October 1, 2020
Grades 2-5 This entry in the Haunted History series (6 titles) recreates the dramatic events of a purported UFO crash in 1897 Aurora, Texas, using a graphic novel format. Although the illustrations are not spectacular, the riveting, lesser-known story will captivate its audience, and reluctant readers will benefit from the short, chapter-like segments. After a strange airship crashes on an Aurora farm, residents bury the alien traveler and throw the debris into the nearby well. Life continues as normal until the farm's new owners begin to suffer strange ailments and open an investigation into the property's alien graveyard. The final section considers whether the alien crash was a hoax and offers speculative theories. Back matter features brief descriptions of similar events in Roswell, New Mexico, and Suffolk, England. High-interest history that encourages reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
November 1, 2020
Gr 2-6-This graphic novel series focuses on high-interest topics and is written in simple, readable prose. The books don't claim to offer definitive evidence but detail witness accounts. The disclaimer states each title is a "dramatization based on true events." The pedestrian comic art, which uses a limited color palette, is easy to navigate. Panels are laid out in a linear format. Text in yellow boxes provides background information; character dialogue appears in white speech balloons. The characters showcase racial and ethnic diversity. However, in A Home Built for Ghosts, some readers may question why the only prominent depiction of Asian individuals is limited to Mrs. Winchester's sinister psychic medium consultant, who issues a comically fatal ultimatum. The back matter includes historical cases of similar phenomena or places in the U.S. and elsewhere. VERDICT Recommended for schools and libraries but with caveats: Coaster of Death may be too sad or morbid for some readers; Ghost Prisoners may be inappropriate or violent for younger students.
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.