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What Makes a Terrorist?

by Shelley Tougas
48p. 978-0-75654-312-9.
COPY ISBN
Gr 6-9 Many students have questions and concerns about terrorism, and these books do an excellent job of presenting the information readers will need. The authors go beyond al-Qaida to explore groups such as the Colombian FARC and the Palestinian PFLP. Commentary on tragic eventsthe King David Hotel bombing and the September 11 attacks, for exampleshows the variety of terrorist attacks. Domestic terrorism is not ignored, either, as the titles include discussions of Timothy McVeigh and Ted Kaczynski. Although each volume is written by a different author, the style stays consistently clear and straightforward throughout, and the tone remains objective. A well-designed layout, with plenty of white space and well-placed sidebars, adds to the accessibility of the volumes. A great choice. Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Burgan's book discusses three Palestinian groups; one Israeli organization; al-Qaida; and terrorists in Spain, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Japan. The other two volumes raise questions and provide more background history. The series (especially Tougas's book) generally avoids some of the oversimplifications marring other volumes on the topic, but there are some minor historical inaccuracies. Photographs illustrate the information. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Terrorism titles: Terrorist Groups, The History of Terrorism, and What Makes a Terrorist?

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