A specialist in the US Civil War, Snell (history, Shepherd U., West Virginia) recounts how West Virginia became a state in June 1863 in the turmoil of war, the war experience of the people, and their contributions to both sides of the conflict. He draws mostly on secondary sources and provides only an outline, he says: a full account is yet to be written. His topics include the first campaign and other firsts, towards statehood, the 35th star in the flag, West Virginians at war in the spring and summer of 1864, and the end of the war and beyond. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)