(4) YA Forgotten Youth series. These volumes chronicle the unfortunate plight of many of today's children. Soldiers focuses on the atrocities occurring in countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where children are forced into military service. Homeless presents statistics and first-person accounts of the struggles of abandoned kids and teens. Incarcerated highlights how prison affects many youths. Photographs, sidebars, and helpful organizations' contact information enhance the dense, serviceable texts. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers the following Forgotten Youth titles: Child Soldiers, Homeless Youth, and Incarcerated Youth.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA People in the News series. Each title touches on the figure's childhood, adult life, achievements, and surrounding controversies. Though the writing tends to be overly laudatory (not so in Madoff), difficult issues are occasionally addressed ("Leonardo's Stalker," "Is Spike Lee a Racist?"). Sidebars cover more general topics, adding some context. Many photographs are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Leonardo DiCaprio, Spike Lee, and Bernie Madoff.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Great Idea series. Technologies behind ecologically conscious products and processes are revealed through brief explanations of the cultural and lifestyle practices that necessitated them and the creative minds that developed them. "Did You Know?" sidebars and many captioned photographs help explain the topics for readers, but babyish book design may deter them. Cars and Tires include reading lists. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Idea titles: Recycled Tires, Home Windmills, Water from Air, and Hybrid Cars.

Reviewer: Claudia Harrington DeShay

(4) 4-6 Great Idea series. Technologies behind ecologically conscious products and processes are revealed through brief explanations of the cultural and lifestyle practices that necessitated them and the creative minds that developed them. "Did You Know?" sidebars and many captioned photographs help explain the topics for readers, but babyish book design may deter them. Cars and Tires include reading lists. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Idea titles: Recycled Tires, Home Windmills, Water from Air, and Hybrid Cars.

Reviewer: Claudia Harrington DeShay

(4) YA Lucent Library of Black History series. Many of the volumes in this series tracing African American history address slavery, from the Atlantic slave trade to the ongoing slavery reparation movement; Rosa Parks focuses on the civil rights movement and Religious discusses faith and the history of gospel music. The texts are dense but informative. Some black-and-white illustrations and photographs help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review includes these Lucent Library of Black History titles: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Reparations for Slavery, The Civil War and Emancipation, The African American Religious Experience, The Atlantic Slave Trade, and Reconstruction.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith