November 1, 2020
Gr 3-8-These spooky titles take readers on adventures through some of America's most haunted places. Popular and lesser-known structures, such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse, the Alamo, and the White House, are examined through the lens of paranormal history. Each book focuses on a different geographic area: Alcatraz Island and the West, Gettysburg and the eastern United States, the Alamo and the American South, and Bachelor's Grove Cemetery and the Midwest. Short vignettes describe basic facts about each landmark. Although this series provides high-quality translations, Fantasmas de El �lamo y otros lugares embrujados del sur is a weak spot. The text mentions the Myrtles Plantation and Chloe, an African American girl who was enslaved and is said to haunt the property. The treatment of slavery and plantations is problematic and warrants additional explanation on the part of educators. VERDICT More historical context and explanation would be useful in these books.
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