JACK LONDON AND THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTION

G/A  Lourie, Peter.  Jack London And The Klondike Gold Rush.  Henry Holt, 2017.  9780805097573.  18.99.  With an appetite for adventure and a financial need to find gold, London developed characters for stories while building his own personal character.  He exhibited love for the outdoors and enough perseverance to withstand the weather's fierce elements.  Shaded sections throughout the text capture London's  (and other's) actual writings about their Klondike experiences.  London's biographical and literary lives are attractively laid out over a four page time line. Terms -- true to the Klondike era -- are well defined in the glossary.  Should appeal to any young reader who'd enjoy outdoor excitement. E.M. Roublow (ret.)

IN THE SHADOW OF LIBERTY

ADULT/YA  NONFICTION

V/A  Davis, Kenneth C.  In The Shadow Of Liberty.  Henry Holt, 2016.  286p.  9781627793117.  17.99.  As early America sought independence and self-sufficiency, four presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Jackson) struggled with issues surrounding slavery.  Five enslaved people -- owned by these presidents -- were also challenged as they weighed loyalty vs the unknowns of freedom.  This book's focus is definitely about our country's history more than these individuals' biographies.  Its time line, detailed source notes, plus clear b/w pictures and drawings make it a valuable supplement to classroom texts.   E.M. Roublow (ret.)