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Discusses the history of the New York City subway system.

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School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-7‘New York is a city of engineering marvels, but its subway system tops the list for cost, complexity, and sheer size. In this detailed, if haphazard, account of its construction, McNeese not only lays out mind-boggling numbers that capture a sense of the enterprise's scale, but also selects plenty of incidents, accidents, and anecdotes for human-interest sidebars. Unfortunately, his social and industrial epic is derailed by several flaws. His sources are small in number and nearly all secondary; his exact descriptions of each subway line's routes will lose even New Yorkers, as there are no accompanying street maps; and the illustrations, though mostly period photographs, are small and gray. In addition, while ignoring new construction and improvements in equipment since World War II (the last entry of any sort on the timeline is dated 1950), the author closes with two seriously outdated photos, invidiously captioned: "Today, subway cars are plagued by graffiti and crime." Much of the territory McNeese rolls past here will be new to readers, yet they will be disappointed that, despite the passing blur of details, the trip ends only part way down the line.‘John Peters, New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Gr. 6^-10. These two titles in the fascinating Building History series detail the construction of two seemingly diverse structures--the New York subway system and the Great Wall of China. Chock-full of anecdotes about the building processes; old photos, maps, and illustrations that illuminate working conditions and the structures themselves; and excerpts from other history books, both books are long on detail about the technological and scientific processes used in the construction. Conceived to help young people understand the "close relationship between a society's historical character and its buildings," each title contains a time line of events surrounding the building project, lengthy sidebars and insets that provide information about the people involved and the construction process, and bibliographies. Although readers may have a tough time distinguishing the various Chinese dynasties and may lose interest in the final chapter of the New York subway's history--its decline--these books are well worth purchasing. They illuminate humankind's problem-solving brilliance and its ability to carry out long-term projects to reach equally long-term solutions. --Frances Bradburn