Ancient Mexico The Mexican-American War

Gr 8 Up—Ancient Mexico begins with speculation about when the Paleo-Indians arrived in the Americas and then highlights each major culture until the conquest of the Spanish conquistadors. The Mexican-American War starts with Texas declaring its independence from Mexico, the war itself, and then concludes with the aftermath. The paragraphs are long and information rich. The text is punctuated with vibrant pictures, paintings, and political cartoons that help re-create history for readers. However, the writing style is more academic than lively, with sporadic quotes from historians. The specialized subject matter and in-depth examination of the topics restrict these titles to a narrow audience. Purchase only if you have an extensive Mexican history collection.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT