(4) YA American History series. Brownell considers the roots of the Cold War, tracing the political struggle between Soviet Russia and the United States from the end of World War II to the fall of the Soviet Union. The straightforward writing makes the information accessible, but the two-column layout results in a sterile, textbooklike feel. Maps and photographs help break up the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. A shared foreword explains that these books should dispel the television myth that forensic crimes are solved by just one or two people. Instead, the series emphasizes collaborative efforts and highlights emerging technologies. The writing is dense; sidebars and photographs help break up the text. Burgeoning criminal justice enthusiasts will be fascinated by the technical and personal details. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: The Oklahoma City Bombing, Identity Theft, The Case of the Green River Killer, Tracking Serial Killers, and The Unabomber.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Hot Topics series. This book provides a well-balanced look at immigration in America. Such topics as the history of immigration, modern-day issues surrounding illegal immigrants, economic questions, and social concerns regarding identity and assimilation are addressed. Many well-chosen photographs and relevant sidebars and quotations appear throughout the volume. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz