The Mexican-American War

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-A clear and concise look at a largely forgotten but extremely important part of American history. Nardo covers the events leading up to this still controversial conflict; the major battles; the large antiwar movement in the U.S.; and the bitter reaction, which persists to this day, on the part of some Mexicans. Excerpts from various documents from the period are included, as are extensive chapter notes and bibliographies. Numerous black-and-white photos and reproductions enliven the presentation, but there are only a few maps and the movements of the various armies become a little confusing. There are also one or two minor errors. For example, Grant and Lee did not form a friendship during the war. At Appomattox, Lee couldn't ever remember meeting Grant. Alden Carter's The Mexican War (Watts, 1992) covers the military side of the war, but doesn't go into as much depth on the political issues. Nardo offers one of the best overviews of all aspects of the war currently available.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 9-12-- Two volumes that give concise descriptions of events and evaluations, with no preliminary reading necessary. These are not typical dry textbooks. On the contrary, the formats include boxed captions, extensive use of margins, diagrams, good-quality black-and-white photos and maps that should stimulate interest. The Mexican-American War discusses the historical/cultural background of the conflict, plus the major battles. Little exists for this audience on the 1845-48 war; thus, the title should be a boon to high school collections. World War II examines the Pacific theatre of operation, focusing on the struggle between the United States and Japan. The first section details the warrior attitude prevalent in pre-1940 Japan when militarism dictated policy. Both titles provide useful information for report writers. --L. R. Little, Penticton Public Library, B.C., Canada