(4) YA Building America, Then and Now series. These books highlight the histories, construction, and impact of four mammoth American development projects that changed the communities around them. Photos, maps, and informative sidebars supplement the densely detailed writing. American history buffs will find these volumes useful for doing research. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Building America, Then and Now titles: The Hoover Dam, The Eisenhower Interstate System, The Empire State Building, and New York's Central Park.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Modern World Leaders series. This series, both historical and biographical in nature, challenges readers to consider the concept of leadership by placing the featured statesman in historical context. Childhood experiences, rise to power, significant historical events, international relationships, and political ideology combine with captioned photographs to provide a well-researched, albeit densely written, perspective on the United Nations's eighth secretary-general. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Great Historic Disasters series. The causes and aftermath of each disaster are explored in detail in these books that are illustrated with photographs and other images. Pandemic covers the history of the influenza outbreak and medical advances made over the last century to prevent future pandemics. Titanic covers familiar ground, while adding details about the ship's construction and passengers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Great Historic Disasters titles: The Sinking of the [cf4]Titanic[cf3] and The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) YA Immigrants in America series. Covering stereotypes, challenges, and prejudices, each of these comprehensive but dryly written books discusses the history and contributions of a specific immigrant group. Archival photos and text boxes break up the presentation and extend the information. Profiles of notable immigrants are interspersed. Addresses, reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Immigrants in America titles: Italian Americans, Irish Americans, Swedish Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and German Americans.]

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Let Freedom Ring series. With occasionally stilted language, each of the flattering biographies in this series briefly chronicles the early life and later accomplishments of colonial figures. Features include maps, time lines, Internet sites, and historical places related to the subject. Archival paintings, without bibliographic citations, and photos of period clothing and household items serve as illustrations. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Let Freedom Ring titles: Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, George Washington.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang