Part of a series of books each featuring an event in history (see below), this book was researched by a scholar and summed up in 52 pages by an author. Its succinct format provides historic highlights, their meaning and conse- quences. For instance, if readers knew nothing about Kristallnacht, within the first four pages they would learn what it was, what happened to the Jews of Germany and Austria as a result and its significance to them and soon to all of Europe. They would not learn of the catalyst for this disaster for another 30 pages, but each page would contain boxes of related informa- tion, historic photos, chronological tables, and so on. The event known as the Holocaust is described in the context of Jewish history, thus making Kristallnacht and the persecution of Jews by the Nazis one in a long line of persecu- tions throughout their history. The narrative of this book does not follow a straight chronology, but is extremely effective in serving as a catalyst for thought and discussion. There are “Decisive Words” panels that highlight key speeches and decisions, profiles of important leaders, and topics of events and sub-events that sum up what takes other books hundreds of pages to discuss and debate. What this book does is to direct the reader to further books and/or articles on the subject. It also provides an insightful and useful outline of Kristallnacht that delves into its causes, highlights, and usefulness to the Nazis. I especially welcomed the section titled: “What if…?” as it is a catalyst for further thought and discussion. Included are: a timeline, notes on sources, a glossary, an excellent bibliography of books, DVDs, and web sites, related topics to research, and an index. It is an excellent book as it stands and also as an introduction to the topic for older readers.
Other books in the series are: Bush, Blair, and Iraq; Churchill and the Battle of Britain; Gandhi and the Quit India Movement; Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis; and Mandela and Truth and Reconciliation. Recommended for ages 10 – 14.