(2) 4-6 Chimpanzees were "America's first astronauts," but what did their missions entail, and how did their voyages help NASA send humans into space? Cusick's well-researched look at the primates' training and flights provides details for an area of the space race typically relegated to a footnote. The account covers the rigorous and extensive training that dozens of chimps underwent to prepare for the Mercury program, introducing individual animals along with their dedicated human trainers and veterinarians (and touching on the ethics of animal testing). Cusick zeroes in on the high-stress and difficult flights of two astrochimps: Ham, whose suborbital flight preceded Alan Shepard's historic one, and Enos, whose two orbits around Earth paved the way for John Glenn. The propulsively page-turning narrative accessibly explains scientific details while showcasing the vital importance of the chimp program to NASA's moonshot goal. We learn that the chimps were not merely passengers but instead highly skilled astronauts performing difficult mental challenges throughout their flights to give scientists evidence that brains could function normally in zero-gravity situations as well as during the intense pressures of ascent and descent. Back matter that includes extensive endnotes, a glossary, an index, and additional resources rounds out this compelling aspect of astronautic history.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) YA In this novel in verse set in 1989, sixteen-year-old Helena lives in Leipzig, East Germany, during a period of oppression when citizens inform on their neighbors. But times are changing, and peaceful protests against the government are gaining momentum. Helena finds solace in music and begins to fall in love with a fellow piano student, but she's pressured to spy on him and reluctantly reveals his plans to escape. As weekly peace prayers at the Saint Nicholas Church turn into a massive march, Helena chooses to confront her betrayal and her fears, and act: "There comes a time / when every voice / must cry out, a time // when every person must lean / into their fear, spread their wings / and rise up. // That time / is now." Green conveys Helena's anxieties and hopes in equal measure in lyrical free-verse passages that flow together like a musical composition. She balances discussion of the political upheaval of the time just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall with a sensitive exploration of Helena's personal struggles and emotional growth. An author's note with historical background, a glossary, and selected sources are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) YA Fleeing Fidel Castro's Cuba in 1960, Victoria's family is sure they will be in Miami for only a few weeks--a few months, max--until the United States helps topple Castro's regime. Still, soon-to-be-thirteen-year-old Victoria is devastated to leave her home country and her "prima hermana," Jackie, behind. Diaz alternates focus between the cousins to describe this fraught moment in history. For Victoria, life in America is not easy, and she has to take on adult responsibilities to help feed her family. When communication with Cuba is almost completely cut, Jackie fears that Victoria has forgotten her. Jackie is eventually sent to live in Miami through Operation Peter Pan, and the girls struggle to deal with the challenges of their new reality--which, it increasingly becomes clear, will be permanent--as well as navigating the social landscape of junior high. Using personal interactions among Victoria, Jackie, and their new peers, Diaz does not shy away from addressing intertwined issues of the time period, including school integration, Cold War anti-Russian prejudice, and racial and gender dynamics within the family. The book's ending, if somewhat farfetched, allows for a happy, hopeful reunion in Miami with Jackie's parents and baby brother and the girls' grandmother. An author's note and extensive Spanish glossary are appended. Spanish-language edition, Hasta siempre Cuba, mi isla, forthcoming (12/23)

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(1) YA Sheinkin returns to the milieu of his award-winning Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon (rev. 11/12) for this equally compelling sequel. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States and Russia emerge as global superpowers, each vying for ideological, technological, and territorial dominance. Cold War tensions eventually climax with the Cuban ­Missile Crisis, bringing the rivals perilously close to nuclear war. Castro, Eisenhower, ­Kennedy, and Khrushchev play significant roles in shaping world events leading up to it: the partitioning of Germany, the Berlin Wall, and the metaphorical Iron Curtain; the development of the hydrogen bomb and the subsequent arms race; the equally competitive space race; and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. But Sheinkin also introduces a colorful parade of lesser-known characters who step forward for their fifteen minutes of fame--scientists and spies; U-2 pilots and submarine captains; secretaries, cyclists, and mobsters. Deftly weaving these anecdotes into the larger tapestry of history and politics, Sheinkin crafts an epic narrative with a large cast of characters, far-flung settings, multiple plot strands, and rising suspense, further evidence that one of our best nonfiction writers is also one of our best ­storytellers. Black-and-white photographs are ­strategically placed at the beginning and end of chapters, while generous source notes, a bibliography, and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) 4-6 Brinkley weaves together the history of the space race, mid-twentieth-century geopolitics, and the career of John F. Kennedy as he ascended to the presidency, focusing on Kennedy's championing of space technologies for American political might. He illustrates the tight connections between scientific advancement and the Cold War. Historical photographs illustrate the book. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. "When I was a kid, I was a spy... The story you are about to read is true," begins Barnett; he then spins an absurd yarn culminating in young Mac's face-off against a KGB agent. The story blurs fact and fiction, integrating actual history alongside goofy characterizations of real-world leaders and silly action scenes. Quirky situational humor, heartfelt sentiment, and frequent cartoony spot illustrations create a balanced (while still outrageous) early-chapter-book caper.

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

(3) YA This detailed and devastating account of the House Un-American Activities Committee and "The Hollywood Ten" explores the HUAC's attack on First Amendment rights. This proved to be a precursor to the rise of McCarthyism in the 1950s, which destroyed the lives of many innocent Americans. Brimner effectively utilizes transcripts from the hearings, archival photos, and secondary sources to document the events. An author's note makes the connection between "then and now." Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Adapted by Eric S. Singer. This deep dive into the politics of the Cold War describes a series of deplorable U.S. policies usually left out of history books. Illustrated with (often poorly reproduced) black-and-white historical photos, discussion includes the bomb, Hiroshima maidens, the Iran coup, and the Bay of Pigs. Despite some unsupported conspiracy-minded assertions about the CIA, the well-organized text will help readers understand conflicts still simmering today. Timeline. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA In 1953 Washington, DC, thirteen-year-old Richard is torn between the worldviews of his FBI-agent father and his new friend Vlad, a Czech immigrant with thrillingly bold ideas about literature, art, and politics. Influenced by the McCarthy hearings, Richard starts to question the veracity of those closest to him. Photographs and news summaries from the era add authenticity to this tale of would-be intrigue. Author's note appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 In 1954 Detroit, twelve-year-old Marjorie Campbell knows that the U.S. is in a "cold war," but it can be hard to tell who the enemy is. When classmates start a "slam book" about a new German student, Marjorie is torn. Her authentic first-person voice guides readers through the confusion of the McCarthy era by thoughtfully examining perception and truth. An author's note adds context. Bib.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA In 1958, Svetlana joins the Bolshoi Ballet, a cover for her work as a KGB "remote intelligence" agent. This third volume continues to follow a matrilineal family of dancers through generations of intrigue-filled history (most recently granddaughter Lana in Hider, Seeker, Secret Keeper). Wrenching mother-daughter relationships, fear of the Stalinist regime, and all-consuming passion for dance are portrayed with equal nuance and depth.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Spies! series. This series delves into the world of espionage and spycraft. Each focusing on a different modern era, the books cover famous figures, such as the Rosenbergs and Edward Snowden, but also lesser-known agents. The insights into spies' motivations and the mechanics behind their craft make for exciting, interesting reads. Photographs and sidebars provide additional nuggets of information. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review cover these Spies! titles: Deep-Cover Spies and Double-Crossers of the Cold War and Cyber Spies and Secret Agents of Modern Times.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA While visiting Berlin, contemporary American teen Ellie time-travels to 1988 East Berlin. Shocked, she meets a group of resistance "Runners" who help "Passengers" flee the oppressive regime using time-traveling red balloons. Interspersed chapters describe a young German Jewish man's horrific experiences in Poland in 1941. Both settings are intriguing, but the story lines are somewhat muddled.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Three teens' stories intersect in this convoluted mystery with an intriguing premise set alternately in 1980s Berlin and modern-day California. In the present, Molly Mavity can't escape the reputation of her arsonist father, while Pepper Al-Yusef struggles to graduate from high school. Together, they unravel the secrets behind the life and death of Ava Dreyman, an East German teen whose diary was published posthumously.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 David Da-Wei Horowitz (who is Jewish and Chinese) is preparing for his January 1984 bar mitzvah. But reading Torah "in front of about a zillion people" is the least of his problems considering the arguing between his culturally different grandmothers, drama in his middle-school friend group, and the real possibility of nuclear war. A realistic coming-of-age novel filled with witty yet sensitive cultural observations.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Captured History: Sports series. These books tell exciting sports stories through the lens of photojournalism. The historical backdrops to the featured soccer (1999 Women's World Cup) and hockey (1980 Olympics) heroics and the aftermaths are explored, and biographical information is included on the teams' major players and on the photojournalists, whose photos complement the well-written texts. The books' spacious design is inviting. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Captured History: Sports titles: What a Kick and Miracle on Ice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Special Reports series. Authors give historical context and contemporary analysis of current topics to help high school readers understand world affairs. Stock photographs and frequent sidebars contribute to the choppy layouts. Because both US-Cuba relations and ISIS's impact on the world are changing, these print resources will be dated quickly. Nevertheless, each volume provides serviceable background for report writers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: US-Cuba Relations and ISIS.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(1) 4-6 In 1989, Noah's parents whisk him from Virginia to East Berlin, where they change his name and impose rules, especially "They will always be listening." As the novel unfolds, there's growing evidence that Noah's mother isn't what he thinks she is (The Americans, anyone?). Nesbet's atmospheric page-turner is edgy, emotionally rich historical fiction; sidebars include information about East Germany and the Cold War.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(3) 4-6 Turning Points series. This well-researched series focuses on crucial moments from recent world history and examines the events, people, and places involved. Crisp, clear, and engaging writing marks all three of these volumes, particularly 9/11, in which the complicated interplay of history and culture is unpacked. Large glossy photographs are included throughout, along with sidebars providing background or expanding on information. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Turning Points titles: The Arab Spring, The 9/11 Attacks, and The End of the Cold War.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Presidential Powerhouses series. Through these significant presidencies, this thorough series examines crucial periods in America's history: the birth of a fledgling nation, the War of 1812, the Great Depression and WWII, and the dawn of America's "New Frontier." Each president's early life, administration milestones, and ultimate legacy are discussed in detailed chapters filled with maps and period photos or illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Presidential Powerhouses titles: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidency, George Washington's Presidency, John F. Kennedy's Presidency, and James Madison's Presidency.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan