June 1, 2010
Gr 4-7 -"Dark Labyrinths" explores the creepiness of underground tunnels, shelters, and cities that have been long buried. Particularly compelling is Budapest's ancient, naturally made tunnel system nicknamed the Labyrinth of Courage, which hid civilians during World War II. Other underground places described house ghosts, glowing worms, and, in Colorado Springs, a satellite tracking center to warn the United States of impending missile attacks. "Wretched Ruins" provides brief profiles of 11 sites, including some in Iraq, Peru, Jordan, Chile, and Greece. On each spread, a paragraph outlining the location and the ancient peoples who inhabited the area is superimposed on a full-page, grainy photograph. It faces a short history of the site's discovery and possible explanations for its construction, juxtaposed with a close-up or detailed, clearer photo that further illustrates the place's "wretchedness" or "mystery." Some spreads include a factoid on theories such as the one that aliens built the Easter Island statues. A closing spread offers a world map that indicates each location. These eye-catching books will work well with reluctant readers and have enough shock value to inspire them to do further research."C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY"
Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2010
Emphasizing the gory past of ancient cultures, this volume engagingly (if superficially) outlines the origins of eleven ruins, the stories of their discoveries, and the mysteries that continue to surround them. While the text focuses mainly on history, the double-page spreads reflect the series' hook, highlighting the places' sinister aspects through spooky photographs and skeleton-graphic sidebars. A map is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)