(3) 4-6 Discovering History's Heroes series. In 1889, Susan La Flesche became the first Native American to earn a medical degree. Born and raised in the Omaha tribe, she used her education to doctor her people, to improve public health, and to advocate for her tribe's land rights. This well-written biography uses short, declarative sentences and plenty of context to help readers understand La Flesche's pathbreaking accomplishments and includes numerous quotes from the subject's letters to convey a sense of her personality (lack of any archival photos is unfortunate). The text ends with a glossary and bibliography.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA Hip-Hop Artists series. Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Essential Library of Inventions series. These books focus on pivotal inventions as historical events, examining why each was created and what preceded it; how each has changed life today; and how it will evolve. Supplemented with excellent photos, archival images, and diagrams, the well-written narratives also clearly explain the technology of each invention. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Library of Inventions titles: How the Light Bulb Changed History, How the Refrigerator Changed History, How the Internet Changed History, How the Toilet Changed History, and How the Printing Press Changed History.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Harnessing Energy series. These brief books present balanced--even scholarly--overviews of major energy sources. Workmanlike prose covers some history for each source; describes capturing/production techniques; and, importantly, examines the contributions and costs of each source: e.g., the relative safety of non-extractives such as solar and wind power versus the lesser yields, intermittent production, and effects on wildlife. Excellent captioned photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these Harnessing Energy titles: Coal Power, Hydropower, Natural Gas Power, Nuclear Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 What's Next? series. With technological advances come changes in traveling and communicating, fueling society's abilities to move and connect. Each title begins with a vision of the future followed by the challenges and discoveries that led to the present and future projects. Sidebars add additional information to the straightforward text, but the stock color photographs are uninspiring and the page design may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these What's Next? titles: The Future of Transportation and The Future of Communication.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 What's Next? series. This book focuses on the need for weapons to be more accurate and powerful, with the goal of technologically advancing weaponry and soldiers' skills. Ultimately, there's potential for combat becoming a battle of brains over brawn. An engaging text combines with color photographs and sidebars touching on the history of weaponry, strategy, and warfare. The text-heavy page design may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 What's Next? series. Acknowledging the challenges, this book begins by considering the possibility of living on Mars. What follows is a straightforward presentation of the successes and obstacles of space exploration from the invention of the telescope to the International Space Station and currently developing technologies. Color and archival photographs combine with sidebars to add additional perspectives. The text-heavy page design may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale