School Library Journal
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Gr 5 Up—Throughout history there have been several tragic events that stand out above others, making them common knowledge. The "Girls Survive" series takes those events and shows how a regular (fictional) girl uses her skills and talents to make it through the worst of it. These graphic novels cover situations from distant and recent history: Prudence is under suspicion of witchcraft in Salem; Annie boards the RMS Titanic with her mother; Bonnie makes her flight home on the Hindenburg; and Rei and her friends race to escape a post-earthquake tsunami in Japan. Each story shows the grit and determination of each young girl as they help themselves and others. The series keeps the focus on how the event affects the girls personally and leaves out other elements that most retellings of these events cover. VERDICT Tragedy is unavoidable, but these books depict young girls trusting in themselves and one another and overcoming the odds.