(4) 4-6 U.S. Armed Forces and Military Careers series. Each book begins with a description of a recent operation involving the respective service. A history of the service follows, detailing major wars. The authors also discuss what one must do to become a service member and opportunities that are available for those who enlist. Numerous photographs and sidebars help enliven the dense text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these U.S. Armed Forces and Military Careers titles: The U.S. Air Force, The U.S. Navy, The U.S. Army, and The U.S. Marine Corps.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA This in-depth biography of Temujin (his name before he was proclaimed Genghis Khan)--who conquered most of Asia and part of what is now Eastern Europe--is well documented and well written. Both family history and world events are covered. Though the maps are too small to be useful, the reproductions and photographs help to break up the text. Source notes, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(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

(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) 4-6 First Battles series. Though at times bogged down with tedious details, this is a thorough look at two incidents (one substantiated, the other often considered to be fabricated) that resulted in U.S. escalation in Vietnam. Black-and-white photos do little to break up the text, which quotes participants extensively. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granting unprecedented war-making powers to the president is appended. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Great Battles through the Ages series. This book chronicles the many battles fought during the tumultuous first six months of the Korean War, from North Korea's initial invasion to the United Nations' counterattack to the Chinese intervention. Details of the battles are sometimes sketchy, and more maps would have been useful. Black-and-white photos and boxed sidebars help break up the dense text. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Great Explorations series. In each of these books, an informative, reader-friendly text mindfully balanced with archival photographs, prints, and maps in both color and black and white introduces history's most notable explorers. This well-organized series provides an engaging chronological biography for the report-driven reader as well as for the general inquirer. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Explorations titles: Hernando Cortés, Sir Ernest Shackleton, John Charles Frémont, Francisco Coronado, Marco Polo, and Sir Francis Drake.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Battles that Changed the World series. Saratoga details the people, terrain, and events that led to the turning point in the American Revolution; Gettysburg discusses the chance encounter at a small Pennsylvania town that eventually led to the Confederate army's downfall. Illustrated with color photos and historical reproductions, the books in this series are marred by maps that are too small and infrequent. Timelines are appended. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Battles That Changed the World titles: Gettysburg and Saratoga.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Battles that Changed the World series. Each of the books in this series profiles battles that proved to be the turning points for the major wars fought in the twentieth century. The focus is on the military leaders, troop movements, and events that led to the battle and its aftermath. Marred by maps that are too small and infrequent, the volumes are illustrated with color and tinted photos and appended with timelines. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Battles That Changed the World titles: First Battle of the Marne, Normandy, Midway, and Tet Offensive.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA Battles that Changed the World series. Each of the books in this series profiles battles that proved to be the turning points for the major wars fought in the twentieth century. The focus is on the military leaders, troop movements, and events that led to the battle and its aftermath. Marred by maps that are too small and infrequent, the volumes are illustrated with color and tinted photos and appended with timelines. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Battles That Changed the World titles: First Battle of the Marne, Normandy, Midway, and Tet Offensive.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) YA History's Great Defeats series. Each book identifies a historical empire or culture and analyzes the people, events, and political philosophies--both at home and abroad--that contributed to its eventual decline and fall. The dry texts are supplemented by information boxes containing quotes from primary and secondary sources, as well as sometimes poorly reproduced black-and-white photos. Time lines are included. Third Reich contains a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA History's Great Defeats series. Each book identifies a historical empire or culture and analyzes the people, events, and political philosophies--both at home and abroad--that contributed to its eventual decline and fall. The dry texts are supplemented by information boxes containing quotes from primary and secondary sources, as well as sometimes poorly reproduced black-and-white photos. Time lines are included. Third Reich contains a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA American War Library series. Each of nine volumes focuses on a different aspect of World War II. The articulate texts provide detailed accounts of specific battles and participants, as well as anecdotes, both grim and moving, that personalize the lives of those who served in the military and those who remained on the homefront. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, six of the books contain time lines and three include glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA American War Library series. Each of nine volumes focuses on a different aspect of World War II. The articulate texts provide detailed accounts of specific battles and participants, as well as anecdotes, both grim and moving, that personalize the lives of those who served in the military and those who remained on the homefront. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, six of the books contain time lines and three include glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA American War Library series. Each of nine volumes focuses on a different aspect of World War II. The articulate texts provide detailed accounts of specific battles and participants, as well as anecdotes, both grim and moving, that personalize the lives of those who served in the military and those who remained on the homefront. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, six of the books contain time lines and three include glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta