(4) 4-6 Soldiers on the Battlefront series. Beller chronicles the struggles leading to Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836. The battle of the Alamo is briefly reconstructed using historical sources; the Goliad Massacre and Battle of San Jacinto are also recounted. Stories of famous men who fought and died in the struggle add life to the dry writing. Sidebars, maps, drawings, and archival photographs enhance the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Soldiers on the Battlefront series. This book presents a history of the rise and collapse of the ancient Roman army. Beller details how the soldiers were recruited and trained, what they wore, and how they lived. Also recounted are military successes and failures and ways in which the Romans influenced their conquered enemies. Sidebars, illustrations, and maps enhance the dry text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Soldiers on the Battlefront series. Beller presents truncated accounts of U.S. involvement in the two world wars. Each book addresses the events leading to war, principal battles fought, and major players involved. Also noted are the horrors and hardships encountered by the Allies and aftermaths of the conflicts. Sidebars, archival photographs, maps, and some personal stories help enliven the dry writing. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Soldiers on the Battlefront titles: Battling in the Pacific and The Doughboys over There.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Soldiers on the Battlefront series. Beller presents truncated accounts of U.S. involvement in the two world wars. Each book addresses the events leading to war, principal battles fought, and major players involved. Also noted are the horrors and hardships encountered by the Allies and aftermaths of the conflicts. Sidebars, archival photographs, maps, and some personal stories help enliven the dry writing. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Soldiers on the Battlefront titles: Battling in the Pacific and The Doughboys over There.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Larry Day. Based on documents written by male and female soldiers and others involved on both sides of the Revolutionary War, this book describes daily routines in the context of historical events. Supplemented with black-and-white drawings and reproductions of paintings, the well-written, somewhat formal narrative emphasizes how the concept of honor infused both military success and failure. Resources, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Letters from the Homefront series. Excerpts of letters written by soldiers, their families, children, and national leaders provide compelling documentary evidence in these well-written and creatively designed volumes. The full range of domestic life is covered--political protest and war support, displaced families, and civilian life. The books in this series are complemented by clear black-and-white photos, color paintings, and sketches. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Letters from the Homefront titles: The Revolutionary War and The Civil War.]

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Using archival photos from the Civil War and excerpts from memoirs, diaries, and letters of Union and Confederate soldiers, Beller has written an accessible and poignant narrative about what life was like for soldiers in the war: dealing with boredom, overcoming disease (two-thirds of all war deaths were disease related), and adapting to the horrific prisoner-of-war conditions. A map and chronology are appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) 4-6 From the first few chapters that sketch the pertinent history of Ireland to the dramatic descriptions of battles such as Antietam and Fredericksburg, this book presents an intense focus on one Union fighting unit. The text clearly conveys the collective soul of the Irish Brigade and details the heroics of its major leaders. Illustrated with both vintage and modern photos, sketches, and maps, the book is simply and effectively designed. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.