Presenting the Spring 2005 History Top Ten

This week, Book Sense and The History Channel present the Spring 2005 History Top Ten, which focuses on titles about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his era. The list is based on the nominations of independent booksellers nationwide and is the fifth time Book Sense has compiled a list in association with The History Channel.

The History Channel will be airing "FDR: A Presidency Revealed" on Sunday-Monday, April 17 - 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The two-part, four-hour special from The History Channel goes beyond the public faade of FDR and into the complex life that shaped one of America's greatest leaders.

This ongoing initiative with The History Channel provide booksellers another opportunity to offer a range of intriguing titles to customers in conjunction with compelling television programming.

For a downloadable PDF file of the Spring 2005 History Top Ten, click here.

Looking ahead, there are a number of key nomination deadlines coming up: Booksellers are strongly encouraged to send in nominations for the Summer Children's Book Sense list, the Audiobooks Top Ten list, and the June Book Sense Picks.

The deadlines are:

• Friday, March 25 for the Summer Children's Book Sense list;
• Friday, April 1, for the Audiobooks Top Ten; and
• Friday, April 8, for the June Book Sense picks.

A full schedule of 2005 deadlines is available at www.bookweb.org/read/2330.

Nominations may be sent via e-mail to Book Sense Picks Editor-in-Chief Dan Cullen at [email protected], or via a convenient Web form at www.bookweb.org/read/6305.

1. THE LONGEST WINTER: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon, by Alex Kershaw (Da Capo, $25, 0306813041) "This is an epic and fascinating read. Kershaw's narrative alternates between American and German forces, as the reader comes to understand both sides of the battle. The Longest Winter is a testimony to the brave young men who stopped Germany's last major push and who deserve to have their story told." -- Elizabeth Hamilton, Portland State Bookstore, Portland, OR

2. THE AVENGERS: A Jewish War Story, by Rich Cohen (Vintage, $13 paper, 0375705295) "An amazing story of three teenagers, one boy and two girls, who tried to organize resistance in the Lithuanian ghetto of Vilna in 1942 and, when that foundered, who escaped to the forests to fight with the Partisans. This is a vivid account of a successful Jewish resistance from an author who began the book when he discovered that his elderly cousin was one of the teenagers." -- Pat Kehde, The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS

3. FDR'S FOLLY: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression, by Jim Powell (Three Rivers Press, $14.95 paper, 140005477X) "Some might argue that the author has an agenda, but FDR's Folly is likely to start a number of stimulating conversations, even among liberals." -- Augie Aleksy, Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, Forest Park, IL

4. ON AMERICAN SOIL: How Justice Became a Casualty of World War II, by Jack Hamann (Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123948) "When an Italian POW dies in 1944, the War Department charges three African-American soldiers with the murder and 40 other African-American soldiers with rioting. In this well-researched and compelling account, Hamann vividly describes the life-and-death drama of World War II's largest army court-martial." -- Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Books, Seattle, WA

5. GI JEWS: How World War II Changed a Generation, by Deborah Dash Moore (Belknap Press, $25.95, 0674015096) "Deborah Dash Moore's account of the unique experiences of American Jewish soldiers in WWII makes for fascinating reading. Their responses to Hitler's atrocities, as well as their experiences in the armed forces, were often quite different than those of Christian Americans. This would be a great reading group pick!" -- Meredith Whiles, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY

6. DRESDEN: Tuesday, February 13, 1945, by Frederick Taylor (Perennial, $15.95 paper, 0060006773) "By 1945, U.S. bombers could reach far into eastern Germany to firebomb Dresden, where, until then, much of Germany's war industry escaped attack. This is a compelling and cohesive story that encompasses both the moral ambiguity of war and the catastrophic destruction of what once was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. A magnificent, epic book." -- Linda Berentsen, Orca Books, Olympia, WA

7. THE BONUS ARMY: An American Epic, by Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen (Walker, $27, 0802714404) "I've only seen very brief mentions of the Bonus Army, but this event had a major impact on the future of veterans -- and it was the impetus for the GI Bill. In showing the power of the masses, the interaction of races in a very segregated time, and the repercussions of this protest on the Presidential election, The Bonus Army provides a compelling read about an obscure episode of U.S. history." -- Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

8. JUST ENOUGH LIEBLING, by A.J. Liebling (FSG, $27.50, 0374104433) "This beautifully written, immensely entertaining collection from one of the greatest New Yorker writers is a delight from start to finish! Anyone who is a fan of exquisitely styled prose, will love Liebling's take on the early 20th century, especially his incomparable reporting on World War II." -- Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI

9. NAVAJO WEAPON:The Navajo Code Talkers, by Sally McClain (Rio Nuevo Publishers, $16.95 paper, 1887896325) "A unique code based on the Navajo language proved unbreakable, and it played a major role for U.S. forces in key World War II battles in the South Pacific, including Iwo Jima. This very readable book is well researched, and the story unfolds with photos, maps, and code translations. One can have only gratitude to this nation within our nation." -- Carolyn Schrader, Southwest Book Roundup, Capitan, NM

10. ROSIE THE RIVETER: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II, by Penny Colman (Crown Books for Young Readers, $10.99 paper, 0517885670) "This is a completely engaging exploration of a time when women were actively recruited into nearly ever sector of the work force, which meant a change in societal perceptions of gender roles, and changes in women's ideas of themselves and their abilities. A great book for nine- to twelve-year-old history fans, although I got a lot out of it as an adult." -- Pam Harcourt, Women & Children First, Chicago, IL