Korean War (Turning Points in American History)
Grade 4-8-- Both of these series entries draw readers in with colorful opening descriptions of a moment in history: in one, the heart-stopping realization by U. N. forces that Chinese soldiers numbering in the thousands had joined the North Koreans; in the other, the stunning discovery of the dead on the fields of Little Big Horn. Each continues with background material, a history of the event and its aftermath, and an afterword. The Korean War focuses on battles and strategy--of interest to kids who enjoy reading military history--but lacks enough maps, and does not clearly characterize the two sides and their aims. Coverage of the war itself is complete. It is more attractive and less comprehensive (and intended for a younger audience) than Edwards's The Korean War (Rourke, 1988), Fincher's The War in Korea (Watts, 1981; o.p.), or Don Lawson's The United States in the Korean War (Crowell, 1964; o.p.). The strength of Little Bighorn is the history it presents of Native American/white relations, of which Little Bighorn is but one component. On the same reading level but with more detail about Custer and the battle itself is Halliburton's The Tragedy of Little Bighorn (Watts, 1989). Wills includes follow-up on the Native Americans who led the battle and further conflicts, including the one at Wounded Knee. Both books are enhanced by sidebars on related topics as well as black-and-white and full-color period photographs and paintings. --Sally Bates Goodroe, Houston Public LibraryCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.