(4) K-3 During World War I, an American solider adopts a stray dog that wanders into camp. The soldier and the dog, whom he names Stubby, become inseparable and the dog quickly becomes the regiment's mascot. Though the warm tale is based on a true story, Stubby's learning to salute and his smiling, human-like visage (as portrayed in the line-and-wash illustrations) stretch reality a bit. A historical note adds context.

Reviewer: Meredith Madyda

(3) YA This in-depth and refreshingly inclusive text looks at the history and current state of women in the military. Illuminating first-person accounts and biographical profiles are interspersed with descriptions of the various hurdles and discrimination women soldiers have faced (e.g., not being allowed to serve in combat until 2016). Full-color photos are featured throughout, along with sidebars on related facts. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA Janeczko (Double Cross) revisits the topic of deception as a war tactic in this fascinating, detailed look at the so-called "Ghost Army" during World War II. The unit consisted of sound engineers, actors, camouflage experts, and set designers, who helped create the illusion of fake troop movements using sets, sound effects, and showmanship. A lesser-known WWII story that should enthrall history buffs.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Serving our Country series. These high-interest titles provide overviews of the duties of different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Dynamic photographs of sleek equipment should appeal to the young audience. Comprehension is aided by clear texts and controlled vocabulary. Diverse service members depicted in peaceful pursuits are a humanizing counterpoint after descriptions of violent, dangerous activities. Introduces nonfiction conventions, including table of contents and sidebars. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Serving Our Country titles: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Forces

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(2) YA Recent high school graduate Lucas doesn't think beyond his next acid trip or the upcoming Woodstock festival. The narrative is related in a first-person voice that cleverly shifts to the third person to portray Lucas's LSD trips as out-of-body experiences. Letters from his motivated girlfriend and a friend serving in Vietnam, newspaper headlines, and draft board notices provide ballast to Lucas's self-centered perspective; eventually, he steps outside of his own experience to see Vietnam as a "working-class war."

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) 4-6 Spy on History series. Illustrated by Scott Wegener. This novel, with occasional comics-style illustrations, covers the fascinating history of the Ghost Army: the group of American sound engineers and artists, including Sergeant Victor Dowd, that deceived the Germans in WWII by setting up elaborate fake tanks and troops. An attached envelope contains spycraft materials, which add extra hands-on appeal as readers solve a hidden mystery; historical note appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Pebble Plus: Great Asian Americans series. Using short, simple sentences and engaging photos, this early-reader biography series introduces famous Asian Americans, filling a gap in children's biographies. Key moments in each subject's professional life are covered chronologically and accompanied by a cumulative timeline. Ample white space around the texts and large pictures make for attractive and supportive layouts for new readers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Great Asian Americans titles: Tammy Duckworth and Yo-Yo Ma.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Frangie (medic), Rio (infantry), and Rainy (intelligence) face the ultimate battle at Omaha Beach on D-Day in this finale to Grant's powerful alternate-history series that places women in WWII combat. Through the desperate final days of the war, all three heroines must tap their reserves of strength and bravery. Well-written characters and meticulous attention to detail make for a harrowing but satisfying conclusion. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) YA Adapted by Laurie Calkhoven. This teen adaptation of Mundy's adult book reveals the largely untold story of thousands of talented young women recruited to work as code breakers during WWII. While it's difficult to follow the large cast of characters--and the highly technical explanations of the code-breaking process--the women's unique opportunity and subsequent achievements are fascinating, inspiring examples of unsung heroism. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) 4-6 During the Soviet/Nazi conflict to control Kiev, Luka was sent to work at a labor camp. As this companion to Making Bombs for Hitler begins, he escapes and later joins the Ukrainian underground resistance. Based on actual World War II events, Skrypuch weaves a tale of suspense, highlighting Luka's courage and ingenuity as he searches for his parents and is eventually reunited with friend Lida.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) YA Wounded in action--and in line for a prestigious Silver Star--Jake Liddell is home recovering before finishing his tour. Gradually revealed in flashback chapters, the horrors of war have left Jake disillusioned about military life, especially now that an intrepid high-school journalist wants his participation in a critical documentary. A timely, relevant critique of the American war machine and its dependence on idealistic and vulnerable young people.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Bug Team Alpha series. Illustrated by Patricio Clarey. An elite Earth-based Special Ops force, each member's genes grafted with different insect DNA, patrols the galaxy. The books feature a racially diverse rotating roster of lieutenants under Commander Dragonfly. Heavy on adventure, if light on character depth, this Star Trek–meets–G.I. Joe series is a good bet for reluctant or struggling middle-grade readers. Each volume includes discussion questions and writing prompts. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Bug Team Alpha titles: The Dig, Juggernaut, and Stranded.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(2) 4-6 How I Became a Ghost series. Preteen Choctaw ghost Isaac (How I Became a Ghost) continues to relate the story of his people's forced relocation from their Mississippi homeland to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) on the Choctaw Trail of Tears. Here, the ghost of Pushmataha, revered Choctaw chief and U.S. Army general during the War of 1812, ushers Isaac through time travel. Tingle's prose is straightforward and focused while still visceral and imaginative. Bib.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) 4-6 New army brats Tom (twelve), Charlotte (ten), and Rosie (eight) have recently moved to Fort Patrick (their mom is an intelligence officer). As the siblings roam the base they discover an abandoned building and a mystery involving missing dogs. Tom, Charlotte, and Rosie (who was adopted from China) share a strong bond and support one another through everyday challenges in this realistic, appealing family story.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces series. Designed for new readers, this series offers rudimentary introductions to branches of the U.S. military. With a boilerplate format, each book describes the specific branch, training, and equipment, and concludes with projections for the future. The large font and colorful photographs create interest and make for easy reading. A basic gear diagram and a few historical facts are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: US Armed Forces titles: Inside the US Army, Inside the US Air Force, Inside the US Marine Corps, and Inside the US Navy.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg