Gr 5-8-Three thin but informative offerings. The creation of the Berlin Wall was not so much a feat of engineering genius as of political trickery. Built in secrecy almost overnight, it stood as a symbol for the evils of communism. The impressive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which took 25 years to build and opened to traffic in 1998, connects the once-remote Shikoku island of Japan to the larger Honshu island. It is simply a modern engineering marvel. Arc de Triomphe gives a solid report of the political, fiscal, and engineering problems presented in the creation of the monument. Frustratingly, the most famous part, The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, is only shown from a distance. That's too bad, since it is considered to be the most successful portrayal on the arc. Chronologies sum up each text handily. Type is large and set in a lot of white space. Perfect for reports and pleasure reading, they are packed with photographs and colored pages of related information.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.