(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes. Young Chester Nez was sent to a missionary boarding school that taught English, but he ignored his teachers by retaining his native Navajo language and culture. As a soldier in World War II, Chester became one of the original Navajo code talkers, helping to defeat the Japanese. Muted illustrations enhance the informative biography. A portion of the Navajo code is appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) YA Alternating chapters relate the 1945 invasion of Okinawa from the perspectives of Hideki Kaneshiro, a fourteen-year-old conscript in the Japanese army, and young American Marine Ray Majors--until a climactic confrontation leaves Ray dead. Horrified, Hideki embarks on a perilous trek to find his sister and get them both to safety. The plot is suspenseful and the characters sympathetic; the unique Okinawan lens makes this WWII novel especially notable. Glos.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 In alternating narratives, Larson relates the World War II tales of Billie, an eleven-year-old girl, and a Marine named Denny, a Navajo Code Talker. The story focuses on Billie's longing for friendship and Denny's desire to preserve his Navajo heritage. Bear, an abused dog rescued by Denny and given to Billie, brings the two together. Historical fiction lovers will be drawn to the heartwarming story.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) YA In small-town Montana, recently returned young veteran Gabriel is the subject of (pacifist) Twyla's senior-year community service assignment. She begins assisting him with a secret project: using ammunition to build a massive mosaic symbolizing the destruction and loss of war. When Twyla enters the mosaic in a contest, it becomes a lightning rod for war-related hatred. Berkhout's YA debut is a timely, heartfelt coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces series. Designed for new readers, this series offers rudimentary introductions to branches of the U.S. military. With a boilerplate format, each book describes the specific branch, training, and equipment, and concludes with projections for the future. The large font and colorful photographs create interest and make for easy reading. A basic gear diagram and a few historical facts are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces titles: Inside the US Army, Inside the US Air Force, Inside the US Marine Corps, and Inside the US Navy.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 While on duty in Afghanistan, the Marine intelligence specialist author spotted an emaciated dog scavenging through rubble. Though prohibited by Marine regulations, Grossi adopted "Fred" and smuggled him back to the U.S.; Fred continues to return the favor by nurturing his owner through PTSD and depression. Grossi's conversational tone makes this inspiring memoir, here adapted for young readers, flow easily. Black-and-white snapshots are included.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. During the Korean War, a U.S. lieutenant purchased a scrawny, skittish racehorse to haul supplies. In straightforward text, McCormick describes the training, feeding (eggs, coffee, Coca-Cola, and whatever else could be found), and notable accomplishments of "Private (later Sergeant) Reckless." Illustrations in a palette of predominantly greens and browns employ replicas of historical artifacts to further set the scene for this engaging historical anecdote. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: U.S. Military Branches series. These books for beginning readers provide extremely basic information about two branches of the American military. The texts briefly discuss the various jobs, weapons, and vehicles associated with each service. Every simplistically laid-out spread consists of two to five short, easy-to-read sentences on the left page and a full-page stock photograph on the right. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: U.S. Military Branches titles: The U.S. Army and The U.S. Marine Corps.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Didi is a psychology intern at a military hospital. Walker is a patient--a wounded veteran with psychosomatic blindness. Their subsequent passionate relationship is clearly inappropriate but steamy. Neither character nor plot transcends tropes in this companion to Come Back to Me, but fans of slow romances that linger over every swoon, kiss, and (much) more may enjoy Didi and Walker's forbidden love.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Amazing Military Facts series. These books offer beginning readers little-known facts about two military branches. Both books present data about personnel, working details, vehicles, and weapons. While the large photos are colorful and will captivate young military buffs, some vocabulary and technical information ("They fire M40A5 rifles") seem too advanced for kindergarten and first-grade readers. "Critical Thinking Using the Common Core" section appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Amazing Military Facts titles: Amazing U.S. Air Force Facts and Amazing U.S. Marine Facts.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kerascoët. Framed as an adult describing her awkward youth to her daughters, this high-energy novel introduces Jacky at age twelve in 1990. A middle child in a home of seven girls, Jacky uses humor and theater to establish her sense of self while her mother serves abroad in the U.S. Marine Corps. The brisk blend of comedy and personal growth is well suited to its audience.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Special Ops series. Each of these books highlights an important mission of a special operations force and details the history leading to the unit's creation. Matter-of-fact, choppy texts drily cover each unit's entry qualifications and training process, as well as the specialized skills and tools/weaponry used. Lots of photos and graphics help break up the accessible texts. A few "Extreme Facts" are appended. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Special Ops titles: Army Rangers, Delta Force, Green Berets, Marine Force Recon, Navy Seals, and Pararescue Jumpers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Military Special Forces in Action series. This series briefly profiles special forces units designed to perform difficult and dangerous missions. Each volume provides a history of the unit's origin and its mission, as well as the grueling and strenuous training involved. Brief vignettes relate successful reconnaissance and rescue operations. Military buffs will appreciate the glimpse inside these elite forces. Action photos will draw readers in to the choppy texts. Reading list. Bib., glos, ind. Review covers these Military Special Forces in Action titles: Missions of the Delta Force, Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALs, Missions of the U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers, Missions of the U.S. Army Rangers, Missions of the U.S. Green Berets, and Missions of the U.S. Marine Force Recon.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Shane's older brother, Jeremy, is a hometown hero: football star, valedictorian, and decorated Marine. But after returning from three deployments, Jeremy's behavior is erratic and violent. Concerned, Shane accompanies Jeremy on an ill-advised impromptu canoe trip. While their wilderness adventure ends on a melodramatic note, their journey is a raw, tense exploration of brotherhood and the psychological costs of war.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Military Heroes series. An accessible text presents the history of the Marines' Navajo Code Talkers, who secretly transmitted coded messages to one another during World War II. Short paragraphs and concise sidebars contrast the oppression of the Navajo people with their importance to the American victory in the war. Black-and-white photos highlight the Code Talkers as individuals. Critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) YA In this novel's opening pages, Jessa learns that either her boyfriend, Kit, or her brother has died in Afghanistan. Then the majority of the story focuses on how Kit and Jessa fell in love (and had a ton of sex). Contrasted with the Harlequin-style romance, the characters' grief at the end is startling, but it does give them some substance.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Support and Defend series. This hi-lo series focuses on the difficulties that veterans and their families encounter during the transition back to civilian life; diverse teenage protagonists must deal with their own issues while trying to understand what their veteran parent is dealing with. Despite predictable plot lines and abrupt resolutions, the series' veteran-related issues, from addiction (Freedom) to traumatic brain injury (Collateral), are important and timely. Review covers the following Support and Defend titles: Always Faithful, Collateral Damage, Combat Zone, and Freedom Flight.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA World War II series. As World War II begins, Nick and Zack, semi-professional baseball buddies, enlist in the elite Marine Parachute Battalion. Assigned to the Pacific Theater, their division faces increasing Japanese resistance as they invade island after island. The horrors of war are not soft-pedaled: carnage and death are conveyed in graphic detail. Military buffs will welcome this fourth book in Lynch's fast-paced series.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg