You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Railroad!: A Track You'd Rather Not Go Down (You Wouldn't Want To)

Offers a humorous but factual look at the life of a laborer working on the transcontinental railroad.

Grade 4-6-Uniform, present-tense, "you are there" discussions. These titles are somewhat jovial in their portrayals of ghastly subject matters, downplaying the horrors of human sacrifice, for example. Cartoon characters are about to have a tree fall on them in Railroad and find frozen bodies in the water in Titanic. In Aztec Sacrifice, "you" are a captured warrior and end up having your heart cut out as an offering to the gods. Suggestions are made as to why a warrior would not be too scared, maybe because an herbal potion could make him feel drowsy and peaceful. Every spread offers a "Handy Hint" box. In Railroad, "you" are advised to "Steer clear of the saloons and casinos-." In Aztec Sacrifice, it is suggested that "you" make offers to your city's guardian god for protection. Of the three volumes, Aztec Sacrifice is the most gruesome and will therefore appeal to a certain clientele. Because of its ever-popular topic, Titanic will have no problem finding an audience. Because of its less-gory premise, Railroad might need to follow on the popularity of the other two titles. Heavily illustrated, colorful, and far from dull, these titles will have little trouble grabbing readers' interest.
Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.