Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: Air Force General & Tuskegee Airmen Leader (Military Heroes)

Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: Air Force General & Tuskegee Airmen Leader (Military Heroes)

The remarkable lives of those who have made their name defending, protecting and serving the United States are examined in this series that details each subject's family background, childhood, education, military pursuits and success; engaging text, color photos, primary source and historic documents present groundbreaking events and milestones that led to a lasting military and heroic legacy.From Booklist*Starred Review* Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was an American hero, and this attractive Essential Library volume does an excellent job of introducing him as well as the times that shaped him. Davis first saw an airplane in 1926, and from then on, he knew that he wanted to fly. But even though his father was a well-regarded member of the U.S. military, Davis still encountered many obstacles as he made his way through West Point and then as leader of the U.S. Army Air Force African American flying unit, the Ninety-Ninth Squadron. Most of the challenges came in the form of racial discrimination?academic, social, and professional. Readers will get a real sense of what a trailblazer Davis was, while boys especially will find the war efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen exciting. Fascinating sidebars cover everything from segregation to Roosevelt?s objectives in WWII to the executive order integrating the armed services. The last part of Davis? career, in civilian public service, loses a bit of steam, but overall, this is a well-written, well-designed (dappled borders add to the effect) book with plenty of black-and-white photographs to add interest. A time line, source notes, and additional web and print resources round out this title in the Military Heroes series. Grades 6-9. --Ilene Cooper