Gr 7 Up— These two utilitarian volumes give clear and detailed explanations of their subjects. Afghanistan is organized chronologically and covers events from September 11, 2001, to the end of 2013, while Arab Spring delves into the historical background of politics in Northern Africa and the Middle East, then examines the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, touching on relevant events in surrounding nations as well. Though these books are written from an American perspective, the authors strive to offer a balanced, accurate portrayal of events. The writing style in both titles is straightforward, if somewhat dry. While these books will be most useful to students writing reports, they provide valuable coverage of recent events and will fill a gap in many collections.
—Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH