Staying Safe While Traveling

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-These two titles tell young women how to detect, avoid, prevent, and cope with physically and emotionally threatening situations when traveling alone. Chaiet presents similar tactics in each book and discusses the importance of awareness, verbal and physical self-defense, having a plan, and listening to one's instincts. The texts are clearly written, easy to read, and punctuated with interesting, dramatized examples of how and how not to handle various situations. The author does a commendable job of conveying information about personal boundaries and building self-reliance. However, one stereotype is perpetuated by omission: women are never presented as perpetrators of crimes against young women. Black-and-white and full-color photographs help break up the text into digestible pieces, but are amateurish and of inconsistent quality. Overall, though, these are thorough discussions delivered in a palatable and well-organized format.Joan Soulliere, Wenham Public Library, MA