"Underwater scenes depict exciting salvage efforts and include a breathtaking gatefold of the Vasa being lifted to the surface... A richly crafted work of history for upper elementary schoolers." —School Library Journal, starred review, on The Sinking of the Vasa
"A magnificent tribute to a magnificent folly." —Booklist on The Sinking of the Vasa
"This winning combination of engrossing narrative and evocative illustration should appeal to fans of shipwreck stories, history, and undersea archaeology." —The Horn Book on The Sinking of the Vasa
"Light-infused scenes bathed in aquamarine hues, including a clever gatefold of the ship’s remains being lifted toward the surface, are remarkably lifelike in perspective and scale, and realistic moments (glinting fish scales, the bulky folds of a diver’s suit) complement the detailed storytelling." —Publishers Weekly on The Sinking of the Vasa
"Low's digital illustrations are sumptuous and stunning, and they could pass for traditional paintings." —Kirkus Reviews on The Sinking of the Vasa
"A highly readable and well-documented overview of a fascinating aspect of World War II." —School Library Journal, starred review, on We Will Not Be Silent
"Among the wealth of good Holocaust literature available, Freedman's volume stands out for its focus and concision, effectively placing the White Rose in its historical context, telling the story of Nazi Germany without losing the focus on the White Rose, and doing so in just over 100 pages." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on We Will Not Be Silent
"Thoroughly researched, with numerous archival photos, this well-told story of the White Rose opposition unfolds chronologically and with building suspense." —Publishers Weekly, starred review on We Will Not Be Silent
2018-05-14
Who's to blame when everything goes wrong? In the early 1600s, King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden ordered the construction of a mighty warship to be the flagship of his navy. After two years' construction, the mighty Vasa was ready to sail on the afternoon of Aug. 10, 1628. Less than a mile into its maiden voyage, the Vasa, along with her crew and their families, sank into Stockholm's harbor. After the calamity, Sweden began an investigation into why the ship so easily capsized. The results were inconclusive, although Freedman implies that the king's desire for a superfluity of cannons may have been the cause. Centuries later, in the mid-1950s, the Vasa was raised and restored. Now housed in the Stockholm Museum, the Vasa is a popular tourist attraction. Freedman provides a lot of information to his readers, but with its compression into the picture-book format, the pacing is rushed. The ending—relating a reclaimed cannon to Sweden's history of peace—feels tangential at best. Hopefully, curious readers will seek out the additional information about the Vasa, shipwrecks, and restoration provided in the bibliography. Low's digital illustrations are sumptuous and stunning, and they could pass for traditional paintings. It's unfortunate that the text does not live up to the artwork.Like the Vasa, this feels not quite seaworthy. (Informational picture book. 8-10)
