(4) YA Remembering the Holocaust series. This updated series provides report writers with a decent overview of the Holocaust, including events surrounding Hilter's rise to power, major figures, atrocities, and resistance efforts. Each edition includes helpful maps and one or two poorly reproduced black-and-white archival photos in an uninspired design. The volumes will be useful for report writing but should be supported with more in-depth books. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Remembering the Holocaust titles: Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, Warsaw, Lodz, Vilna, Anti-Semitism and the "Final Solution", Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Treblinka, Schindler, Wallenberg, Miep Gies, and Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Remembering the Holocaust series. This updated series provides report writers with a decent overview of the Holocaust, including events surrounding Hilter's rise to power, major figures, atrocities, and resistance efforts. Each edition includes helpful maps and one or two poorly reproduced black-and-white archival photos in an uninspired design. The volumes will be useful for report writing but should be supported with more in-depth books. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Remembering the Holocaust titles: Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, Warsaw, Lodz, Vilna, Anti-Semitism and the "Final Solution", Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Treblinka, Schindler, Wallenberg, Miep Gies, and Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Stories in American History series. The updated volumes in this series spotlight key moments in U.S. history, framing the discussions with coverage of the events leading up to and following those periods. The presentation of topics is adequate; occasional drawings and photos, which vary in relevance and clarity, give the merest hint of the period in each book. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Stories in American History titles: The California Gold Rush, The Amazing Underground Railroad, The Legend of the Alamo, Surviving the Oregon Trail, and The Incredible Transcontinental Railroad.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Holocaust Through Primary Sources series. This series covers various aspects of the Holocaust. Interspersed throughout the historical narratives are recollections by people who were there; text boxes with handwriting font signals first-person accounts. Some stock photos and occasional pictures supplied by the witnesses add immediacy. The writing and organization of material are uneven, but the volumes are useful nonetheless. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holocaust Through Primary Sources titles: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Rescuing the Danish Jews, Saving Children from the Holocaust, Auschwitz, Kristallnacht, and Liberation.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) 4-6 Mythology Rocks! series. Each of these volumes (revised and with slightly different titles--without "Rocks!") begins with a brief introduction to the title culture. Several myths important to that culture follow; a short question-and-answer section, along with "expert commentary," appears after each story. Stippled illustrations break up the dense texts but otherwise don't add much. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mythology Rocks! titles: African Mythology Rocks!, Celtic Mythology Rocks!, Chinese Mythology Rocks!, Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology Rock!, Maya and Aztec Mythology Rocks!, and Heroes in Greek Mythology Rock!

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust series. This series presents firsthand accounts of teens' horrific experiences during the Holocaust. Descriptions of death camps, Kristallnacht, ghettos, and the roundup of Jews are vividly portrayed. Photographs, lists of resources, and chapter notes make the information accessible and encourage further reading. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust titles: Escape--Teens on the Run, Hidden Teens, Hidden Lives, Shattered Youth in Nazi Germany, Courageous Teen Resisters, Trapped--Youth in the Nazi Ghettos, and Youth Destroyed--the Nazi Camps.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) YA True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust series. This series presents firsthand accounts of teens' horrific experiences during the Holocaust. Descriptions of death camps, Kristallnacht, ghettos, and the roundup of Jews are vividly portrayed. Photographs, lists of resources, and chapter notes make the information accessible and encourage further reading. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust titles: Escape--Teens on the Run, Hidden Teens, Hidden Lives, Shattered Youth in Nazi Germany, Courageous Teen Resisters, Trapped--Youth in the Nazi Ghettos, and Youth Destroyed--the Nazi Camps.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) YA True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust series. This series presents firsthand accounts of teens' horrific experiences during the Holocaust. Descriptions of death camps, Kristallnacht, ghettos, and the roundup of Jews are vividly portrayed. Photographs, lists of resources, and chapter notes make the information accessible and encourage further reading. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust titles: Escape--Teens on the Run, Hidden Teens, Hidden Lives, Shattered Youth in Nazi Germany, Courageous Teen Resisters, Trapped--Youth in the Nazi Ghettos, and Youth Destroyed--the Nazi Camps.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) YA Issues in Focus Today series. Written to stimulate thoughtful reflection and discussion, these books examine different sides of the many questions surrounding genocide and abortion; Genocide has been revised and expanded. The short, accessible chapters are accompanied by stock photographs, sidebars, and some diagrams in an uninspired design. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Issues in Focus Today titles: Genocide and The Abortion Debate.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Celebrate Holidays series. This volume explores the history and observances of Kwanzaa. The text is comprehensive, beginning with the tradition of harvest festivals and moving to a thorough discussion of each aspect of the celebration. Boxed text including information on specific persons or points of interest and detailed photo captions provide additional facts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Issues in Focus Today series. These books offer general overviews of the subjects. AIDS begins with a profile of Ryan White, then tells about the history of HIV/AIDS, its treatments, and what is being done around the world to fight its spread. Bioethics offers an evenhanded treatment of the sometimes controversial subject. The short chapters are illustrated with photographs (some stiffly and awkwardly staged). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Issues in Focus Today titles: Bioethics and Fighting the AIDS and HIV Epidemic.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) YA Issues in Focus series. This slightly rushed but well-organized offering traces the civil rights movement from the Reconstruction era through the late sixties, when black militant groups challenged Martin Luther King, Jr.'s nonviolent activism. Especially moving among the archival black-and-white photos are those featuring black children fighting for their rights. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. Both books focus on the Holocaust's aftermath: Crimes details the quest for postwar accountability that resulted in the Nuremberg trial and Simon Wiesenthal's pursuit of fugitive Nazis, and Impact explores how the Holocaust affected both individuals and entire cultures in the years following World War II. The cogent texts are illustrated with black-and-white photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holocaust in History titles: Crimes and Criminals of the Holocaust and Impact of the Holocaust.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. Both books focus on the Holocaust's aftermath: Crimes details the quest for postwar accountability that resulted in the Nuremberg trial and Simon Wiesenthal's pursuit of fugitive Nazis, and Impact explores how the Holocaust affected both individuals and entire cultures in the years following World War II. The cogent texts are illustrated with black-and-white photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holocaust in History titles: Crimes and Criminals of the Holocaust and Impact of the Holocaust.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Slavery in American History series. Judicious middle school researchers may find some interesting tidbits in the source documents collected in these books, but most readers will find the books dull. Archival illustrations accompany the texts. Each volume contains a timeline, chapter notes, selected readings, and additional resources. Glos., ind. Review covers these Slavery in American History titles: The Politics of Slavery, African-American History from Emancipation to Today and Slave Life on the Plantation.

Reviewer: Deborah L. Thompson

(4) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. Set between the end of World War I and 1939, this book chronicles the events in Germany that enabled Hitler to organize the Nazi Party and eventually establish himself as dictator and briefly touches on the seeds of the Holocaust. The lackluster text, illustrated with archival photos, presents events in an accessible, sequential format but is often too abbreviated for the complex topic. Chapter notes, maps, websites, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. These books deal with Holocaust victims and survivors. Altman gives a vivid image of some of the atrocities committed by Hitler's henchmen against Jews, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and other groups. Each book, illustrated with archival photos, presents events in an accessible, sequential format but is often too abbreviated for the complex topics. Chapter notes, maps, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust in History titles: The Forgotten Victims of the Holocaust, The Jewish Victims of the Holocaust, and Resisters and Rescuers--Standing Up against the Holocaust.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. These books deal with Holocaust victims and survivors. Altman gives a vivid image of some of the atrocities committed by Hitler's henchmen against Jews, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and other groups. Each book, illustrated with archival photos, presents events in an accessible, sequential format but is often too abbreviated for the complex topics. Chapter notes, maps, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust in History titles: The Forgotten Victims of the Holocaust, The Jewish Victims of the Holocaust, and Resisters and Rescuers--Standing Up against the Holocaust.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 It's My State! series. These complete and well-organized state books have appealing covers, a clear inside design, colorful quote and fact bubbles, and photos with rounded edges and informative captions. The writing is dry and somewhat impersonal, but overall the books will be useful for report writers. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these It's My State! titles: Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Utah.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Holocaust in History series. These books deal with Holocaust victims and survivors. Altman gives a vivid image of some of the atrocities committed by Hitler's henchmen against Jews, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and other groups. Each book, illustrated with archival photos, presents events in an accessible, sequential format but is often too abbreviated for the complex topics. Chapter notes, maps, reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Holocaust in History titles: The Forgotten Victims of the Holocaust, The Jewish Victims of the Holocaust, and Resisters and Rescuers--Standing Up against the Holocaust.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg