Inside Nicaragua

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up Gelman presents neither a history nor an overview of the country, but a personal narrative of the daily life of the Nicaraguan people and their feelings on the Sandinista-Contra conflict as revealed to her. The writing style is crisp, lively, and compelling. Gelman shows that the Sandinistas have done some good and some bad things for the country. While trying to present a balanced view, she states uncategorically that almost everyone is against the Contras. Her effort is admirable, and the work intriguing and well written, but her research suffers from a lack of personal contact with the Contras or Contra supporters. Gelman succeeds in presenting a personal, up-close view of some Nicaraguan people, but the sentiment is openly anti-Reagan. Dennis C. Tucker, Bethel College, Mishawaka, Ind.