(3) YA This sturdy biography covers the rock legend's life, from her misfit middle-class adolescence in Port Arthur, Texas, to her death by overdose. Along the way, it attempts to set the record straight about her sexuality, vices, and chronic need for validation. Angel reliably provides the social contexts against which Joplin rose and fell. A copious number of black-and-white photos illustrate events. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Multicultural Literature series. Students of literature will appreciate these dense but useful discussions of notable titles popular with young adult audiences. Plot summaries, literary elements, reception and criticism, and a brief overview of the authors' lives combine with photographs and sidebars to present a thorough analysis of the books, their literary and historical significance, and the authors who wrote them. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Multicultural Literature titles: A Reader's Guide to Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street, A Reader's Guide to Gary Soto's Taking Sides, A Reader's Guide to Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and A Reader's Guide to Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Authors Teens Love series. These biographies tell about the lives and works of popular authors. The main texts are generally bland; however, the appended short interviews or collections of quotes do shed some light on the minds of those who make a living at their craft and will perhaps inspire would-be teen writers. Some photographs and pull-quotes help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Authors Teens Love titles: Amy Tan, Lois Duncan, Isaac Asimov, and Vivian Vande Velde.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Authors Teens Love series. These biographies tell about the lives and works of popular authors. Most of the texts are bland and sometimes repetitive, but fans are occasionally rewarded with interesting tidbits (for example, in I Am the Cheese, Amy Hertz's phone number was actually the phone number of author Cormier). Some photographs and pull-quotes help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Authors Teens Love titles: Lois Lowry, Robert Cormier, Richard Peck, S. E. Hinton, and Gary Paulsen.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett