(4) YA Special Forces series. After stealing a motorcycle, pugnacious high-schooler Daniel is given the option of enlisting in the army as a Special Forces agent fighting a secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War. Lynch squeezes too many conveniences (e.g., Daniel's supportive high-school wrestling coach is his commanding officer) into this otherwise moving story about family dynamics, war heroics, and maturation under fire.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alessandro Gottardo. This complex narrative contrasts twelve-year-old Tam's austere village in the highlands of Laos with the bustling city life he ventures into to support his family. Bears are respected in his village, but Tam's boss in the city treats them cruelly and profits from them. Lewis's writing is flecked with natural imagery and nudges readers toward compassion. The black-and-white digital illustrations don't add much.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 4-6 In 1982, twelve-year-old Vonlai's family flees from communist Laos only to suffer in a poorly equipped Thai refugee camp for four years. Despite the hardships, Vonlai learns life skills from a fellow refugee, a former Laotian Army colonel. This fictional story is based on Manivong's husband's experiences as a refugee, and the narrative details and the characters' relationships ring true.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 The story begins as a pleasant picture book about a young Laotian girl's childhood; things turn grim when war comes and her fleeing family is arrested after crossing the Mekong River. With uncomplicated text and delicately tinted illustrations bordered by traditional designs, Youme depicts the world that Mali (based on Laotian American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao) left behind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Countries of the World series. These books ably cover the main topics of interest for children researching foreign countries. The clearly written texts are profusely illustrated with excellent photographs and maps. Like other titles in the series, these volumes tend to downplay negative aspects of a country's history (e.g., in Turkey Shields explains, "Many...Armenians left the country..." during 1919–1923, but not under what circumstances). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Countries of the World titles: Laos and Turkey.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Genna Panzarella. In this creation myth, a brother and sister from heaven compete to make the sky and the earth. Faam Koh's sky is too small to cover the earthly tapestry his sister has made. With her embroidery skills (for which the Mien are known), the sister gathers and pleats the earth, creating mountains and valleys, and making her tapestry fit the sky. The hard-to-read typeface is unfortunate. The illustrations become repetitive but are striking overall.

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