These comic-book-style adaptations capably convey plot points but fail to capture the original stories' psychological or thematic depths. Small rectangular panels float atop distracting white space, separating illustrations from text and preventing the two from working together. The historical contextualization provided at the end is useful but not redeemingly so. Timeline, websites. Ind.

Gr 5 Up-Quick paced and dramatic, these two volumes retain a sense of the originals in a highly appealing visual format. The use of color sets the tone for each novel, while the detailed illustrations bring the stories to life, capturing action and emotion and making these classics accessible and attractive. The exciting artwork and particularly expressive faces of Captain Ahab, Esmeralda, and Quasimodo draw readers into their stories. A series of two-page vignettes make up each novel, capturing some of the most dramatic moments, and the cleverly titled vignettes-"Angels and Devils," "A Lucky Escape," "A Jealous Rage"-are sure to grab readers' attention. Footnotes are provided as needed, and most frames have a sentence or two of narrative for expansion and clarification. Though the print is small, the books are well designed and have ample white space. Each volume includes an informative article about the author, a chronology, and essays providing context for the stories and a description of how the books have been received over time. These titles would be useful for introducing students to Hugo and Melville or as an alternative for reluctant/struggling readers.-Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.