Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Civil War
Grade 5-8-Clinton approaches this complex period from many perspectives: the people (men, women, and children, African Americans, Native Americans); the politics; the battles; the lives of the soldiers and those left at home; the literature; and the propaganda. Her year-by-year description incorporates eyewitness accounts, diary entries, and clearly captioned full-color and black-and-white maps, photos, and reproductions that bring the people and events alive. Unfortunately, photo citations are not included in the otherwise comprehensive index. There are numerous fact boxes, definitions, "Did You Know?" entries, and sidebars. Other than identifying the speakers or writers of the primary documents used, no documentation is given. Joy Hakim's War, Terrible War (Oxford, 1999) is more detailed, but less likely to be picked up for casual reading or research. Clinton's successful overview is aimed at students with little or no knowledge of this period. A clear, accurate, and objective presentation.Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NYCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.