North Africa and Europe: 1940-1945 (World War II: The Full Story)

Gr 7-10-Although titled "The Full Story," this set is better described as an undistinguished general introduction. Volumes cover the causes; home fronts; military campaigns; air, land and sea wars; and lasting effects of the war, but at 48 pages per book, they provide almost no in-depth coverage of topics or analysis of events. There are no maps to help readers locate the many places mentioned in the text, which uses military jargon and descriptions of tactics without adequate introduction. Very brief sidebars add a few sentences about "key" people, events, themes, and eyewitness accounts. Period photos are generic and below average in quality and reproduction. VERDICT These selections introduce so many topics, people, battles, and events that students are as likely to become confused as informed, and they don't improve on the many extant titles available about World War II.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.