Shattuck, Randy, and Kristina Lundblad. Kidnapping and Abduction.

Shattuck, Randy, and Kristina Lundblad.  Kidnapping and Abduction.      Rosen Publishing Group                 64p        $31.95                     978-1-4488-5563-6         2012      all ages          E-BN  series:  FAQ: Teen Life      Nonfiction

This is a common-sense book on how to avoid being in a situation where you can be kidnapped or abducted.  A lot of do’s and don’ts that will help children, teens and adults.                  This book covers the different types of kidnapping and abduction, how kidnappers operate, reasons why, and what to look for when approached by strangers.  It is a book that we should all read to remind ourselves that kidnapping can happen at any moment by anyone who may not even look suspicious.

The book includes advice for teenagers and children, for example to never walk alone, especially through areas that look very isolated.  Hitchhiking is really dangerous whether you are alone or with someone.  It is a bad idea, as both people could be overpowered at a moment’s notice.  Children should never be allowed to walk away from you, whether you are the parent or older sibling.  Even at home, there is danger -- if a repairman shows up at your door but you never called a repairman, do not open that door.  If someone knocks on your door wanting to use your phone, do not let them in.  However, you can offer to call for them.  If it is a true emergency, they will be thankful, and if it was a scam, you just saved yourself!

The book includes a glossary, pictures, a list of resources and web sites, a bibliography, and an index.

This is an excellent book for parents, baby-sitters, teenagers, children, joggers.  In fact, this book is for all ages.   

Kidnapping, Abduction                                                                                                                              --Magna Diaz

 

A good read

Bennett, Holly. Bonemender’s Choice.
Orca, 2008. 222p $7.95 978-1-55143-718-7
Fantasy

This third book about Gabrielle the healer presents her with a difficult choice. The two children of the king are kidnapped by pirates who plan to sell them at the slave auctions. When the ship sails into port, they discover the town closed due to a plague called the "Gray Veil." One of the crew becomes infected and passes it to the king's daughter. A rescue party made up of Gabrielle, her elf husband, Tristan brother to the King, blacksmith and jewelry maker Derkh (who Gabrielle healed in a prior book) and Yolenka an exotic dancer., sails in pursuit. They disguise themselves as traders and come to the fortress of the pirate. Gabrielle is brought in to heal the girl. Each member of the rescue party plays a specific role in the rescue. By pretending that both children are dead, they escape. Sailing back toward home, Gabrielle finally begins to understand the nature of the disease but must choose to save the girl or her husband who contracted the disease while carrying the girl.
Even though it is a third book in a series, the reader can quite quickly surmise some of the action of the prior books. The action is nonstop with minimal descriptive passages. The only drawback is that the speech of foreign characters reminds one of the stereotypical speech of Old West Native Americans.
This is a thoroughly pleasant read.
This is the third book of the Bonemender series. JT