From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-- Stefoff sets forth clearly the many roles of the U.S. Coast Guard, including environmental protection. The book's strongest feature is the interesting history tracing the development of the Coast Guard, which began in 1789 as the Revenue Marine, a fleet of ten cutters whose job it was to crack down on smuggling and to help collect the revenue from customs duties. Unfortunately, this introduction to the history and functions of the United States Coast Guard is dull in appearance, with drab black-and-white illustrations, a few of which are 30 years out of date. A more attractive choice is Ferrell's The U. S. Coast Guard (Lerner, 1989), which has an inviting layout and full-color illustrations. Ferrell's work gives a better sense of what it is like to be in the Coast Guard, but the history it gives is less detailed (though adequate), and it lacks the purposeful essay by Arthur M. Schlesinger that introduces this work. A list of "selected references," a very short glossary, and an organizational chart are included. --Don Reaber, Meadowdale High School, Lynnwood, WA
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
