(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. In clear, concise text with plenty of images, this engaging narrative of the mystery surrounding the Nazca Lines in Peru touches on theories about their meaning and purpose. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. For thousands of years, many have tried to understand the mysterious Great Sphinx of Giza: mainly, who built it and why? This volume presents a concise narrative history, including major archeological developments and theories. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. Theories surrounding Nevada's Area 51 as well as reports of unexplained phenomena and unconfirmed events (mainly UFO sightings) are laid out for readers in clear, concise text with plenty of images. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. In 1872, the Mary Celeste was found near Gibraltar with no trace of its crew or what happened to them. This volume presents an engaging narrative history of the continuing investigation of the ghost ship. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. While documents throughout history have suggested Atlantis was real, evidence has eluded archeologists. This volume presents a concise history of the mystery, cases for possible locations, and theories about what might have happened to Atlantis. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. This volume presents the mystery surrounding the late-sixteenth-century disappearance of the Roanoke Colony in clear, concise text with plenty of images. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Twelve-year-old Elspeth lives in 1775 North Carolina with her Scottish immigrant grandparents. Times are tense: local Patriots try to strong-arm Elspeth's grandfather into joining their cause, but he and the other MacKinnons join the Loyalists. This engaging mystery--who in the community is a clandestine Patriot? and who has betrayed the MacKinnons to the Patriots?--shows readers another aspect of the American Revolution.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In each book, a fatherless twelve-year-old uses her wits and courage to protect a sibling and solve a mystery: Rose Taylor risks being shot in Levi Frontier's Wild West Show in 1886, while Emily Scott spies on gang leaders in a 1925 Jersey Shore hotel. Both books are quick paced and exciting despite some underdeveloped characters. Each book ends with "A Peek into the Past." [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic and Danger at the Wild West Show.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In each book, a fatherless twelve-year-old uses her wits and courage to protect a sibling and solve a mystery: Rose Taylor risks being shot in Levi Frontier's Wild West Show in 1886, while Emily Scott spies on gang leaders in a 1925 Jersey Shore hotel. Both books are quick paced and exciting despite some underdeveloped characters. Each book ends with "A Peek into the Past." [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic and Danger at the Wild West Show.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In Whistler, Emma and her dress-reformer mother face trouble when they move West in 1867 to run a newspaper in Colorado Territory. In Chilkoot, Hetty, her father, her uncle, and a friend contend with a mysterious thief as they attempt to hike Chilkoot Pass enroute to the Yukon goldfields in 1897. Each story is suspenseful though somewhat formulaic. An afterword provides archival photos and additional historical information. [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Whistler in the Dark and Mystery at Chilkoot Pass.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Following the confusion of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Clara finds a baby left on the doorstep of her family's boardinghouse. She eventually learns that the baby has been kidnapped and struggles to return her to her parents. Despite some underdeveloped characters, the satisfying plot moves quickly. Archival photos and historical information are appended.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In Whistler, Emma and her dress-reformer mother face trouble when they move West in 1867 to run a newspaper in Colorado Territory. In Chilkoot, Hetty, her father, her uncle, and a friend contend with a mysterious thief as they attempt to hike Chilkoot Pass enroute to the Yukon goldfields in 1897. Each story is suspenseful though somewhat formulaic. An afterword provides archival photos and additional historical information. [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Whistler in the Dark and Mystery at Chilkoot Pass.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In 1754 New Hampshire, Rebecca discovers a thief in the fort where she and her sister live after their parents' kidnapping by Abenakis; in 1878 Kansas, Ida Kate uncovers the truth about her father's mail-order bride; in 1904 Missouri, Orphelia learns a family secret while she pursues her own dream of performing music onstage. Though formulaic, these well-narrated stories feature accurate historical details, as do the brief afterwords. [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Enemy in the Fort, Riddle of the Prairie Bride, The Minstrel's Melody.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In 1754 New Hampshire, Rebecca discovers a thief in the fort where she and her sister live after their parents' kidnapping by Abenakis; in 1878 Kansas, Ida Kate uncovers the truth about her father's mail-order bride; in 1904 Missouri, Orphelia learns a family secret while she pursues her own dream of performing music onstage. Though formulaic, these well-narrated stories feature accurate historical details, as do the brief afterwords. [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Enemy in the Fort, Riddle of the Prairie Bride, The Minstrel's Melody.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. In 1754 New Hampshire, Rebecca discovers a thief in the fort where she and her sister live after their parents' kidnapping by Abenakis; in 1878 Kansas, Ida Kate uncovers the truth about her father's mail-order bride; in 1904 Missouri, Orphelia learns a family secret while she pursues her own dream of performing music onstage. Though formulaic, these well-narrated stories feature accurate historical details, as do the brief afterwords. [Review covers these History Mysteries titles: Enemy in the Fort, Riddle of the Prairie Bride, The Minstrel's Melody.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Before leaving Ohio to pursue life as a peddler, sixteen-year-old Will Spencer helps Noah, a slave, escape to Canada. When he learns that Noah's family is still in Kentucky, he agrees to steal them and bring them north to freedom. Though Will's horrified discovery--that slave owners view slaves as "stock" that they own, work, and breed--seems naive, his passion for abolishing slavery is inspiring.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 History Mysteries series. When Papa takes twelve-year-old Bessie and her little brother to stay with their aunts in Harlem, Bessie thinks that her parents must be getting divorced. The adults won't share any information with the children, so Bessie sneaks around the house and the city, attempting to find clues that will lead her to her absent father. Set during the Harlem Renaissance, the story relies too much on coincidence, and Bessie sometimes seems younger--or older--than she is.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Before leaving Ohio to pursue life as a peddler, sixteen-year-old Will Spencer helps Noah, a slave, escape to Canada. When he learns that Noah's family is still in Kentucky, he agrees to steal them and bring them north to freedom. Though Will's horrified discovery--that slave owners view slaves as "stock" that they own, work, and breed--seems naive, his passion for abolishing slavery is inspiring.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Before leaving Ohio to pursue life as a peddler, sixteen-year-old Will Spencer helps Noah, a slave, escape to Canada. When he learns that Noah's family is still in Kentucky, he agrees to steal them and bring them north to freedom. Though Will's horrified discovery--that slave owners view slaves as "stock" that they own, work, and breed--seems naive, his passion for abolishing slavery is inspiring.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Each of these volumes looks at an important part of American history--the end of the Civil War, the Jamestown colony, settlement houses in turn-of-the-century Boston, and the French and Indian fur trade in the eighteenth century. The four heroines bravely face dangerous circumstances in order to clear the names of the innocent and discover the true culprits. An illustrated historical afterword concludes each book.

Reviewer: Anne St. John