The Untold History of the United States: Young Readers Edition, 1945-1962 by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick –NOT RECOMMENDED

The Untold History of the United States: Young Readers Edition, 1945-1962 by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, 305 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2019 $20. 9781481421768

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13.

BUYING ADVISORY: HS -NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

This book features a collection of true stories from history spanning 1945-1962. Some of the features stories are Hiroshima, Bikini Atoll, Cold War Stores, Korean War, Iran, the Banana Industry and more. While it does go through a historical timeline of sorts, its main focus are the untold and unknown stories. Like a group of women who survive Hiroshima with grievous injuries, and how they are flown to the US for plastic surgery. Another example is how Milton Hershey moved into Cuba to farm sugarcane and the treatment of the Cubans there. Features a smattering of photographs.

This book is rated for 5-6 grade and there is no way. This book is better understood by a reader who had some knowledge of the historical events of that time period. That being said, we never studied this time period in high school or college, as we always ‘ran out of time’. I found the stories shared in this book to be downright depressing and just difficult to read. While its important these stories are remembered and shared, a whole collection of them was just too much for me.  I much prefer the Guts and Glory Series by Ben Thompson, which shares interesting stories that are just right for young readers while using language they relate to. A teacher could use selections from this book for some eye-opening history as an attention grabber. 

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.