(4) YA Modern World Nations series. These books discuss each country's geography, history, politics, government, and culture, in addition to examining its challenges and possible solutions. The volumes are aimed at report writers and, though the texts aren't particularly engaging, they will assist students in completing their assignments. Photographs help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern World Nations titles: Honduras and Colombia.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. Comparison with neighboring countries lays a framework for this formulaic introduction to Costa Rica. Photographs depict the country as a land of geographical variety--mountains, seashore, and tropical rainforest. Points of interest are cattle ranching, volcanoes, and Costa Rica's exotic animal population, which includes kinkajous, poison dart frogs, and speckled caimans. Reading list, map, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. These three countries, sharing a similar history of colonization and exploitation of their natural resources, have all struggled through economic and political upheaval during self-rule. The formulaic texts, enhanced with color and black-and-white illustrations, present information suitable for report writers. Bolivia includes a list of further reading. Timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern World Nations titles: Argentina, Guatemala, and Bolivia.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. Although written to formula, these studies solidly detail each nation's history, geography, politics, and people. Georgia, in particular, helps fill an information gap and provides a realistic picture of how that country is dealing with issues such as government corruption since gaining independence in 1991. Each book in this series is illustrated with color photos; Austria and Georgia contain glossaries. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Modern World Nations titles: Austria, Scotland, and Republic of Georgia.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta