Being a Stunt Performer

November 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-This set looks at glamorous, exciting, and artistic jobs. Information is arranged in brief paragraphs that seem to bounce around the pages, mimicking a fashion-magazine layout. Each title has a glossary near the beginning listing pertinent vocabulary called "The Lingo." In the spirit of the magazine feel, there are "Real-Life Story" features and "Poster Page" sections that highlight notable people from that career. The final "Get More Info" page in every title lists useful and entertaining print and Web resources. Given the somewhat scattered format, the brief index in each book give helps to find information. Good selections for browsing and for students who might be considering out-of-the-box careers.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012
Grades 4-6 Specifics such as salary ranges, professional organizations, and opportunities for formal training are absent from this entry in the On the Radar: Awesome Jobs series, but nearly every page features stuntpeople in action, mostly on film sets, plus images of (or silhouettes and graphic patterns that suggest) fires, explosions, and feats of derring-do. Along with briefly profiling a number of daredevilsfrom Harry Houdini to Michelle Yeoh and Luci Steel RombergThomas supplies a glossary of special terms, a very general look at the job's mental and physical qualifications, and even quicker glances at how some common movie stunts are safely done. Though not particularly helpful to serious career hunters, it should draw browsers with its high-impact visuals and easily digestible blocks of high-energy prose.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)