Civil War

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10-The variety of topics addressed in this set will give students a wide perspective on the conflict, showing how it changed virtually every aspect of life in the U.S. While the alphabetically arranged entries cover such traditional topics as strategies, battles, and leaders, other articles examine civilian and military life during the War, costume and dress, finance, politics, literature, trade, and the Union and Confederate home fronts. Many incorporate material on the lives and war efforts of women and free and enslaved African Americans. The clearly written, objective entries, ranging in length from one to six pages, all offer basic analysis. Some, such as those that cover the legacy of the war, the blockade, and important leaders, offer differing historical interpretations of their subjects. However, a line about what happened to the slaves owned by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson at the time of their deaths is a bit misleading. The cross-referenced text is supplemented with battle maps as well as numerous period photos and illustrations, many in color, and all have captions with information not found in the text. Sideboxes highlighted in pastel colors offer information on a range of topics from spar torpedoes and "Camp Punishments" to "The Raid as Strategy" and "Moving and Firing Field Artillery." Each book includes a set glossary. The set index, also in every volume, is adequate, but coverage is not always complete for topics mentioned within the body of entries. This attractive, up-to-date set will replace such resources as The American Civil War (Grolier, 1994).-Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.