to the story of this "difficult, demanding woman" will also find a broader picture of the society she helped reform. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photos, archival engravings, and sketches by one of Nightingale's cousins. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2001