School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-History in all its glory and carnage is presented in each title. Readers take on a persona and get immersed in the action. For example, "you" might find yourself an Inca ruler, on your way to becoming an Inca mummy, or an 11-year-old boy, old enough to do a day's work in the cotton-making industry. "You" might also find yourself as a Mayan soothsayer, or holy man, or a Scotswoman named Grace Elliott, struggling to keep your head. Each story moves along at a quick pace. Cartoon illustrations are comical, dulling the horror of any torture, and anthropomorphic animals abound. The language is clear for the most part, and definitely engaging. New words are defined in glossaries, but there are no pronunciation guides. This would have been useful for words like mascapaicha or Kawiil or even guillotine. In general, students who like their history told in gory yet humorous detail will gravitate to these titles.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.