Montgomery

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-- Two entries that suffer from an identity crisis. Wade tries to cover these two cities geographically and historically, but neither treatment is successful. In Andersonville , after a much too brief overview of the historical context for the POW camp, she launches into a history of the notorious prison. She then turns the book into a cheery tour guide, leading readers through the park. Not only does she describe its physical layout and point out details to look for, but she also explains where the gift shop is located. Montgomery is similarly written. A sketchy summary of the civil rights movement is given, but many of the events chronicled did not take place in Montgomery, nor are the people discussed (DuBois and Tubman) even remotely connected to the city. A great deal of attention is focused on events in Selma, which is near Montgomery, but not a part of it. Wade again closes with a guidebook approach to the city (``Turn right and walk a block,'' for example). Because of the schizophrenic nature of these titles, they are of limited value. --Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN