Vietnam

by Russell Freedman

Overview

An accessible and authoritative account of what led to the Vietnam War and its legacies from Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman.

With prose that is clear, concise, and enthralling, Russell Freedman presents a detailed history of the Vietnam war. 

Beginning with an overview of Vietnam's long fight for independence from the Chinese, the French, and the Japanese, Freedman then untangles the puzzling and catastrophic decisions that led to U.S. boots on the ground.

Coverage includes the French war in Vietnam, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, the fall of President Diem, the Tonkin Gulf, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai massacre, the bombing of Cambodia, and the fall of Saigon, as well as the U.S. anti-war movement. Freedman concludes with a hopeful epilogue on modern Vietnam.  

The book includes nearly 100 historic photographs and illustrations, as well as candid photographs showcasing the state of Vietnam today.  A glossary, source notes, bibliography, and index are included.

A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choices Title
A Junior Library Guild Selection

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823442744
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	06/11/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,035,268
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Russell Freedman (1929-2018) transformed non-fiction for children through his insightful narrative, comprehensive research, careful selection of photographs, and deep understanding of his subject matter. He was well known for his riveting biographies and masterful accounts of the history of the United States. One of the most honored writers for children, his many awards include the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award and a National Humanities Medal. Major works include Freedom Walkers, Lincoln: A Photobiography, Because They Marched, The Wright Brothers: How They Invented The Airplane. 

Table of Contents

1 The Last Man to Die in Vietnam 1

2 The Vietnamese: The Long Road to Revolution 5

3 Ho Chi Minh: The Making of a Revolutionary 13

4 He Chi Minh Meets the OSS 19

5 The French War in Vietnam: The Elephant and the Tiger 29

6 Tambling Dominoes 39

7 Ngo Dinh Diem: America's Miracle Man in Saigon 42

8 The Last Days of President Dien 53

9 From the Tonkin Gulf to Rolling Thunder 64

10 The American War in Vietnam 74

11 The Antiwar Movement 85

12 The Tet Offensive 93

13 The Beginning of the End 100

14 The Fall of Saigon 112

15 Reconciliation 121

Time Line 130

Source Notes 134

Glossary 141

Selected Bibliography 143

Picture Credits 145

Index 146

Editorial Reviews

* "In his customary well-honed prose, Freedman presents a coherent overview of the Vietnam War . . . Will be useful to serious students of the era . . . Along with being more readable than the plethora of assignment titles on the subject, this is a clear-eyed view of a watershed event in U.S. history and a significant update to older histories for middle graders."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

* "Solid history that doesn’t shy away from difficult truths and important moral and political lessons."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

* "In an excellent study of the Vietnam War that examines the conflict and its aftermath from multiple angles, Freedman (We Will Not Be Silent) again tackles a complex historical event and breaks it down into an accessible account for young readers. . . . Graphic photographs provide an up-close look at the war and the protests surrounding it. The author concludes with a poignant observation about the legacy of the war: a humbling reminder of the limits of power."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

From the Publisher