(3) K-3 Illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison. This biography about a lesser-known African American figure follows Montague’s inspiring path from her 1940s Arkansas childhood to her groundbreaking work with the U.S. Navy, emphasizing the countless race- and gender-based obstacles placed in her way. With determination and vision, Montague eventually became the first person to create a computer program that could “calculate every part of a [navy] ship’s design.” Jamison’s engaging illustrations enhance Swanson’s clear-eyed text about this STEM trailblazer. Back matter includes more about Montague’s life, an author’s note, and sources.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(1) K-3 Books for a Better Earth series. Illustrated by Gordy Wright. In 1976, after approximately twenty-five years of service, the massive aircraft carrier USS Oriskany was decommissioned. Rather than being sold or relegated to retirement, "chained to a pier. Rusted, empty, and without purpose," the "Mighty O" had a different future. Conservation scientists and Navy engineers converted it into an artificial reef, sinking it about twenty miles off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. The great strength of this account is that Stremer creates a dual focus. She first details the destruction of natural reefs and the benefits they provide for marine life. A full-bleed gouache and acrylic double-page spread shows the ocean floor teeming with life around a natural reef, contrasting with a subsequent reef-less scene devoid of fish and plants. Second, Stremer outlines the scientific planning involved in converting the massive ship into an artificial reef--including stripping the ship of copper (and selling that to help pay for the reconstruction) and removing paint toxic to the ocean environment until the ship is "nothing more than a shell of its former self." Wright's striking art outlines the entire process of the Mighty O's makeover, as well as detailing a careful plan for sinking the ship in such a way that storms and tides would not alter its position. This clear, logical, and fascinating combination of natural and industrial science concludes with information about reefs and the Mighty O, a bibliography, and an index.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA This pared down version of Townley's adult book Defiant focuses on Jeremiah Denton, one of the "Alcatraz Gang," a group of American POWs held captive by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. This memorable, well-written book about his life before and after, his daily struggles and gruesome torture for refusing to cooperate, and how he survived includes black-and-white context photographs throughout. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Captured History series. In presidential photographer Pete Souza's iconic 2011 photo, President Obama and his advisors watch and wait as U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six storms Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound--resulting in the death of the terrorist leader and 9/11 mastermind. Accompanied by well-chosen photographs, this matter-of-fact account provides adequate information for school reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Meredith Madyda

(4) 4-6 Gormley's admiring profile follows McCain through his childhood and the U.S. Naval Academy before detailing his resistance and resilience while imprisoned and tortured by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. The remainder of the book, which ends too abruptly, deals with McCain's political career and terminal illness and how his strong character and erratic temperament affected his personal and political lives. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 As seventh grader Wes Davies's basketball team competes for a championship, his Navy-veteran father sinks into PTSD-caused alcoholism. Meanwhile, Wes's showy team nemesis "Dinero" challenges Wes's commitment--drilled into him by his father--to above all be a good teammate. Short chapters alternate between on-court action and Wes's home life. The resolution feels tidy, but hoops fans will root for resilient and likable Wes.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) YA Martin provides a fast-paced account of JFK's heroic actions as commander of a patrol torpedo boat attacked by a Japanese destroyer in 1943. Exceptionally well-researched and -written, the book dramatically portrays Kennedy's courageous efforts to protect his badly injured crew. Captioned archival photos of the Kennedy family and of JFK as a naval skipper are included, in addition to fascinating WWII "Facts and Trivia" sidebars. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Perritano's account of U.S. Senator John McCain's life until his brain cancer diagnosis focuses most thoroughly on his pre-politician years and draws liberally from McCain's own writings. The author extolls McCain's commitment to integrity, courage, and love of country throughout his naval career; Vietnam imprisonment; U.S. Congress tenure; and bid for the presidency. The readable text is enhanced with numerous photographs. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces series. Designed for new readers, this series offers rudimentary introductions to branches of the U.S. military. With a boilerplate format, each book describes the specific branch, training, and equipment, and concludes with projections for the future. The large font and colorful photographs create interest and make for easy reading. A basic gear diagram and a few historical facts are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces titles: Inside the US Army, Inside the US Air Force, Inside the US Marine Corps, and Inside the US Navy.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: STEM Superstar Women series. Each volume provides a succinct overview of a trailblazing woman in STEM. The subjects' childhoods, education, numerous obstacles (many times because of their gender), and achievements are explained in readable prose. Archival photographs, sidebars, and fact boxes help to highlight each woman's importance in her field. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: STEM Superstar Women titles: Grace Hopper, Hedy Lamarr, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Katherine Johnson, Rosalind Franklin, and Ada Lovelace.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Military Heroes series. Aimed at third and fourth graders, this brief history of the elite group of Navy personnel covers the selection, training, and endurance of the few who are chosen; historic missions, including the killing of Osama bin Laden, are also touched on. Photographs and sidebars provide additional insight. "Did You Know?" comments and Common Core–linked questions extend the informative text. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Katy Wu. Grace Hopper was mechanically, scientifically, and mathematically minded since childhood, as this biography playfully explains via several anecdotes. Then, while serving almost fifty years in the Navy, she broke barriers for women--and for computer science. A biographical poem graces the front endpapers; the back endpapers mention Hopper's honors. Kid-appealing digital cartoons are reminiscent of Hopper's own propensity for doodling. Reading list, timeline. Bib.

Reviewer:

(3) 4-6 When Danny's fishing boat is sunk by a German U-boat, he's left in a coma. This inspires his twelve-year-old brother Colton to use Danny's enlistment documents to join the Navy. As detailed in the author's note, Watkins's accessible and immediate-feeling historical novel was inspired by the real-life experience of Calvin Graham, the youngest person to serve in WWII. Glos.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Women in Science series. These thorough biographies of pioneering women in scientific and technical fields delve deeply into their personal and professional lives. The series includes frank and balanced discussions of both the successes and challenges each woman faced, as well as the qualities and intellect that drove her significant accomplishments. Numerous photographs of the scientists and additional information about their fields are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Science titles: Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, Mae Carol Jemison, Rosalind Franklin, Grace Hopper, and Chien-Shiung Wu.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jon Bozak. A tough fifth-grade year made Marc feel "dumb" (especially in math) and weak ("I can do ZERO pull-ups!"); worst of all, he's been targeted by the school bully. All this changes when Uncle Jake, a Navy SEAL, teaches Marc about discipline, goals, and hard work via his "Warrior Code." Retired SEAL officer Willink's preachy story, illustrated with bland line drawings, nevertheless offers useful insight on bullies and self-betterment.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 Military Special Forces in Action series. This series briefly profiles special forces units designed to perform difficult and dangerous missions. Each volume provides a history of the unit's origin and its mission, as well as the grueling and strenuous training involved. Brief vignettes relate successful reconnaissance and rescue operations. Military buffs will appreciate the glimpse inside these elite forces. Action photos will draw readers in to the choppy texts. Reading list. Bib., glos, ind. Review covers these Military Special Forces in Action titles: Missions of the Delta Force, Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALs, Missions of the U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers, Missions of the U.S. Army Rangers, Missions of the U.S. Green Berets, and Missions of the U.S. Marine Force Recon.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(1) 4-6 Voices of sailors who served on submarines in the Pacific theater during WWII are highlighted and, along with numerous photographs, provide a vivid sense of immediacy. Various secondary sources, maps, and sidebars place the sailors' experiences in the larger context of the war. An appealing, engrossing package for readers fascinated by heroism and military strategy. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Special Ops series. Each of these books highlights an important mission of a special operations force and details the history leading to the unit's creation. Matter-of-fact, choppy texts drily cover each unit's entry qualifications and training process, as well as the specialized skills and tools/weaponry used. Lots of photos and graphics help break up the accessible texts. A few "Extreme Facts" are appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Special Ops titles: Army Rangers, Delta Force, Green Berets, Marine Force Recon, Navy Seals, and Pararescue Jumpers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Action Force: World War II series. This series presents a broad overview of the military forces of the Allied and Axis powers in WWII. Tasks and duties of personnel, types of weapons and machines, battles encountered, and military tactics are briefly discussed. The short main texts are lackluster, but military buffs will be drawn to the numerous archival photographs, maps, and sidebars of facts and stats. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Action Force: World War II titles: Air Force, Army, Navy, and Special Operations.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg