Gettysburg

Gr 2–4—Aimed at younger or less able readers than the same-named Gareth Stevens series (also reviewed in this issue) and with a different focus, this set's third quartet (earlier volumes were published in 2013) takes intrepid students on quick tours of four American locales "said to be" haunted. Along with a short recap of each site's history, the author tucks in references to weird noises and other supernatural manifestations reported by visitors and specifically names at least one putative specter—such as Jennie Wade, Gettysburg's only civilian casualty, or New Orleans' "Voodoo Queen" Marie Laveau. The illustrations, which are distorted photos featuring screaming mouths and blurred figures, have been passed through lurid color filters for additional atmosphere. Fine for recreational browsing; the closing bibliographies and online lists of websites will be more useful for assignments than the titles themselves.