April 1, 2013
Gr 5-8-These high-interest, brief books deliver information about some of history's most notorious villains, most in two-page biographical sketches that relate their nefarious deeds without delving into gory details. While popular topics such as pirates and outlaws will always attract an audience, the brevity of each profile means that this set does not deliver enough background information to help readers fully place many of these people into historical contexts (such as Prohibition or the Cold War) and/or explain their actions. That weakness is most obvious in Monarchs, Assassins, and Gangsters, in which students may find the actions of "Bloody Mary," Al Capone, and others mystifying. Full-color and black-and-white photos and reproductions, word definitions in text boxes, and sidebars supplement the short biographies. Most of these figures have been written about in extant titles, making these books additional choices for reluctant readers.
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2013
Grades 4-6 From Benedict Arnold and Lee Harvey Oswald to less notorious figures such as Anna Chapman (born Anna Vasil'yevna Kushchyenko, though the author doesn't challenge less able readers by mentioning that) and John Walker Lindh, this entry in the Shock Zone: Villains series introduces a dozen baddiesall American or at least working in this country. Writing in an informal tone ( Arnold started out as an OK guy ), Landau provides a quick description of each malfeasant's career, capture, and fate, as well as at least superficial analyses of their motives. The breezy prose, illustrations that mix documentary photos with posed shots and movie stills, and a reading list heavy on spy manuals make this better suited to recreational reading rather than research. Which kids may prefer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2013
This series presents brief biographical vignettes of some of the world's most notorious villains. The chatty, informal writing style is entertaining, but the gruesome anecdotes and graphic illustrations aren't for the faint-hearted. The authors' selections are largely lesser-known villainous figures (Hitler, Pol Pot, and Henry VIII are not included). Period art, archival photographs, and text boxes fill the pages. Reading list, websites. Ind.
(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)