(3) 4-6 Seventh grader Hudson desperately wants to make the basketball team, but can he control his asthma during tryouts? Meanwhile, Hudson also worries that his uncle Vic is a criminal; he's confused about his feelings for Willow Flores; and he starts looking into the father he knows nothing about. Ridge juggles these matters with humor and just enough suspense in this realistic middle-school novel.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Left in the care of their ill-reputed great-aunt Grace while their mother searches for their wayward father, asthmatic sixth grader Treasure and her seven-year-old sister, Tiffany, find that the home they've been waiting for isn't anything like they expected. Harris crafts a well-paced intergenerational tale with a diverse cast of characters, though her physical descriptions border on clichéd.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) K-3 Living With series. Engaging full-page color photos accompany short chapters defining each health condition and explaining causes, variations, and treatments. A final chapter outlines day-to-day challenges and emphasizes acceptance and commonalities such as a desire for friends and fun. Simple vocabulary, declarative sentences, and a question-and-answer feature make the information accessible to young readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Living With titles:Allergies, Asthma, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, and Down Syndrome.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA Essential Health: Living with Health Challenges series. "Expert Advice" from a practicing clinician precedes nine chapters, each opening with the personal story of a teen dealing with the title challenge and concluding with questions for readers to consider. Definitions, symptoms, causes, susceptibility, diagnosis, treatment, and coping mechanisms are clearly described. Use of the second person and a conversational tone involve readers. Generic color photos are plentiful. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Living with Health Challenges titles: Living with Acne, Living with Anxiety Disorders, Living with Depression, and Living with Asthma.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Handy Health Guides series. This series by a veteran health-writing team offers solid, clearly presented information on uncluttered, easy-to-navigate pages. The accessible texts are ably supported by well-chosen and -captioned photos and diagrams; sidebars feature related facts, activities, and health tips. Volumes focusing on disease discuss characteristics and causes, effective treatments, and prevention. There are six other fall 2013 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short volume-specific introduction lead to chapters defining each condition and explaining symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing is straightforward but not particularly engaging. Some photomicrographs and charts are included, but most of the pictures and illustrations are generic (or even anatomically incorrect). Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Autoimmune Disorders, Hepatitis, Alzheimer's Disease, Lyme Disease, and Asthma.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Monty Morris's third book focuses on surprises. Some surprises are terrific, like getting two parakeets for class pets; others, such as having an asthma attack in the carwash, are not good. But the most amazing surprise of all is the arrival of his baby sister. Monty's quiet but amusing adventures, shown in unfussy black-and-white watercolor illustrations, ring true to first-grade life.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Dan Santat. In this follow-up to Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally), Bobby Ellis-Chan's PE teacher expects great things of him. Overhearing his ex-football star dad say, "He's not like me," Bobby assumes he's let Dad down with his nonexistent football skills. Everything works out for both father and son in this sequel that will please Bobby's fans and win over new ones.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2010

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Margeaux Lucas. Abby wants to run in the big race at the town fair. Although others encourage her to enter the pie-eating contest instead, she continues to train, monitoring and treating her asthma with her doctor's help, and wins the race. Though the text is message-y, its lessons about determination and self-confidence are inspiring. Cheerful illustrations show Abby hard at work.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) YA When Savannah meets Jackson, her world is turned upside down. As they fall in love, Savannah is convinced her asthma is improving, but that changes when Jackson has to leave town. While trying to maintain their relationship, Savannah also learns to rely on herself. Southern-folksy language helps set the scene in this heartfelt story of first love.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anthony Lewis. Peter, pretending to fight a dragon, is slowed by fits of coughing and wheezing. After the doctor diagnoses asthma, Peter resumes play, now as the "Noble Knight of the Nebulizer." Approachable illustrations complement this simple introduction to a common disease. An appended note to parents accompanies the purpose-driven text.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) YA Explaining series. These texts, assisted by color photos and graphics, provide an overview of each disorder--description, treatment, research, etc. Sidebars add facts, and "Case Notes" share personal stories. Some generalities appear throughout the series, but the books are mainly informative and useful. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explaining titles: Explaining Cerebral Palsy, Explaining Deafness, Explaining Cystic Fibrosis, Explaining Asthma, andExplaining Down Syndrome.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) 4-6 Ten-year-old Jake struggles with his sister's asthma, his status as a "Low Expectation" kid at school, and his parents' fighting. Fortunately, he has a good friend, a cantankerous but protective neighbor, and an inventive imagination used to tell his sister stories. The first-person narration reveals Jake to be capable and resilient. The dialogue is realistic, and each character is conveyed compassionately.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Shy first grader Monty isn't sure he wants to be a "budding actor" in the school play. Later, he joins a karate class, one of the few sports he can do despite his asthma, and voluntarily participates in the class exhibition. This gentle story, illustrated with good-natured black-and-white watercolors, uses empathy and humor to win over readers.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Monty's nervous to start first grade because he has asthma. He gains confidence as he proves to be a good reader, finds a pet he isn't allergic to, and makes friends. Once Monty's illness is established and Hurwitz moves on with the story, Monty has some amusing low-key adventures. McGrory's black-and-white illustrations show Monty's initial timidity, then his growing sense of self.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Jack, who suffers from severe asthma, moves into a house inhabited by tortured spirits that only he can sense: four trapped children and the woman who consumes their souls while purporting to mother them. The Ghost Mother covets Jack's love and possesses his mother in an attempt to gain it. Haunting imagery and fully realized supernatural mythology charge this eerie ghost story.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Disease Update series. A brief profile of each disease precedes chapters covering history, causes, symptoms, existing treatments, and ongoing research. Frequent personal stories break up dry facts. Photos (mostly generic) and diagrams add some visual interest. A question-and-answer section is appended. Directory, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Disease Update titles: The Asthma Update and The Sickle Cell Anemia Update.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Health Alert series. A fictional case study of a person suffering from each disorder introduces typical symptoms to readers. Three subsequent chapters describe the disease's biology and progress, its history, and ways to treat and cope with it as both a patient and a support for a patient. Clear archival black-and-white and color photos and photomicrographs support and extend the text. Directory, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Health Alert titles: Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Juvenile Diabetes, and Depression.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Just the Facts series. Randomly arranged short chapters cover the histories, symptoms, causes, current and likely future treatments, and challenges of living with these chronic disorders. (Asthma never mentions one frequent trigger: the common cold.) The information is clearly stated and accompanied by color photos of and quotes by individuals (some famous) coping with the disorder. The busy design is a drawback. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Just the Facts titles: Asthma, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Sickle Cell Disease, Allergies, and Epilepsy.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Health Matters series. Each book first defines the featured condition and then ably discusses causes, diagnoses, and treatment. Helpful chapters detail what to expect from a classmate who has the condition, both in school and while visiting his or her home. Illustrated with sometimes too dark photos, each book closes with "success stories" of celebrities, artists, and athletes who have learned to cope with the disorder. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Health Matters titles: Allergies, Asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Hearing Loss, and Sickle Cell Disease.]

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey