Throughout history, there have been several tragic events that stand out above others, making them common knowledge. The Girls Survive series takes those events and shows how a regular (fictional) girl uses her skills and talents to make it through the worst of it.

These graphic novels cover situations from distant and recent history: Prudence is under suspicion of witchcraft in Salem; Annie boards the RMS Titanic with her mother; Bonnie makes her flight home on the Hindenburg; and Rei and her friends race to escape a post-earthquake tsunami in Japan. Each story highlights the grit and determination of each young girl as they help themselves and others.

The series focuses on how the events personally affect the girls and omits other elements typically included in retellings of these tragedies.

VERDICT: Tragedy is unavoidable, but these books depict young girls trusting in themselves and one another, overcoming the odds.