Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2017 In The Art of War, the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote, “All warfare is based on deception”—the proof of which author Janeczko dramatically demonstrates in this survey of wartime deception techniques ranging from Gideon’s rout of the Midianites, to the Trojan Horse, to the Gulf War. Janeczko cites a whopping dozen deception techniques employed by military strategists that include camouflage, planted false information, ruse, and more. He then shows their applications in times of war. Early on, deception was usually the brainchild of a single person, but by the time of WWI it had become institutionalized. It had also become increasingly complex, as the need for extremely close reading of the text amply shows. Not only does the book’s battlefield action become more complicated, but so does the naming of the sometimes obscure “fake-outs.” For example, there were 14 code names for the D-Day invasion alone! For some readers, this may pose a considerable challenge. But for kids who enjoy reading about war, this is catnip. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/01/2017 Gr 7 Up—One cannot always believe one's eyes or ears, especially if one is engaged in war. Janeczko opens with the story of the Trojan horse and explains that though it may have been based in mythology, it is still a solid example of a tactic referred to as a "feint." Janeczko then describes Gideon's biblical victory over the Midianites in the Old Testament. Readers who are familiar with the major operations of World War I and World War II will learn how an enormous number of military deceptions were planned and executed (e.g., the escape of thousands of Allied troops from Gallipoli while under the eyes of Turkish forces in the First World War). The author touches briefly on U.S. wars in Korea and Vietnam, where many of these techniques were considered to be outdated or somewhat dishonest. The last section describes how deceptions and GPS were successfully used against Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War. However, the work ends rather abruptly, with no real conclusion. VERDICT A top selection for those serious about military studies. Otherwise, a secondary purchase.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.