(1) YA Illustrated by Hatem Aly. In thirteenth-century France, peasant Jeanne has visions of the future; William, illegitimate son of a crusader knight and an African "Saracen," has supernatural strength; Jacob, a learned Jewish boy, has healing powers. Together they try to thwart King Louis's plan to burn all the Jewish texts in France. An ambitious mash-up of medieval saints' lives, the Joan of Arc legend, and elements of The Canterbury Tales. Bib.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) YA Order of Darkness series. Luca (Changeling) investigates Johann, leader of the Children's Crusade, who claims to be a prophet but may be inadvertently doing Satan's work. The question of whether miracles actually exist is thought-provoking, and the medieval setting is intriguingly drawn. Attempts to create tension and drama never quite succeed, but readers who like their historical fiction with a supernatural twist will still enjoy this installment.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber. A camel suffers under hard-driving master Halim. The Prophet Muhammad comforts the beast, and the camel weeps. Its tears "sifted into Halim's dream," and Halim too weeps and awakes filled with compassion. This tale "inspired by a hadith" (an "account of the Prophet's words or actions passed from generation to generation") resonates with universal meaning. The story is beautifully supported by desert-hued full-bleed monoprints.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(4) 4-6 This scholarly presentation describes each of twenty prophets, from Moses to Malachi. The word "prophet" is written in Hebrew throughout, reflecting the book's focus on the prophets' roles in Jewish tradition. The book lacks adequate background information and may confuse readers who don't know much about early Jewish history, nevertheless, it's beautifully illustrated with reproductions of classic paintings of its subjects.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(4) YA An intriguing, if incomplete, survey of doomsayers touches on Bible prophecy, the oracles of ancient Greece, and the predictions of Nostradamus. The 1992 text has been slightly revised to include references to apocalyptic groups such as the Branch Davidians, the portentous nature of the Hale-Bopp comet, and the millennial madness that has fueled terrorist groups. Dark black-and-white reproductions are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker. Krull presents twelve personalities, from the Oracle at Delphi to contemporary psychic Jeane Dixon, who have practiced the age-old "art of prediction." An engaging conversational narrative places this tantalizing subject within a larger socio-historical context, and intriguing questions will challenge readers and inspire further exploration. Vivid multimedia collage portraits illustrate the book. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999

(4) 4-6 Secrets of the Unexplained series. Each diverting and readable book explores, mostly through anecdotal evidence, an aspect of the supernatural or the unknown. The material ranges from the historical (such as the writings of Nostradamus and the 1940s "flying saucer" reports) to the contemporary; hoaxes and possible explanations for some paranormal events are mentioned, but the texts are written from a generally credulous perspective. Illustrated with adequate color photographs. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta