Air War

Children's Literature - Kris Sauer

This is a well-written, pamphlet-style nonfiction book about the airplanes, missions, and pilots of the U.S. Air Force and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force. Using simple sentences and loads of excellent photographs, this book guides readers through the unique mission of these two allies' air forces. As much time is spent detailing the work of these military units during natural disasters as during war time, providing specifics on the efforts during the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina while speaking only generically about recent war efforts. Quotes from real pilots are interspersed throughout the text, adding a realistic personal touch to the text that is sure to excite adventure-loving readers. A section about the pilots and their training includes a description of the g-force challenges that pilots face while in the air. Several aircraft, including the Typhoon F2 and the F-22 Raptor, are detailed for the reader. The text includes a glossary, index, and guide to online resources. The publishers rate the text at guided reading level M. This is a good nonfiction text that is equally weighted between information and pictures, increasing interest level while also aiding those readers on the lower end of the reading spectrum. Reviewer: Kris Sauer