Synopsis
Gripping true stories about killer storms, fire at sea, ship-crushing ice, and starved sailors turned cannibal, keep readers turning these pages filled with incredible marine disasters and the natural forces that contributed to them. Bloodthirsty pirates of long ago--men and women--come to life in Carole Vogel's narratives, along with harrowing accounts of modern-day piracy.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-These books contain a hodgepodge of marine information. Dangerous Crossings travels way beyond its purported theme of ocean disasters. The chapter entitled "Ice and Death" includes discussions of the Titanic and the Endurance, whaling, the life of polar bears, and global warming. Also mentioned are past and current piracy and terrorism. Some interesting illustrations of a historical nature appear, but others seem to be fillers, especially one showing a tornado going over a cornfield. Savage Waters is more focused, discussing a variety of topics pertaining to seas and oceans. It covers tides, currents, and the Gulf Stream; there are some excellent illustrations and easy-to-understand explanations of natural phenomena. Shifting Shores covers tsunamis, tectonic plates, and ocean currents. One chapter covers the sunken ancient city of Herakleion and the fate of New Orleans on the Mississippi Delta. Additional titles.- Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.