(4) YA 20th Century Leaders series. Brager's easygoing style and clear descriptions of political conflagrations (the Vietnam War, the Iran-Contra affair) make for an accessible biography of the former presidential hopeful. Less successful are the paragraph-to-paragraph transitions, which often lack connective tissue, and the ending, which is abrupt. Relevant black-and-white photos appear throughout. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Civil War Leaders series. These four biographies recount the lives and accomplishments of two Confederate and two Union generals. Each gives an account of the general's childhood, his early years, and his importance to the Civil War, including the significant battles fought. Archival photographs, drawings, and maps illuminate the well-written texts. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Civil War Leaders titles: There He Stands, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Victory in Destruction.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Arbitrary Borders: Political Boundaries in World History series. This thorough volume focuses on the symbolic "Iron Curtain" dividing Europe's Communist and non-Communist countries. Illustrated with poorly reproduced black-and-white photos, the dryly written book ably traces the forty-year history of the Cold War, examining American and Soviet perspectives, reporting on revolts in Berlin and Prague, and concluding with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Sieges That Changed the World series. These two books provide relatively in-depth overviews of the sieges of, respectively, Petersburg, Virginia, during the Civil War and the Alamo during the 1836 Texas Revolution; also discussed are the events leading up to the sieges and their aftermaths. Color photos and reproductions of period art break up the texts, which are at times dense and, in the case of Petersburg, awkwardly written. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Sieges That Changed the World titles: Petersburg and The Alamo.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Great Battles through the Ages series. Detailing the events that led to the start of the Civil War and the reasoning behind "ironclad" ships, this book does a fair job of describing the design, construction, and impact of the ironclads. Though the details of the actual battle are confusing, the book is liberally illustrated with maps, drawings, and reproductions, helping to break up the text. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman