THE SINKING OF THE BISMARCK

Excitement, suspense surrounding the biggest naval hunt of World War II, combine to make this one of the tops in this series, a book one reads with sustained excitement. Britain on the conveys bringing her supplies, and the line was threatened by a ship of the speed and forepower. The hunt starts when the Bismarck's departure from the well-maintained secret hiding place is reported; it ends six days and some 2,000 miles later when British torpedoes and shells send the pride of the German navy to the bottom of the Atlantic with all but 118 of its 2400 men crew. Here is contemporary history as it should be written for 10-14ers. There's a sense of drama, an economy of words.