Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, Krull (Lives of the Writers; Lives of the Musicians) delivers this first-rate commemorative volume. Eminently readable, it showcases her talent for distilling history to its anecdotal best and gives a wide-ranging view of the key players and events of this pivotal era in recent history. From Hitler and Roosevelt to Anne Frank, from Rosie the Riveter to Tokyo Rose, from rationing to espionage, Krull spotlights the many dramas played out on a global stage. She augments her impressive writing with strong visual material, including maps, newspaper headlines, artifacts, posters and hundreds of vintage photographs (many of them unflinching, including those of concentration camp inmates and other victims of the war). Whether for browsing or close study, this is an extraordinary reference book that should be snapped up by parents and teachers alike. Of equal interest to young readers and adults. Ages 10-up.