From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-The first several chapters of this book provide a history of the building of the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. While it adequately explains this mammoth technological undertaking, it is not as detailed or as complete as Ann Graham Gaines's The Panama Canal in American History (Enslow, 1999) in this regard. The strength of Gold's title is in the second half, in which the author traces the process involved in returning the Canal Zone to Panama. She does a good job of explaining the details of the treaty ratified in 1978 that accomplished this return. The positions of both countries are detailed, as are the reasons that so much ill will and controversy developed between them over this issue. This aspect of the text makes it of particular value to students researching contemporary world problems or issues. Good-quality black-and-white photos appear throughout. The annotated list for further reading includes books for children and adults, as well as audio/video materials and Web sites in English and Spanish.
William C. Schadt, Glacier Park Middle School, Maple Valley, WA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.