(2) 4-6 This chilling sequel to Small Spaces finds Ollie, Coco, and Brian trapped in a ski lodge. The three friends and their parents are alone until the arrival of mysterious Mr. Voland, who tells them Hemlock Lodge is haunted. The hotel's creepy history gives this tale the necessary trappings of a classic ghost story (e.g., a dead skier appears at unexpected moments to deliver silent warnings). The novel's second half takes the danger one step further by re-introducing old villains and raising the stakes, making for a harrowing adventure.

Reviewer: Sarah Berman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) 4-6 In 2016, fourteen-year-old Hameister embarked on a multi-year quest to become the youngest person to accomplish the "Polar Hat Trick"--skiing to the North Pole, across Greenland, and finally to the South Pole. Her inspiring memoir is filled with adventure, perseverance, and gratitude, showcasing her indomitable spirit. Two color photo sections from before and during the expeditions are included plus a few black-and-white photographs.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Borden's admiration for American Pete Seibert's skill as a skier and his heroism as a WWII soldier in the Italian Alps is clear, but her writing is uncharacteristically colorless. However, text laid out as free verse makes for extremely accessible reading, and archival photographs appear prominently throughout the spacious design. There's not a ton of information here, but back matter directs readers to more in-depth material. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Danni Gowdy. A second-person narrative describes how "your" pet giraffe begs to ski. When the giraffe takes off for the "Big Scary Slope," you have no choice but to follow. Clever use of framed vignettes provides step-by-step instruction for snapping on bindings, untangling skis, and even tackling the chairlift. The illustrations' silly cartoony style underscores the implied message: trying new things can be a lot of fun.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) YA After being kicked out of ballet school for not meeting expectations, thirteen-year-old British girl Mouse reluctantly attends a ski trip in the French Alps. With a cute boy named Jack, new friends, a French pop star, and a trio of mean girls, the trip is more eventful than Mouse ever imagined. Mouse's and Jack's alternating perspectives capture the heady excitement of tween crushes, and the side characters are entertaining and authentic.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 4-6 Survivor Diaries series. When twelve-year-old twins Ashley and Ryan are caught in an avalanche on a skiing trip in Wyoming's Grand Teton Mountains, Ashley's quick-thinking and instinctual decision-making help them survive. On a sixth-grade geocaching field trip in New Mexico, former best friends Jen and Martin must rely on each other when they're separated from their class during a dust storm. These well-paced and easy-to-read wilderness stories integrate real survival techniques; region-specific tips are also appended. Review covers these Survivor Diaries titles: Avalanche! and Dust Storm!.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Sports All-Stars series. Succinct, easy-to-read biographies of these sports stars include brief looks at each person's childhood before focusing on that individual's particular training and road to athletic success. Dramatic narration, direct quotes, color photographs, and sidebars round out the informative main texts; all-star statistics for that sport are appended. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports All-Stars titles: Lindsey Vonn, Stephen Curry, Luke Kuechly, and Simone Biles.