The Korean War

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- Two books that combine interest-holding prose with full-color maps and informative photographs (tinted black-and-white and color shots in Korean War , full color in Vietnam ). Each author manages in a very limited space to let readers know what each war was about and its outcome through well-organized background material, coverage of major events, and discussions of the personalities involved. Devaney includes far more quotes from participants than McGowen, which livens up his work and gives a much better feel for what the war was like for those ``over there.'' In fact, that is the main focus of Vietnam , while the approach to Korean War is more traditional; it conveys the five ``Ws'' of journalism (who, what, why, etc.) and explains the deep effect that conflict had on the rest of the world. Both books are worthy additions to the literature and may well encourage readers to explore the Hooblers' Vietnam (Knopf, 1990) and the discussion of the Korean ``Police Action'' in The Eagle and the Dragon (Crowell, 1985) by Lawson. No notes appear in either book. --David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School, WA