Although the Khmer Rouge only ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, the regime conducted a genocide of approximately 2 million inhabitants. This eye-opening title in the Great Escapes series describes the survival and eventual escape out of Cambodia by journalist Dith Pran, whose story was featured in the movie The Killing Fields. After examining the rise of the Khmer Rouge, the author gives an intense account of the chaos and violence that followed. Using his wit, charisma, and other tactics, the captured Pran managed to return home but was eventually forced to flee to Thailand. The concise text keeps the myriad warring factions and political allies from becoming confusing and gives a clear picture of the Khmer Rouge's tortuous scare tactics and failed agricultural reform. Archival photographs and profiles of other survivors add to the impact of this courageous story.

FRADIN, Dennis Brindell . The Irish Potato Famine . reprods. ISBN 978-1-60870-473-6 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-694-5 . LC 2010018788. FRADIN, Dennis Brindell . The Underground Railroad . reprods. ISBN 978-1-60870-476-7 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-697-6 . LC 2010040063. PERL, Lila . The Holocaust . ISBN 978-1-60870-472-9 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-693-8 . LC 2011001583. SONNEBORN, Liz . The Khmer Rouge . ISBN 978-1-60870-474-3 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-695-2 . LC 2011005595. ea vol: 80p. (Great Escapes Series). maps. photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Websites. CIP. Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark . 2011. PLB $34.21; ebook $34.21. Gr 5-8 Except for Potato Famine , the people in these books are fleeing violence. Most of the volumes follow a specific person throughout his escape, using that narrative as a framework for explaining the historical and cultural context that led up to the horror. While stories of Holocaust escapees are common, the young men profiled in Perl's title not only escaped from Auschwitz, but also made it their duty to tell the world about the atrocities they witnessed. Lost Boys and Khmer Rouge are both particularly strong entries in the series, in part because the conflicts they cover are less familiar to most readers. Potato Famine departs from the narrative structure of the other volumes since no particular escapee takes a major role in framing the book. The primary-source quotes and period imagery throughout are well chosen and amplify the texts.