War Correspondents

October 15, 2012
Grades 4-7 This latest batch of titles from the World's Most Dangerous Jobs series is so dangerous, a police officer seems the safest choice. Although each volume has a picture-book length and features oversize pages, the content is gritty, reflecting the topic in both words and pictures. Large color photographs, taken in war zones and disaster areas with workers shown in their protective gear and weapons prominently displayed, are ample. Meanwhile, the tone is clear and factual, with many primary-source quotes pulled out and featured. Occasionally, the UK roots of the series are noticeable, such as when using the word torch for flashlight and depicting vehicles as being steered on the right. War Correspondents is frank about the great risks taken by journalists, especially women, and talks about several who have died on the job. The design sometimes makes the text a little hard to read, and the books lack source notes. Still, these are compelling reading for reluctant readers and risk-takers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)