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School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 UpDudley presents primary-source readings that offer pro-and-con stances on various aspects of the conflict, including the decisions that led the United States into Vietnam, our support of the South Vietnamese government, the increased involvement and troop buildup during the Johnson administration, and Nixon's Vietnamization policy and the withdrawal of troops. A section is devoted to antiwar protests and the issue of amnesty for draft evaders. The final chapter looks at the role of the media in the U.S. defeat in Vietnam. Writers include world leaders, academics, government officials, and leaders of student-protest and veteran's groups. Occasional black-and-white photos and editorial cartoons illustrate the text, and sidebars provide additional information. The readings are well chosen and balanced. This title will be useful as a research companion to narrative histories such as Albert Marrin's well-written America in Vietnam (Viking, 1992), making it a good choice for libraries needing research and debate materials on the era.Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7-12. Three new books crisscross similar territory but focus on different aspects of the Vietnam War. The Hooblers' abundantly illustrated volume looks at the war from the broadest perspective. It begins with an exploration of the political turmoil that led to the war, then follows events into the postwar era to examine, in brief, the conflict's legacy. While not all the photographs are sharp, there are dozens of them, all carefully captioned and an integral part of the presentation. Many are dramatic, candid battlefield shots that show the war's tragedy through the faces of Vietnamese and Americans alike. The lucid and well-organized text is never dry. Comments from soldiers, politicians, and others add a new layer to the discussion, which considers the progress of the war, giving a sense of both the political background and the homefront controversy. Integral, too, are the sympathetic descriptions of the lot of the American soldier. This is an accessible, panoramic view that will garner a wide readership. A glossary of terms is appended along with a list of further readings, including adult titles, several of which are now considered classics on the subject. Lens focuses less on the individual in battle than on the stateside controversy. His account is brisk and competent, including some pre-war history (though less than in the Hooblers' book) and less detailed coverage of the conflict itself. He excels, however, in his overview of the behind-the-scenes politics and peace activism of the war years; as a former activist himself, he speaks with some authority. Like the Hooblers, he uses quotes to add interest; also like the Hooblers, he does not document them fully. The illustrations, which appear in two inserts, are generally dark and grainy and also rather static, despite their subject matter. Source notes are appended, as is a list of further readings, which, though limited, features both adult and children's books, including a few excellent fiction titles. Originally published in 1984, this Opposing Viewpoints update provides some historical background (through excerpts written during the escalation of the conflict) before concentrating in large part on the war's legacy. New material presents opinions surrounding topics of current interest: Have veterans lost faith because of their experience? Should the U.S. sup~ply aid to the Cambodian resistance? Should the U.S. reopen diplomatic channels with Vietnam? Another section debates the reasons for the U.S. defeat. As usual, the editors have taken care to include a balance of opinion. Political cartoons illustrate the text, which contains the usual curriculum-related activities and excellent bibliographies. A worthwhile adjunct to overviews like those by the Hooblers and Lens, this will attract more students from the upper end of the high school spectrum than will the other two books. Chronology; index. ~--Stephanie Zvirin
