I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 by Lauren Tarshis

Anyone who works in a children's library knows that "I Survived" is the hottest nonfiction series being published right now.  There are at least 16 different books, all dealing with a child who survives a historical catastrophe.  In this one, Hugo and his family are traveling on the Hindenburg Zeppelin from Germany to New York to get medical treatment for Hugo's sick little sister.  On the flight over Hugo hears of German Nazis and American spies, and even helps a friend escape a terrible fate. I was impressed that Tarshis was able to not only tell a lot about what it was like to fly in the Hindenburg, she also fit in a lot of facts about the political climate of the time period.  I can see why these books are so popular.  They are a super quick read, with enough facts to satisfy young readers who like to learn things as they read, no magic for kids who don't want to mess with the pretend stuff, and enough excitement to keep any young reader engaged.  (91 p.)