Synopsis
Examines 20th century political violence in Europe, Asia, and South America, including the Red Army Faction, 17 November, and Tupac Amaru.
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-With detailed descriptions of violent protests and actions conducted by various groups throughout the world, primarily within the last 50 years, these series titles sensationalize a small, but very real aspect of the world. Some students will be attracted to the graphic images, the blow-by-blow accounts of kidnappings and killings, and the extensive discussions of the how and why of terrorism. With an emphasis on listing names and places, the narratives can become complicated, making it difficult to follow the sequence of events. Jihad's broad coverage offers an important glimpse into a topic that is frequently in the news. Raging Within seems more scattered in its approach, as it ranges from Japan to Italy to Colombia and other parts of the world. The links between the various radical groups are tenuous at best, and will be confusing to students who are new to the subject. Both titles include helpful time lines. Books like these can spark discussion, but shouldn't be the only source of information for reports because of their pro-Western bent. Harvey W. Kushner's Encyclopedia of Terrorism (Sage, 2002) is both more comprehensive and concise, making it a better reference source.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.