The Mexican-American War explains manifest destiny and western expansion and how they led to the war. The book has a “What Have We Learned” chapter which shows a connection between the historical information and the current world. The books provide overviews of the conflicts in an easy-to-read format, including sidebars and personal narratives.  There are also maps, photos, and illustrations, a glossary and  a “Find Out More” section in the back with a list of additional resources to explore.. The book does a good job at presenting both sides of the Mexican-American War. In addition to battles, there are sections on some of the people involved and topics like weaponry and hardships and information on westward expansion like the Donner Party.