Today's Air Force Heroes

Gr 2–4—This series shares the combat stories of individual soldiers from diverse backgrounds and rank. The profiled service members committed outstanding acts of bravery and were decorated accordingly, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, a fact that is emphasized throughout. The volumes start with a quick description of 9/11 or, in the case of Coast Guard, a story of a rescue mission. They move on to combat in the Middle East, and/or disaster-relief missions. Action-filled color photos enliven every spread. While the justification for war in Afghanistan is clearly explained, the explanation for the conflict in Iraq is oversimplified to the point of bias: "...government officials believed that Saddam Hussein...was building powerful weapons...Though the weapons were never found, the U.S. and its allies were able to remove Saddam Hussein from power." This series will have the most appeal in areas with high military interest.