Profiles #5: The Vietnam War
Through well-composed, accurate biographies of two U.S. presidents, a South Vietnam president, an American general, a North Vietnam general, and a U.S. secretary of state, Polansky’s history of the Vietnam War unfolds chronologically, accessibly, and with a clear view toward balancing a variety of wartime and political viewpoints. None of the six men are portrayed as wholly saint or demon but rather as realistically observed—and flawed—figures whose ideas and actions reverberated across continents and eras. Mostly black-and-white photos provide interesting contexts for the subject, although they are somewhat muzzy in their reproduction here. There are a variety of distracting typographical errors, and, although there is a good bibliography, quotations within the text lack citations. This is an excellent introduction to the complexity of the Vietnam War and U.S. involvement, but young researchers will need to seek other materials when assignments require documentation. Grades 4-8. --Francisca Goldsmith