The first of the In American History series, this is the story of the battle for the Alamo, including the events which precipitated it and those it lead to. Sorrels provides background on the Native Americans who inhabited the area before discussing Stephen Austin and the first settlers who were allowed to enter the territory. The story continues through the creation of the Republic of Texas and ultimately to its statehood. This is a straightforward retelling of inherently exciting events, and the author makes few embellishments, letting the facts take center stage. The bulk of the book concerns the plans, layout, leaders, and events of the Alamo, set into a meaningful context. Although Sorrels attempts to do justice to both sides, the defenders of the fort—fighting overwhelming odds to the death—emerge as more heroic. Nevertheless, this is a solid job and good replacement for materials in need of updating. (b&w photos and reproductions, chronology, notes, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 10+)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-89490-770-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Enslow
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1996
Much of the most evocative writing about the Holocaust has been gathered in this excellent collection by the editors of Who Do You Think You Are? (1993). The presence of several of the contributors seems mandatory: Elie Wiesel, with his speech for the opening of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and an excerpt from Night (1960); Art Spiegelman, with an excerpt from Maus (1986); Primo Levi, with recollections from Survival in Auschwitz (1959); Cynthia Ozick and ``The Shawl'' (1983). The editors also include pieces that speak directly to young readers—Ida Vos on childhood in occupied Holland, excerpts from Carl Friedman's Nightfather (1994), and oral pieces and poetry. These selections are hard—even elusive for young readers—but collected here have a power that may prove unforgettable. (bibliography) (Anthology. 12+)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-531-09488-X
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A scholar argues that, despite its plethora of horrors, in the long run the Civil War was a Good Thing for this country. Robinson's narrative is a conventional tale of generals and battles, with time out for brief chapters or side essays on civilian life, black soldiers, flags, etc. His analysis is reduced to a few clear, simple themes: the cultural and economic clash between North and South; the devastation caused by poor sanitary practices (2,800 black troops were killed in action while 65,000 died of disease); the stabilization resulting from the establishment of federal (over state) authority. Some of his ideas are questionable—e.g., he glorifies American soldiers as ``the greatest fighting men of all time,'' and touts the rifle as a new development—and though readers will get a good sense of how the war looked from the many contemporary photos and newspaper illustrations, the occasional maps do little to clarify the author's accounts of strategy and troop movements. Considering both the recent avalanche of books on the subject and the older classics widely available, a supplementary purchase. Glossary; bibliography; long chronology; index. (Nonfiction. 11-14)
Pub Date: April 10, 1992
ISBN: 0-394-82996-4
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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