These three titles focus on intriguing, shocking, under-explored disappearances throughout history.

Hays, Anna. Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared. illus. by Mary Kate McDevitt. 240p. Random/Bright Matter. Sept. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593712559.
Gr 4-7–This collected biography highlights the lives of seven little-known women who practiced magic, then disappeared from history. The title may lead some kids to believe the women literally vanished, but the stories are still engaging and will delight young readers. The women profiled include a medium, an escape artist, and a woman with superhuman strength. All the subjects profiled were born in either the United States or Europe. Within the biographical description for each figure, there is a dedicated section highlighting specific tricks she performed. Though detailed descriptions of the setup and procedure are provided for each act, the magicians’ secrecy is preserved (a magician never reveals her tricks, after all). Photos of the performers, playbills, and newspaper clippings are peppered throughout each chapter with a larger collection of these items at the end of each chapter. The descriptions of the women are detailed but never bog down readers with shorter attention spans. The content and amount of information is age appropriate. This book will delight young magicians or any readers interested in mysterious history. VERDICT This engaging collected biography would be a wonderful addition to any library. The eye-catching cover and title may encourage reluctant readers of nonfiction to explore these mystifying women of magical history.–Jessica Trafton

Siegel, Rebecca. How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler: The Story of American Artistry and Deception in World War II. 176p. Peachtree. Nov. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781682637586.
Gr 5-8–Inflatable tanks, guns, trucks, and aircraft; super-sized speakers blasting recordings of moving military equipment and other realistic sound effects; fake radio transmissions; and a small group of creative human soldiers. While this sounds like a list put together for a movie or video game, this combination worked during World War II as a real military unit, commonly referred to as “The Ghost Army.” Employing theatrical elements worthy of a Broadway stage, this WWII unit successfully fooled German troops into thinking the Americans had a larger troop presence, as well as misleading them about American positions. Siegel employs a conversational tone to keep the narrative moving, weaving in a large amount of factual information. Choosing three soldiers for emphasis, she invites readers to connect with the men and their history. Focusing on the background of these men with research that includes author interviews, letters, memoirs, and declassified government documents provides the historical events with immediacy. Filling in the time line of the larger war for context demonstrates the role and impact of the Ghost Army missions. Their final assignment, helping displaced persons at the end of the conflict, allows the author to explore some related elements, such as concentration camps and the nuclear bomb. VERDICT Delving into a unique element of WWII, this book will be well received by students, teachers, and anyone interested in military strategy.–Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst

Wolf, Allan. The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story. illus. by Jose Pimienta. 176p. Candlewick. Oct. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781536217438.
Gr 4-7–The morning of November 20, 1980 started like any other day on Lake Peigneur—a freshwater lake two miles across, 10 feet deep, and “shaped like a Louisiana butter bean.” But that day proved to be anything but ordinary when a massive whirlpool opened in the lake, pulling in billions of gallons of water along with an oil derrick, barges, trees, and structures along the shoreline. This graphic novel recounts the harrowing stories of the people who witnessed the lake’s shocking disappearance. The narrative shifts perspectives among the witnesses who nearly lost their lives in the disaster, creating tension and highlighting the chaos and confusion of that extraordinary morning. Readers will be in suspense over what happened to the lake until the book’s conclusion when causes of the disaster are revealed. While the story of Lake Peigneur is true, there are some fictional elements, such as composite characters, an abbreviated time line, and narration by Lake Peigneur itself. However, facts are carefully distinguished from fiction in the book’s back matter and are drawn from quality sources, including interviews with survivors and the use of primary documents. Digital illustrations with muted, retro-feel colors support the narrative and provide details that enhance an understanding of what happened at Lake Peigneur, including maps and diagrams. VERDICT Readers who enjoy true-life mysteries and survival stories will be pulled into this book and inspired to learn more about this little-known but fascinating event.–Danielle Sachdeva