Weapons of War

Children's Literature

The war in Afghanistan and other aspects of the war against terrorism require advanced weaponry. This book, part of "the War on Terrorism" series, gives readers an in depth analysis of some of the leading weapons in the American arsenal. Blohm provides a detailed description of air and ground ordnance in a way that will appeal to technically minded military buffs. The author describes attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, global tracking systems, bunker busting bombs, and night fighting technology. In each case readers are given a detailed look at how a system was developed and how it is used. Sadly, what is missing from this book is a sense of the human element. A reader could come away with an image of war as being some sort of modern video game rather than a brutal affair involving death and destruction. Weapons of War is a book of mixed blessings. On the one hand, it has been developed by a writer with an exhaustive understanding of the weapons. Conversely, readers will look in vain for information about the human involvement. 2004, Lucent Books, Ages 12 up.
—Greg M. Romaneck