November 15, 2005
Clark has compiled an intriguing collection of anomalies, some believable and some not. Chapters are arranged alphabetically by the 49 continental U.S. states and contain chronological entries varying in length from one paragraph to eight pages. For each entry, Clark includes citations to original print sources, most of which are newspaper articles dating from 1729 to 1927. A sprinkling of pen-and-ink drawings accompanies the text.
The subject matter varies from a fiery snake sighted near Delphi, Indiana, in 1893 and caterpillars found on the snow in Danville, Pennsylvania, in 1849 to more common sightings--falling and flying objects, mirages, swamp lore, unusual snow, and clouds of crickets. The writing is objective and controlled, leaving the reader to ponder what may have caused a pillar of fire in Tennessee, boiling well water in North Carolina, or a soap-bubble sky in New York. The curious reader can peruse the index to find " animal oddities," " falling objects," phenomena occurring in San Francisco, and instances specific to land, sea, river, lake, and sky. This work is an inviting trove of nature's miracles for high-school and public libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)