The Middle Ages

January 1, 2010
In each of these Choose Your Own Adventure-style books, readers follow three unique perspectives. Both volumes engage reluctant readers in situations where they may experience success, failure, death, or survival depending on their selections. Though the writing style is simplistic and the information limited, readers will come away with a sense of the time periods. Reproductions of artworks enhance the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2010
Grades 3-5 Each book in the You Choose: Historical Eras series begins with an overview of the time period to be covered. Over the next two or three chapters, readers make choices in roles such as an Egyptian tomb painter, Greek philosopher, wealthy Roman woman, or medieval knight. Many choices in these books lead to gory death: The only way anyone will know that you are dead is when they smell your rotting body, concludes one scenario in The Middle Ages. While not everything rings true (a character refers to a litter of kittens as cute), a final chapter and time line add context and bolster the factual information in each book. Full-color illustrations and photos appear throughout, and back matter includes an index, bibliography, and glossary, as well as suggestions for additional reading. A page of discussion and research questions further extend the topics. The interactive format and suspenseful scenarios will hit the mark with middle-graders and especially reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)