(4) 4-6 This volume details some of eighteenth-century naval officer John Paul Jones's sea voyages, climaxing with a bloody Revolutionary War naval battle. Although the many dates and events can be confusing, the narrative comes alive with detailed descriptions of the voyages and battles. Illustrated with a dynamic mix of paintings, photographs, and maps, the book also includes useful back matter. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) 4-6 Sterling Point Books series. These admiring volumes don't purport to be full biographies, but instead focus on selected events in their subjects' lives. These editions include new material (Jones and Patton have slightly different titles) but maintain the original works' then-acceptable invented dialogue and/or attribution of emotion. It makes the stories accessible and exciting but compromises the factual integrity for contemporary readers. Ind. Review covers these titles: General George Patton, Lawrence of Arabia, George Washington, and John Paul Jones.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: April, 1954

(4) 4-6 Creative Minds Biography series. Illustrated by Paul Casale. These books adequately narrate the major events in the lives of their subjects: Alcott's writing to provide for her family, Mozart's musical precocity, Jones's rise in naval rank and unwillingness to accept defeat, and Whitney's invention of the cotton gin. Black-and-white drawings illustrate the texts, whose styles range from Aller's reasonable fluidity to Allman's rather abrupt account. List of works (Mozart and Alcott). Bib., ind. Review covers these Creative Minds Biography titles: Beyond Little Women, Musical Genius, I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight, and Maker of Machines.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 American War Biographies series. Three Revolutionary war heroes (one turned traitor) and three Civil War figures are featured in these generally well-written, though repetitive, biographies. Timelines are featured in each copiously illustrated chapter, and sidebars cover such related topics as prisoners of war and other important persons. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these American War Biographies titles: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and John Paul Jones.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) YA Historical American Biographies series. Five figures who played diverse roles in American history are profiled in the clearly written books in this series. Maps and reproductions supplement the texts, while occasional information boxes highlighting other contemporary figures and events help place the subjects' lives in historical perspective. Each volume ends with a discussion of the subject's historical legacy. Timelines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, J. Edgar Hoover, John Paul Jones, John Muir.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta