An account of the Vietnam War begins with a brief but essential look at the history of Vietnam and colonialism. The region was occupied by the Chinese for more than a millennium and then, beginning in the 19 th century, by the French, while the Japanese invaded during World War II. Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of an independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam and his leadership in a war to rout the French and unify a country politically divided by Allied leadership in the aftermath of World War II coincided with the Cold War and U.S. fears of communism. This led to U.S. efforts to suppress open elections, rising U.S. military presence in the form of “military advisers,” and eventually the war. As the United States became more and more entrenched in fighting, opposition rose at home, while soldiers on both sides, and Vietnamese civilians, paid the terrible price. Freedman’s account is clear and compelling, and provides an understanding of both the political and human aspects of the war. A timeline, source notes, and selected bibliography are provided. (Age 12 and older)

An accessible and authoritative account of what led to the Vietnam War and its legacies from Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman.

With prose that is clear, concise, and enthralling, Russell Freedman presents a detailed history of the Vietnam war. 

Beginning with an overview of Vietnam's long fight for independence from the Chinese, the French, and the Japanese, Freedman then untangles the puzzling and catastrophic decisions that led to U.S. boots on the ground.

Coverage includes the French war in Vietnam, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, the fall of President Diem, the Tonkin Gulf, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai massacre, the bombing of Cambodia, and the fall of Saigon, as well as the U.S. anti-war movement. Freedman concludes with a hopeful epilogue on modern Vietnam.  

The book includes nearly 100 historic photographs and illustrations, as well as candid photographs showcasing the state of Vietnam today.  A glossary, source notes, bibliography, and index are included.

A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choices Title
A Junior Library Guild Selection