Synopsis
Text and pictures highlight the main events of the 1950s.
School Library Journal
Gr 6-8-- Twenty subjects are given broad, sweeping coverage in these brief, heavily illustrated decade overviews. Misleading statements abound, such as ``some (Americans) put their faith in model `fall-out shelters . . .' '' In fact, Civil Defense was established in 1941 and took hold in 1949 after Russia tested its bomb. Most school facilities and public buildings had fall-out shelters (yellow and black signs) nationwide by 1961. Subjects offered in the series are varied, depending upon the decade (similar to Time-Life): Suez, pop music, rock and roll, leaders' rise and fall are unique to The 1950s while Blitzkrieg, home front, women at war, and cleaning up Europe (the de-Nazification program and reconstruction of Europe) are listed in The 1940s . Common topics include science, medicine, sports, and fashion. Good points are wonderful black-and-white plus color photos; comprehensive indexes, and year-by-year chronologies (no month and day provided, though, for any entry). ``Personalities of the decade'' gives more information for each individual than is found in DeFord and Jackson's Who Was When? (Wilson, 1976). Unfortunately, key information is written as photo captions, and few middle schoolers are in the habit of giving captions and text equal importance. --Kristine Johnson, Parcells Middle Sch . , Grosse Pointe Woods, MI