Information Book Reviews

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. Scholastic, Inc.: New York.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler’s Shadow

“I begin with the young,” said Hitler. Because he admired the passion and enthusiasm of the young, Hitler sought to secure the future of Germany through the establishment of Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, in 1926. This book is centered around the lives of twelve young people whose innocence and patriotic devotion led to manipulation by the leaders of the Third Reich. The large black and white photographs are an essential element and individual photos of the youth – some in military attire – as well as the horror of concentration camps, and the aftermath of the war. A powerful epilogue concludes the book with “what became of them” paragraphs over each of the twelve featured youth. The Timeline of Hitler Youth is an added resource, and the chapter –by –chapter quote sources relate the accuracy of this work. The organization, writing, photography, and added resources mesh into a powerfully emotional book. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Arnosky, Jim. 2004. Beachcombing. Dutton Children’s Books: New York.

Beachcombing

“What kind of shell is that? Where did this coconut come from? Can I take a closer look at a horseshoe crab?” Jim Arnosky answers these and many other questions as he introduces youngsters to many wonders of the sea in this relaxing, fun book. Designed with a vintage journal look, this beachcombing guide will take young explorers on a personal tour of a tropical beach, and introduce them to many common and not so common sea creatures that could be found. It also highlights important steps to take prior to a day on the beach – for example, applying sunscreen. The text is simplistic to the point of sometimes being unclear, but for the most part, the information will be well received by children. The lovely pastel illustrations add to the calm feel of the book. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

The yellow fever outbreak centered in Philadelphia in 1793, was a disaster of epidemic proportions. Jim Murphy recreates the fear and panic that swept through the city by chronicling solid research interwoven with fascinating stories. The story is brought to life by elements such as copies of newspaper articles, black and white period art, and archival photos and prints that add authenticity to this horrific story. Ample interesting source notes are included at the end of the book along with an afterword that explains yellow fever and its causes. This is an excellent and highly readable informational book for middle to upper grades. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)