The Battle of the Bulge A graphic history of allied victory in the Ardennes, 1944-1945

In this sixth military-themed graphic novel for Zenith, Vansant (The Red Baron) literally sketches out an introductory work on one of the most important battles of World War II. He proceeds in a mostly chronological manner, beginning with Hitler's concept for the offensive named "Watch on the Rhine" in September 1944 through the official end of the fight on January 16, 1945. His narrative is broad, ranging from policy decisions at the strategic level and movements of particular units down to actions of small groups or individuals. He mentions atrocities on both sides. The images are a bit rough, strong enough to capture reasonable likenesses of single people but without conveying much sense of motion in the fighting. The book provides a series of maps that help give a sense of where distinct actions occurred in relation to one another. Verdict While those with a deep interest in World War II will find little that is new here, this book could serve as a useful introduction to the battle for adult or teen readers.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 7 Up-The creator of the Normandy (2012), Bombing Nazi Germany (2013), and The Red Baron (2014, all Zenith) graphic novels, now addresses the major battle that led to Germany's surrender. The photo-realistic and full-color illustrations-Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adolf Hitler, and other major players are authentically captured-add gravity. This work is factual and mostly neutral, not going into the reasons behind the war, only the military strategies employed by each side. Though the book lacks a time line, the maps and detailed descriptions of the tanks used are a nice feature. A useful resource in exploring this historic battle and a fine edition to classrooms as well as libraries. Purchase of the previous titles is recommended for a complete look at the war.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.