Gr 3-5–These attention-grabbing titles employ brevity to appeal to striving readers. The series compiles interesting commentaries taken from actual “personal experiences” people claim to have had, including cryptid sightings and alien abductions. Most of these have been debunked, but the reports provide entertaining accounts that don’t talk down to readers, even when it’s pointed out there’s no proof to substantiate them. The UFO volume is especially well balanced, the ghost title presents various international ghost legends, and the volume about aliens is current, citing data from 2024 and 2025. New vocabulary is boldfaced in blue type and defined in a glossary. The volumes make their points quickly; there’s no intensive investigation into the topics, but students will appreciate these entertaining, informative, and well-presented explorations of popular subjects.

VERDICT: So appealing that readers won’t mind that these accounts have been debunked. Recommended for schools and public libraries.