(4) YA Dates of a Decade series. "March 21, 1960: Massacre at Sharpeville." "February 26, 1996: Pokémon Conquer the World." Text summaries, photographs, and primary source excerpts work together to pique readers' interest in a selection of historic events. An international focus encourages readers to make broad connections, though the pick-and-choose nature of the highlighted events necessitates omitting much contextual information. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dates of a Decade titles: The 1980s, The 1970s, The 1960s, and The 1990s.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) YA Dates of a Decade series. "March 21, 1960: Massacre at Sharpeville." "February 26, 1996: Pokémon Conquer the World." Text summaries, photographs, and primary source excerpts work together to pique readers' interest in a selection of historic events. An international focus encourages readers to make broad connections, though the pick-and-choose nature of the highlighted events necessitates omitting much contextual information. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dates of a Decade titles: The 1980s, The 1970s, The 1960s, and The 1990s.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) 4-6 National Geographic Investigates series. This series discusses how archaeologists' work helps us learn about ancient cultures. Each volume highlights major sites and finds; the text touches on the impact of modern history on priceless artifacts and discusses controversies. Sidebars and well-captioned photos expand on the information, as does an interview with a working archaeologist. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these National Geographic Investigates titles: Ancient Pueblo, Ancient Rome, Ancient Celts, and Ancient Maya.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. After explaining the biases inherent in primary and secondary sources, these books briefly cover a topic and then provide a primary source to back it up. Though lack of follow-up on the primary sources will leave readers wondering what happened to the individuals quoted, these are good starting points for understanding how history is written. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Witness to History titles: The Vietnam War, The War in Iraq, and Hiroshima.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. After an introduction that defines primary and secondary sources, left-hand pages superficially discuss historical events and right-hand pages provide firsthand accounts from a range of people (Hitler's family's Jewish doctor, a farmer in southern Ulster). The primary source material is this series's asset. The captioned photographs extend the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Witness to History titles: The Troubles in Northern Ireland and The Rise of Hitler.

Reviewer: Kate Murphy

(4) YA Nations of the World series. Emphasizing Spain's contemporary role in the mainstream of European economic and political life and detailing some of the political problems involving the Basque separatists, this is a dull but serviceable volume for report writers. Information on history, geography, the economy, daily life, and the arts is covered. A recipe and sample phrases in Spanish are included. The maps, charts, graphs, and timelines provide additional information. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA New Perspectives series. Beginning with the death of Yitzhak Rabin, the volume goes back in time to chronologically trace the evolution of the Mideast discord, with a focus on the twentieth century's wars, peace efforts, and setbacks. Frequently interrupted by information boxes containing pithy historical quotes, the unexceptional text comes to an abrupt conclusion. Color photographs illustrate the volume, and a time line is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 New Perspectives series. The title of this series is something of a misnomer, as the books are hardly original or different in their coverage of these calamitous twentieth-century events. Instead, the texts succinctly trace the history of each upheaval from earliest warning signs through its contemporary legacy, with copious sidebars containing interesting, if intrusive, information. Historical reproductions, photographs, and time lines supplement the volumes. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.