Current, clear, and uncluttered, this trio on the war in the Ukraine [see also The Unprovoked War: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukrainian President and Unlikely Hero] provides young readers with the background knowledge they need to understand one of the most pressing current events in global politics. The Unprovoked War presents clear background on how the Ukraine and Russia have been historically entwined, before delving into the contemporary Ukrainian political landscape. This context effectively articulates why the war happened then investigates the conflict itself. Next, the paired biographies of Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlight radically different approaches toward leadership and governance. While young people might know Putin as a vaguely terrifying despot, Allen’s biography of the man provides the grisly details of Putin’s rise for power and relentless authoritarian methods of controlling the Russian population. If Putin is a solid villain, then Nardo’s take on Zelenskyy centers his humanity and shows his growth from an enterprising law student turned comedian into a savvy, stalwart leader. His quick wit is consistently inspiring. Sidebars highlight primary source quotations and influential articles; while the photographs are relatively few, some do show the brutal aftermath of war. A useful list of organizations and websites and a solid index succeeds the main text.VERDICT Accessible, detailed, alternately terrifying and inspiring, these reference books on the war in Ukraine are a welcome alternative for students seeking something beyond Wikipedia.

A quick account of the rise and (perhaps) beginning of the fall of Russia’s current bête noire.
Allen relies largely on recent news stories for source material, and the general picture is a grim one—of “a dangerously unpredictable rogue leader” who rose to power at the head of a “party of crooks and thieves” to murder hostile journalists and meddle in the elections of his own and other countries until, having “poached Crimea,” he launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The author leaves off shortly after that invasion, with the war at “a bloody stalemate” and its promulgator sounding “dangerously unstable” and, according to a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, “unhinged” in public statements. Along with photos of Putin—from a deeply disturbed looking child to the present (but not the macho one of him riding a horse bare chested, though it’s mentioned in the narrative no less than three times)—images of bombed buildings, corpses, and memorial displays add suitably alarming visual notes. Readers wishing to dig deeper will find plentiful lists of print and online resources at the end. Useful for assignments, though ongoing events are likely to give it a short shelf life. (photo credits, source notes, timeline, index) (Biography. 12-18)