By Colorado Kids Advisory Board member Madeleine Aaron

Title: Circle of Fire
Author: Evelyn Coleman
Illustrator: Lasizo Kubinyi
Publisher: Pleasant Company Publications
Number of Pages: 139

Mendy has just discovered something! A big something! She has discovered that the Ku Klux Klan is planning to bomb "The Highlanders Folk School" because that school teaches both White and African Americans. The Ku Klux Klan is planning to do this the day when Mendy's personal hero is going to be speaking there, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. Who could Mendy turn to for help? Anyone could be part of the Klan. Mendy decides she'll have to help Mrs. Roosevelt on her own. Will Mendy succeed? What dangers will she encounter on her quest? Can Mendy find and turn in the Ku Klux Klan members before it's too late?

I enjoyed this book thoroughly, because of its cliff hanger chapters and its wonderful description. First, it was one of those books you can't put down at the end of the chapter because you want to find out what happens next. Also, the description was awesome; it was like the words painted pictures of their own. I would recommend this book to 1st-6th graders and girls who like historical fiction, adventure or both. I thought the beginning was a little boring but that doesn't even matter when you're on the last cliffhanger chapter. If you look in the back of the book you can find more information on that time period. You can find pictures and detail as well. I loved this book and I hope you will too. (February, 2002)