(4) YA Collective Biographies series. Biographies of six artists whose work represents key moments in the development of comic art demonstrate "the power that cartoonists have to bring both laughter and drama to a mass audience." Occasional photographs, sidebars, and pull-quotes accompany dense texts about the careers of the iconic creators of Peanuts, Doonesbury, Family Guy, The Simpsons, and others; more comics reproductions would be helpful. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Collective Biographies series. In each dense collective biography, six brief biographical sketches introduce key figures in magic, science-fiction films, DJing, the internet, young adult literature, or celebrity brand empires. Focusing on select pivotal players demonstrates how creative talent contributed to the meteoric rise of each industry, though the people or material included can be random. Thematic introductions, photographs, sidebars, and pull-quotes add dimension. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers the following Collective Biographies titles: Great Magicians and Illusionists, Sci-Fi Directors, Electronic Dance Music DJs, Internet Entrepreneurs, Young Adult Authors, and Brand Empire Celebrities.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Teen Guide to Finances series. Introductory concepts about entrepreneurship and personal finance are discussed in these dense texts. The topics, which range from general money management to future-planning, have an overarching theme of fiscal responsibility. The content is strong, but the dull layouts feel dated, and there are too few charts and other visuals to help clarify the concepts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Teen Guide to Finances titles: Teen Guide to Credit and Debt, Teen Guide to Saving and Investing, Teen Guide to Paying for College, and Teen Guide to Starting a Business.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) YA Decade of the 2000s series. Although the information provided in these volumes involves some of the most monumental developments in recent history, this dry and uninspiring series conveys mostly basic information. Color photos (many quite powerful) and pull quotes from primary sources break up the dense and often repetitive text. This series will be useful for school reports. The same timeline opens each book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Decade of the 2000s titles: Catastrophic Events of the 2000s, Cultural Milestones of the 2000s, Sports and Entertainment of the 2000s, Terrorism and War of the 2000s.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Decade of the 2000s series. Although the information provided in these volumes involves some of the most monumental developments in recent history, this dry and uninspiring series conveys mostly basic information. Color photos (many quite powerful) and pull quotes from primary sources break up the dense and often repetitive text. This series will be useful for school reports. The same timeline opens each book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Decade of the 2000s titles: Catastrophic Events of the 2000s, Cultural Milestones of the 2000s, Sports and Entertainment of the 2000s, Terrorism and War of the 2000s.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. This series emphasizes the collaborative efforts of science and law enforcement and examines the skills, determination, resources, and technologies used to solve crimes. Sidebars and photographs combine with the texts to highlight evidence gathering and interpretation, statistics, and career information. The writing is dense, but criminal justice enthusiasts will appreciate the thorough presentation. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: The Homicide Detective, The 9/11 Investigation, The Columbine School Shootings, The Murder of Emmett Till, and K-9 Police Units.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. This series examines the skills, resources, technologies, and determination needed to solve crime, with an emphasis on the collaborative efforts between law-enforcement agents and forensic scientists, when applicable. Sidebars and photographs shed light on evidence gathering and interpretation, notable cases, career information, and statistics. The writing is dense, but readers interested in criminal justice will appreciate the level of detail. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: Poisoning, The O. J. Simpson Murder Trial, Computer Hacking, and The Case of the Zodiac Killer.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale