School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up-From the Watts Towers in Los Angeles to the mythical New Jersey Devil, the "Weird U.S." writing team embarks on a new mission: to guide readers on a road trip, visiting the many curiosities America has to offer. The first third of this book covers wacky museums, strange houses, colorful street festivals, and roadside oddities, all of which would certainly be amusing additions to a family vacation. The other two-thirds of the book are dedicated to haunted houses, bloodthirsty roads, mythological creatures, alien landings, and other inexplicable phenomena. Even as reading material alone, these sections fall flat; many of them, especially the one about Bigfoot and his brethren, contain nothing that readers can't find in greater detail in numerous other books. Throughout the volume, many of the color photographs are far too small to do justice to their subjects, and there are also a good number that suffer from lack of captions. Fans of The Guinness Book of Records and "Ripley's Believe It or Not" (Ripley) will be drawn to this treasure trove of strange places and faces, but may find themselves disappointed in the end.-Rebecca Dash Donsky, New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers taking road trips this summer (or armchair ones, considering gas prices) will be prepared with this photographic tour of American oddities, an addition to the Weird U.S. series. Attractions include the Watts Towers in Los Angeles, which artist Simon Rodia built using objects collected by neighborhood kids; the mysterious Marfa lights in Presidio County, Tex.; and the archaeological site in Groton, Conn., known as Gungywamp. The world's biggest ball of twine makes an appearance, as does the smallest park (located in Portland, Ore.), while a section on "Haunted Highways" includes the cryptically named "Shades of Death Road" in Warren County, N.J. Lake and Fairbanks's lively descriptions demonstrate the enthusiasm that subjects like Mothman, Sarah Winchester, and the FeeJee Mermaid deserve. Ages 8-12. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Imagine the kitsch of a field trip to the world's largest ball of twine and multiple it by about a thousand and you'll begin to appreciate this imaginative and colorful romp through the United States' weirdest roadside attractions. Each site, from the aboriginal paintings in the Cave of the White Shaman in southwest Texas to the ghosts of Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary, is described in detail with full-color photographs and lumped into themed chapters such as Ancient Mysteries and Haunted Holiday. Popular state routes and byways are frequently cited and offer loads of possibilities for geography lessons. Marginalia offers websites for further research, and readers will assuredly find at least one attraction close to their own home. Sure to be a hit with students that pore over the Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not!, this book may just make kids worldlier without them even noticing. Lake and Fairbanks prove that nonfiction is anything but a snooze.--Anderson, Erin Copyright 2010 Booklist