The events surrounding major milestones in United States military history are presented in these five volumes. Readers learn about the Confederate capture of Fort Sumter, the specifics of the battles at Lexington and Concord, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Russian attempts to place nuclear weapons close to United States borders, and the World War II invasion of Normandy. Included background information provides context, for example, national divisions over slavery led to the attack on Fort Sumter. Resulting occurrences, such as how the success of D-Day was a determining factor in ending World War II, are outlined as well. Photographs accompany the narratives. Though comprehensive, the texts are dense and dry. An error in What Happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis—“John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th U.S. President on January 19, 1961”—might confuse some readers. VERDICT These topics are covered by many other sources that provide more interesting reads. Selectors may consider individual volumes as supplemental to curriculum; browsers will pass.