(3) 4-6 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s American Heroes series. Illustrated by Patrick Faricy. Robert Smalls, a slave and skilled sailor, maneuvers a ship manned by other slaves past guards in South Carolina to freedom. He later becomes a congressman. The text's wordiness is counterbalanced by the fast pace and heroism of this Civil War tale. Occasional illustrations, both full-page and double-page spread paintings and black-and-white spot art, ably display the story's drama. Bib.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Nikita Andreev. After an overdone foreword in which Kennedy explains his inspiration for writing ("the Civil War is the story of millions of acts of heartbreaking gallantry"), the biography focuses on Chamberlain's accomplishments in battle, which won him the rank of brigadier general. The fine-line full-page color illustrations and black-and-white spots are well placed; some of the facial expressions look stiff. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King