USS Arizona Memorial (War Memorials) - Hardcover

By hooking major military conflicts to actual buildings readers can visit and experience, the War Memorials series stretches its potentially depressing subject matter into something hands-on and even, on occasion, inspiring. Brief explanations for the cause of each war quickly lead to the end of said conflict and the subsequent urge of Americans to memorialize their soldiers. USS Arizona Memorial details the lesser-known but haunting structure built in the middle of Pearl Harbor that straddles the submerged and rusted hulk of the battleship that took 1,177 sailors to their deaths. Robins doesn’t condemn Japanese internment camps, but she does build up palpable anticipation for the tour shots that close the book. All the titles in the series boast solid back matter and a fine layout featuring a good mix of period pictures and maps. Grades 3-5. --Daniel Kraus