America is Under Attack

Brown, Don. America is Under Attack. New York : Flash Point, 2011.

Plot: The title recounts the events surrounding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, focusing on New York's response. For many Americans, the day started as normal. However, four planes were hijacked and used as weapons. Two crashed into the Twin Towers in New York. Another attacked the Pentagon. The last was stopped in route to its intended destination. The title describes the confusion surrounding rescue efforts, as well as the damage caused by the collapsing buildings. It ends with the cleanup and aftermath of the attacks, including the discovery of victims.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 1-5

Similar Titles: September 11: Then and Now, I Survived: The Attacks of September 11

Personal Thoughts: This was hard to read. The language was accessible, the illustrations were appropriate, and the tone was appropriate. It was the memories that did me in.

Librarians, teachers, parents, and relatives need to start looking at titles like this, though. Today's tweens were not alive when the attacks happened. It is their elders' responsibility to teach them about the events surrounding the Twin Towers. Titles such as this can provide much-needed support in the process.

The Nazi Hunters

Bascomb, Neal. The Nazi Hunters. New York, NY : Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2013.

Plot: Adolf Eichmann, a prominent leader of the Final Solution, managed to escape the collapse of the Nazi Party. However, he was not forgotten. Through a series of surprising encounters, half-remembered facts, and unexpected contacts, he was discovered by the Israeli government. Spies, Holocaust survivors, government officials, and lawyers united across several countries to bring the man to justice.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Aimed at teens; some content, especially regarding the Holocaust and execution, may be intense for sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, Lincoln's Grave Robbers

Personal Thoughts: The Holocaust has always scared me, so reading the title was difficult. However, it is also important.

Many of the Holocaust's facts are taken for granted. Modern readers know what happened. During the events of the title, though, few understood the disaster. Many of the victims refused to speak about them, both to spare others pain and move forward. Eichmann's trail drew the facts out before the world, giving victims permission to talk and acknowledge what happened. The title describes this change.

Bascomb's book also brings another fact forward: life does not behave like the movies. In most films about WWII, the villain suffers once the heroes find him. In the title, finding the criminal is only the first mission. Facts need to be found. Permission needs to be granted. International issues bleed into civilians, leading to riots. Legal issues limit and empower everyone involved. Each person participating in the capture, trial, and execution have to live with the consequences of what they and others did. While the trial ended in a victory, it did not end with fanfare, which is how real life works.

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh

Silly old bear

Walker, Sally M. Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2015

Plot: Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian during World War I, found an orphaned black bear for sale during a train stop. He bought the bear, claiming she would be the mascot for the military training camp in Quebec. Winnipeg, eventually called Winnie, quickly endeared herself to the men on the camp. When they were called to the other side of the Atlantic, the cub went with them. However, due to the dangers of the war, Winnie was settled at the London Zoo. She remained friendly, often letting children feed or even ride her. One particular child could not stop talking about her, so his father began to write adventures about the little bear...

Genre: Animals, History, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, Winnie the Bear: The True Story Behind A. A. Milne's Famous Bear

Personal Thoughts: A short book on the real history of a fictional bear. The text uses illustrations to highlight the whimsey of the story, but provides photographs to remind readers of the actual events. Walker provides further information about Coleborn, Milne, and Winnie at the end of the story.

Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat

Feeling well?

 Jarrow, Gail. Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat. Honesdale, Pennsylvania : Calkins Creek, 2014.

Plot: Starting in the early 1900's, people throughout the United States start showing signs of a dibilitating, deadly disease known as pellagra. No one knows the cause or origin of the illness, but it spreads rapidly. Doctors throughout the country try to counter it, but the government is eventually called in for assistance. With the support of the nation, Dr. Joseph Goldenburg examines the victims, locations, and effects of the disease. He discovers the cause. America's protein-poor diet lead to a deficiency in vitamin B3. Yet, finding the cause is not the same a creating a cure. Bias, economy, and ignorance continued to influence the situation, with deadly results.

Genre: History, Health

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Wedding, Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Deadliest Weapon, Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific

Personal Thought: The book shows not only medical history, but human behavior. Even though Goldenburg found the answer to the disease, it was not instantly eradicated. People resisted change, questioned the science, and ignored the facts. As a result, the sickness continued to claim many lives. This taps into an issue facing many tweens. Most people in the United States will never face a deficiency disease. However, they will need to decide what they do with knowledge. Will they acknowledge it? Ignore it? History is a great way of learning, and the title offers a great opportunity.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer: An Expedition You'd Rather Not Go On

Dragons don't like Antarctica

Green, Jen. You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer: An Expedition You'd Rather Not Go On. New York : Franklin Watts, 2001.

Plot: The title follows Captain Frank Worsley on the first overland crossing of Antarctica. The expedition, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, offers fame and honor in the event of success. It also promises a hazardous journey. Still, it gives the opportunity to avoid enlistment in the coming World War I, so it could not be that bad.
It is arguably worse.
The ship becomes trapped and destroyed by ice, costing both the means of escape and the bulk of the trip's supplies. A small group, including Worsley, eventually strike out to find help at a nearby whaling camp. However, rough weather, worse terrain, and questionable directions plague the rescue team. Still, they make it, without ever even beginning their intended expedition.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4 and up

Similar Titles: You Wouldn't Want to Be series, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

Personal Thoughts: Everyone learns about explorers as heroes. However, not everyone gets the opportunity to learn what such heroism requires. The title does not dismiss Shackleton, his expedition, or his crew. However, it does provide a realistic assessment of the situation: due to the starvation, the work, the cold, and the anxiety, most people would not like to be a Polar explorer!

Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovery of the Coelacanth

Ancient Bro High-Five

Walker, Sally M. Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discover of the Coelacanth. Minneapolis, MN : Carolrhoda Books, 2002.

Plot: One day, a little over eighty years ago, a young lady sorted through a catch of fish for her museum. She found a hard-scaled, huge, blue fish that had not been seen for millions of years. The fish, known as the coelacanth, quickly captured the world's attention. In the process, political issues, technical limitations, and environmental concerns marked additional study of the fish. Even now, the fish's behavior and life cycle remain little known.

Genre: History, Animals

Reading Level: Grades 5-9

Similar Titles: Mystery Fish, Coelacanth: The Living Fossil

Personal Thoughts: The story of the coelacanth's discovery sounds more like something out of the fantasy section rather than the nonfiction genre. Walker does the story justice by steadily revealing the facts and the people surrounding the animal. Additionally, the title utilizes photographs and drawn illustrations to balance the text without overwhelming the reader.

Secrets of Scotland Yard

Baddies beware

Secrets of Scotland Yard presented by Nova

Plot: The documentary details the transformation of Scotland Yard from mere crowd control to one of the world's oldest and most revered detective agencies. Starting when London experienced a surge in population, the original Scotland Yard began as a means of keeping order, but was not permitted to actually investigate crimes. A shocking murder changed the Yard's status to a detective agency. Throughout the years, changing equipment and growing crimes continue to allow the institution to grow and adapt into one of the planet's greatest law enforcement agencies.  

Genre: Documentary, History

Reading Level: Like most PBS documentaries, the title is pretty accessible. Keep in mind, references to murder and some black and white photographic evidence are present, so warn sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Rise of the Drones, Mystery of a Masterpiece,  Mystery of Easter Island

Personal Thoughts: A great documentary showing how a famous institution became what it is today, the title follows the story of Scotland Yard without skimming over the negative aspects of its history.

One of the cases discussed has currently gathered controversy. The Crippen case has some highly controversial discussions following the usage of new DNA identification methods. While this does not detract from the title itself, viewers may with to do additional research.

American President: A Reference Resource

I have a two-page report due on Monday!!!

American President: A Reference Resource at http://millercenter.org/president

Plot: The Miller Center provides this online resource about all American Presidents. Each president has his own page listing basic information as well as a brief review of the presidency's highlights. Additionally, the pages include links to the presidents' life before and after their term. The pages also offer links about the specific president's family, cabinet, running mates, and speeches.

Genre: History, Websites

Reading Level: Some of the text is elaborate, but it remains fairly accessible.

Similar Titles: The Presidents: The Whitehouse, POTUS --Presidents of the United States

Personal Thoughts: The title seems fairly simplistic at first, but offers an almost overwhelming amount of information. It is an ideal resource for someone seeking a better understanding of the presidency. Or a tween stuck with a little-known president for a school paper (I always got the really obscure or unpopular ones. Always.).

King George: What Was His Problem? Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

Just sittin' on my book

Sheinkin, Steve. King George: What Was His Problem? Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution. New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2008.

Plot: Everyone has heard the story of the American Revolution. Few, though, take the time to discover the complete story. The war quickly expanded beyond the English vs. Americans. Germans and French troops also contributed greatly to the battles and direction of the new nation. Additionally, actors, noblewoman, politicians, minorities, women, and children also left their mark. The American Revolution, like so many important historical events, involved much more than many assume.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War, The Real Benedict Arnold

Personal Thoughts: Sheinkin gathered many of the stories in the title through his years as a textbook writer. He explains that he always found them interesting, but never had the opportunity to include them in his books. The title provides him with the opportunity to describe often-ignored individuals, opinions, and groups in the war, making the event seem less historical and more relatable. Also, the book make a point to include some of the more humorous and tragic aspects of the War for Independence. 

Leaving China: An Artist Paints His World War II Childhood

All the feels

McMullan, James. Leaving China: An Artist Paints His World War II Childhood. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin, 2014.

Plot: The descendent of well-to-do businessmen in China, Jimmy seems destined to be a happy, if timid, boy. Then rumors of war from Japan approached his home in Cheefoo. Jimmy and his mother get sent to the United States, while his father remains in China. While Jimmy moves across the world, his mother can no longer access the assets in China, causing her to rely more and more on family, good looks, and attractive personalities to provide for her and her son. Jimmy's father dies in China, just after the war ends. The boy must make his peace with loss, moving, and fear while learning about himself as he is, instead of who his parents want him to be.

Genre: History, Picture Books, Biography

Similar Titles: Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Personal Thoughts: The title has something strangely addicting to it. While I have mentioned grief can be difficult to convey effectively to tweens, the title is not purely sad. True, it has a lot of sad elements, including war, loss, and disappointment, but it does not rely on the emotional push of these elements. It is not a story of sorrow, but a story of a little boy trying to make sense of the world. McMullan writes appropriately for a young reader and does not gloss over genuinely difficult concepts, but he remains okay and he makes sure his audience knows it. In a weird but undeniable way, it is a story of hope.

He Has Shot the President

Brown, Don. He Has Shot the President. New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2014.

Plot: The book follows the events leading and following the assassination of President Lincoln. Booth managed to gain a group of like-minded people determined to undermine the North by eliminating the nation's leadership. The shock of the nation allows the group to escape, it also lead to a previous unseen amount of united fury. Ending Lincoln did not end the North. It finished Booth and every one of his co-conspirators.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Title: America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001, Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever

Personal Thoughts: The title brings attention to a situation usually dismissed. True, most history classes discuss the fact that Lincoln was killed, but the motivations, actions, and people involved are often ignored. History is made of people, and reflecting on their past actions allow readers to think critically about their current effects. The text allows this to happen.

Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Batte and Prison Camp in the Pacific

Thank you...

Farrell, Mary Conk. Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific. New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2014.

Plot: During World War II, thousands of soldiers were injured, killed, and captured. So were their nurses. The caretakers never experienced training for combat situations, but they quickly rose to the demands of the position. Unfortunately, the position in the Pacific was especially horrific. The Philippines saw the capture of over one hundred nurses. The text documents the nurses' fight to support their troops while fighting racism, disease, and starvation in the Japanese prison camps.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 7-9. Please be aware several intense subjects, including rape, death, wartime captivity, and disease are discussed, so warn sensitive readers.

Similar Titles:  Bomb: the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis

Personal Thoughts: Many books on war parrot the "war is bad" slogan, but this text brings a new aspect of battle to light. Soldiers are not the only victims. Nurses, doctors, laborers, and undertakers were treated as badly, if not worse than, their fighting counterparts. Even after the war, many suffered due to diseases and trauma for the rest of their lives. War is not good, but texts like these remind readers why.

Hero Dogs: Courageous Canines in Action

 Hero dogs, lazy mosasaur

Jackson, Donna M. Hero Dogs: Courageous Canines in Action. New York : Little, Brown, 2003.

Plot: For centuries, dogs have worked with people in daily life. However, the animals help during emergencies. The title follows several canines and their trainers assisting with the aftermath of the Twin Tower disaster. Dogs assisted with rescue efforts, but they also helped people cope with the frustrations and loss within the rescue efforts. Special mention is given to the care and training the hounds receive, showing the effort involved with raising and maintaining such beasts.

The title ends with chapters of assistant dogs, which help people on a daily basis.

Genre: Animals, History

Reading Levels: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Animal Heroes, Horse Heroes

Personal Thoughts: The title goes into detail on how much work goes into training a hero dog, which is important. Not every dog has what it takes to work in rescue, assistance, or police situations. Most would, in fact, make horrible pets. A lot of effort goes into them, making what they do more exotic and special than many people may realize.

The title also describes the attacks on September 11th, which is especially important to this blog. As of this year, none of the intended audience of the titles reviewed in the blog were alive during. Yet, the aftermath of the Twin Towers affect the readers' daily lives. It is important for older readers to remember tweens do not know life before the events, and it is important for elders to explain why the attacks have the significance they do. 

Regin of the Sea Dragons

All hail Jerome, King of the Sea Dragons!

Collard, Sneed B. and Plant, Andrew. Reign of the Sea Dragons. Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, 2008.

Plot: While dinosaurs claimed nearly every ecological niche on land, a variety of sea monsters ruled over the water. The text reviews the extinct marine reptiles claiming the apex predator role in pre-history. Such creatures include the dolphin-like ichtyosaurs, elegant elasmosaurs, and monstrous mosasaurs. Hand-drawn illustrations allow readers to envision the giant reptiles, while the text describes the creatures as well as the history of their discovery.

Genre: Animals, History, Science

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Sea Monsters, Ichtyosaurs, Ocean Monsters

Personal Thoughts: I have read a number of titles about prehistoric animals (surprising, I know), but this one stood out for several reasons. It avoided most of the more sensational images found in most titles (only one predator is shown with a gaping mouth facing the reader, for example). Also, it noted the controversy surrounding ancient reptiles, such as the flexibility of elasmosaur necks and body temperature of icthyosaurs. Additionally, it used hand-drawn images instead of computer-generated ones. Neither is necessarily superior to the other, but the contrast was pleasant. As such, I recommend the title to fans of prehistory.

Titanic: Voices from the Disaster

 I couldn't get a picture for this entry, so please use your imagination to merge these two images

Hopkinson, Deborah. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. New York : Scholastic Press, 2012.

Plot: Everyone knows about the disastrous voyage of the RMS Titanic, but the actual people involved with the event are often romanticized, idealized, mocked, or ignored. The text attempts to amend past misinformation by focusing on the people involved with the ship's design, creation, utility, and demise. Images from the ship's first voyage and surviving relics add context to the story. To further the human aspect of the story, the text also offers a short list of the "main characters" and their post-Titanic lives. The title includes a bibliography of additional resources and links to interviews from some of the survivors.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Titanic, National Geographic Kids: Titanic

Personal Thoughts: I already knew the ending.

All questionable attempts a humor aside, the book provided an enjoyable and enlightening read. Like many students, I learned about the Titanic in middle school. However, most of the texts I read focused on the folly of the ship's design and foolishness of her passengers. This book focused on the people as people, instead of object lessons. Also, it reminds readers that life continued, often with difficulty, after the ship sank. Many lost all they had in the disaster, while a few gained a degree of fame and fortune through their survival. Many managed to live for years after the disaster, while some died of health complications caused by the wreck shortly after their rescue. The texts presents the Titanic as a real, human story, instead of a warning against arrogance.

Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Never close, but always there

Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012.

Plot: A detailed catalog of the discoveries, politics, and actions leading to the creation of the world's first atomic bombs. The story of the weapon covers the pages with intrigue and tension, even through the results are well-known. Still, the title manages to reveal some less-frequently mentioned aspects of the history surrounding one of history's most dramatic changes in warfare.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Two Miserable Presidents: The Amazing, Terrible, and Totally True Story of the Civil War

Personal Thoughts: The title offers an intriguing view of an often-ignored aspect of modern history. It also manages to avoid much of the "good guys versus bad guys" mentality often plaguing such attempts. However, it does display President Truman unexpectedly negative and Oppenheimer strangely naive in the last few pages. Nevertheless, the book offers an explanation for the tense state of modern warfare, particularly in regards to the fears surrounding wars in the Middle East and Asia.

The book recently received a Newbery Honor.


 

Fooled You: Fakes and Hoaxes Through the Years

 Why yes, that is a mosasaur in a coffee cup

Pascoe, Elaine and Keller, Laurie. Fooled You: Fakes and Hoaxes Through the Years. New York : Henry Holt, 2005.

Plot: Frauds existed for hundreds of years. Some stem from attempts to make money, such as P.T. Barnum's Feejee Mermaid. Others, like crop circles, simply start as a joke on the local community, but quickly capture global attention. A few hoaxes bloomed from attempts to avoid trouble, while some seem made to create it. Modern technology contributes to the rise of frauds, as the urban legend of Snowball the cat displays. The text's humorous illustrations add to the lunacy of responses to the hoaxes, while outlining the stories within the chapters. By learning about frauds of the past, perhaps we can be more cautious in the future.

Genre: History, Science, Technology

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Hoaxes that Made Headlines, Fakes

Personal Thoughts: The title offers an excellent example of combining history and current events. While the individual stories may not make the textbooks, they do provide the opportunity to review personal opinions and experiences, allowing readers to begin thinking critically about sources of information.

U.S. History: Pre Columbia to the New Millennium

Discovering history is fun (right?)

U.S. History: Pre Columbia to the New Millennium, produced by ushistory.org, at http://www.ushistory.org/us/index.asp

Plot: A website dedicated to all major events in U.S. history from approximately 1300 A.D. to 2000 A.D. The site provides pages leading to a brief synopsis of important historical events and concepts. It also offers links offering further information addressing common questions, important locations, notable documents, and influential individuals.

Reading Level: Complex enough for an adult, intended for middle-schoolers.

Genre: Websites, History, Geography

Personal Thoughts: The Independence Hall Association of Philadelphia produces and maintains the site, ensuring accurate and relevant information. Like many topics on the Internet, American history is prone to misunderstanding and misinformation. By utilizing scholars to write and review the information, the website allows students to access a reliable resource. Additionally, many of the links connect to government documents which, while occasionally difficult to read, can allow viewers to think critically about the events forming their society.

Battle of the Dinosaur Bones: Othniel Charles Marsh vs. Edward Drinker Cope

 Smacked by the hate

Johnson, Rebecca L. Battle of the Dinosaur Bones: Othniel Charles Marsh vs. Edward Drinker Cope. Minneapolis : Twenty-First Century Books, 2013.

Plot: At the beginning of the 1900's, people discovered enormous bones buried in the earth. Instead of labeling them as mere curiosities, scientists realized the fossils belonged to ancient animals. Eventually, two scientists, Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, began seeking the bones in earnest. However, instead of attempting to enhance palentology as a whole, the two became bitter rivals, stealing specimens and naming rights. Eventually, they began public arguments, fossil vandalism, and national scandals in the quest to overwhelm each other. While the two managed to raise palentology to new levels, their fighting also tainted the science for years to come.

Genre: History, Science

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Fossil Feud: Marsh and Cope's Bone Wars, Fossil Feud: The Rivalry of the First American Dinosaur Hunters

Personal Thoughts: The text offers an impressive view of the complex Marsh and Cope rivalry. While the story does give an accessible retelling of the two's infamous fights, it also hints at a greater truth. Much of the knowledge taken for granted needed to be discovered and the discovery process did not always occur politely, or even neatly. The text offers the acknowledgement of the human aspect in science. While many books describe scientists as altruistic and incapable of flaws, the text reminds readers of the mistakes and failures present in science. However, it does so without negating the positive aspects of science, as well.


Before recommending the title, keep in mind the text focuses on the process of discovering dinosaurs, not dinosaurs themselves. Readers seeking the biological aspect of palentology will be disappointed, so be aware of readers' actual interests.

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds

 Sprite the Dragon wishes he had a cool book fort...

Crosby, Jeff and Jackson, Shelly Ann. Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds. Toronto : Tundra Books, 2008.

Plot: For thousands of years, dogs worked with people to accomplish specific jobs. Eventually, people began breeding dogs with ideal traits for certain tasks. As a result, dogs became separated into breeds focusing on chosen behaviors, appearances, and skills. The traits continue to modern times, separating a single species into hundreds of breeds.

Genre: Animals, History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Complete Dog Book for Kids, Dog Breeds: An Illustrated Guide

Personal Thoughts: The book describes famous, as well as not-so-famous, breeds of dog such as the Newfoundland, Canaan dog, and poodle through a historical lens. Beautiful paintings illustrate the dogs' original homes and classic jobs. The book also explains why some breeds display complex traits such as stubborn behavior, energetic personalities, and playful tendencies. As a result, the text acts as a primer for selecting a personal pet or working dog.