Fields of Fury: The American Civil War
Civil War historian James M. McPherson'sFields of Furydoes for  kids what the author's Pulitzer Prize-winningBattle Cry of Freedomdid for  adults.The well-organized, well-executed, kid-friendly history of the Civil War was a  brilliant idea if there ever was one. It's difficult to imagine anyone doing a  better job than McPherson at breaking down this complex, interrelated series of  events into such compelling and easily digestible chunks. Except for a handful  of longer entries, each major battle and section receives a single, concise,  two-page spread that includes McPherson's summary and analysis, eyewitness  accounts from all sides of the conflict (many from kids!), a few "Quick Facts,"  as well as carefully chosen maps, photographs, and other illustrations (some of  which, appropriately, border on the macabre, a fact kids will appreciate).Fields of Furyalso includes a glossary, an index, a list of related Web  sites, a bibliography, and a timeline in the endpapers.McPherson succeeds not just by grabbing attention and keeping it, but by doing  so with such economy--and never without context that relates each entry back to  the whole. (In fact, grownups who lacked the time or interest to weather  McPherson's 904-pageBattle Cryshouldn't be surprised if they find  themselves "borrowing"Fields of Furyafter their kids hit the sack.)  (Ages 9 to 12)--Paul Hughes