(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 Coast Guard servicemen adopt a small puppy named Vera and successfully hide her on base. When an emergency occurs, Vera comes out of hiding to assist in the rescue mission, winning over the stern commander. The dog's valor and skill in continued service earn her a military honor guard burial upon her death. Polacco's illustrations and notes enhance the heartwarming narrative, inspired by true events.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 This adaptation of Tougias's adult book will thrill readers who relish survival stories. A vicious, unexpected storm capsizes a sailboat, nearly destroys the life raft to which three men cling, and threatens the lives of the coast guardsmen sent to rescue them. Tougias describes their peril and courage in exhilarating detail. An insert with photos and maps helps landlubbers comprehend the true events.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA Essential Library of the US Military series. Each military branch's profile begins with a description of recent successful military initiatives to illustrate the group's mission and scope. Successive chapters effectively trace history, contemporary roles, equipment, and weapons. Career opportunities and basic training are also discussed; a final chapter describes life on the job. Color photos, charts, maps, and informative sidebars enhance the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these US Military titles: The US Air Force, The US National Guard, The Us Coast Guard, and The Us Army.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA This is an adaptation for younger people of an adult book of the same title. Although the abridgement sometimes makes for choppy reading, this is an exciting true story about a Coast Guard rescue off Cape Cod in 1952 that will interest readers who like adventure and against-all-odds acts of courage. An insert of harrowing black-and-white photos is included. Bib.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Acts of Courage: Inside America's Military series. These books identify individuals from the five military service divisions who have been recently honored for heroic deeds. Brief vignettes tell the stories of the recipients' heroism and identify the medals awarded. Readers will appreciate the photographs of the honorees that accompany the accessible texts. Bibliographies, which include websites and incomplete citations ("The New York Times"), are of questionable use. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Acts of Courage: Inside America's Military titles: Today's Air Force Heroes, Today's Army Heroes, Today's Coast Guard Heroes, Today's Navy Heroes, and Today's Marine Heroes.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 U.S. Armed Forces and Military Careers series. The book begins with a description of a Coast Guard rescue operation after Hurricane Katrina. A history of the Coast Guard follows, including details about major wars. The author also discusses what one must do to become a guardsman and opportunities for those who enlist. Numerous photographs and sidebars help enliven the dense text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Demarest follows Hotshots! and two other action-oriented books about heroic firefighters with this similarly dramatic account of a Coast Guard rescue at sea. Although the brief text frequently strains to fit the rhyming format ("From the raft a sailor drops into the sea / and is guided into the basket safely"), the dynamic pastel art captures the urgency of the featured event.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) 4-6 U.S. Armed Forces series. The series covers a myriad of subjects related to the different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Information is presented in brief narratives and sidebars, along with numerous photographs. However, the abbreviated format limits coverage, and readers interested in these subjects will likely have to turn to other sources for more substantive information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these U.S. Armed Forces titles: U.S. Navy Fighting Vessels, United States Navy, Personal Fighting Gear, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Aircraft series. Flat, rushed surveys identify some of the aircraft used by the military during armed conflicts, in law enforcement, and for rescue missions. Illustrated with sometimes grainy color photographs, the books in this series discuss the design and capabilities of various craft, and the training requirements of those who pilot them. Specifications for some planes are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Aircraft titles: Coast Guard Rescue and Patrol Aircraft, and Navy Combat Aircraft and Pilots. ]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA U.S. Military Branches and Careers series. Following a nearly identical format, each book in this series introduces a branch of the military, relates its history, examines the different career paths available to its members, and discusses the roles of women and minorities. Accompanied by average-quality black-and-white photos, the volumes will be helpful to those considering a career in military service. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these U.S. Military Branches and Careers titles: The Marine Corps in Action, The Coast Guard in Action, The Navy in Action, The Army in Action.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Published spring 1998. Unable to control her wayward sixteen-year-old son, Daniel's mother sends him off to live with his uncle who is in charge of the lifesavers' station on Cape Cod. Set in the late nineteenth century, the book reads more like a perfunctory history of the origins of the Coast Guard than a strongly plotted novel with well-rounded characters.

Reviewer: Nancy Vasilakis