(4) YA People in the News series. Each title touches on the public figure's early years, later life, and achievements. Though the writing tends to be overly laudatory, difficult issues are occasionally addressed, especially in the Karzai volume (e.g., corruption allegations against him, his increasing criticism of the West). Sidebars cover more general topics, adding some context. Many photographs are included. There are eight other fall 2011 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Katy Perry, George Lopez, Sonia Sotomayor, Lady Gaga, and Hamid Karzai.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA People in the News series. These series entries provide a portrait of each subject's childhood, career, and influences. The texts, though superficial, are informative. Sidebars touch on related topics (e.g., Tibet in Dalai Lama, diabetes in Jonas Brothers), controversies (e.g., Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin, DeGeneres's coming out), and trivia. There are five other spring 2010 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Tyra Banks, Hillary Clinton, Tina Fey, The Dalai Lama, Jonas Brothers, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Hot Topics series. These series entries provide useful overviews of their topics. The information is fairly well contextualized in the main texts and further supported through sidebars and pull-quotes. Many photographs (some illogically placed or only marginally related to the subjects) in addition to charts and graphs appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Hot Topics titles: Freedom of Expression and the Internet, Poverty, and Bias in the Media.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA People in the News series. Harry Potter actor Radcliffe and writer, civil rights activist, and performer Angelou are the latest subjects of this biography series. Providing background on her life more than her writing, the Angelou biography gives historical context about growing up in the segregated South. For Radcliffe, the focus is his acting career and "regular kid" status. Each volume is illustrated with many photographs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Daniel Radcliffe and Maya Angelou.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Modern Role Models series. These biographies chronicle the subjects' rise to fame, major setbacks and accomplishments, and efforts toward helping others; a few of the celebrities featured are odd choices as "role models," though all have teen appeal. The busy design includes photographs, bolded quotations, and many different-color fonts. There are eight other fall 2008 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Modern Role Models titles: Raven-Symoné, Tobey Maguire, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Tyra Banks, and Criss Angel.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA Modern Role Models series. These biographies chronicle the subjects' rise to fame, major setbacks and accomplishments, and efforts toward helping others; a few of the celebrities featured are odd choices as "role models," though all have teen appeal. The busy design includes photographs, bolded quotations, and many different-color fonts. There are eight other fall 2008 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Modern Role Models titles: Raven-Symoné, Tobey Maguire, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Tyra Banks, and Criss Angel.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA People in the News series. These series entries cover basic biographical facts; as evidenced by the McCain title, which ends with his nomination, the books quickly become out of date. Fans may enjoy the Timberlake bio, including its many color photos, and students could use the McCain book (with further research) for reports. Though the books are fairly superficial, they're fine starting points. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Justin Timberlake and John McCain.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Bloodiest Battles series. "The battle of Antietam marked the bloodiest day America has ever seen." The text sketches the background of this historic Civil War battle, including tactics and strategies of both the Union and Confederate armies. Maps, black-and-white historical photographs (some with distracting red shading), and contemporary images graphically depict the human toll of the battle that many historians believe both sides lost. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Bloodiest Battles series. Accompanied by maps, black-and-white historical photographs (some with distracting red shading), and contemporary images, the text describes the fierce fighting in the WWII battle for Iwo Jima, including tactics and strategies of both Japanese and American fighters. Some of the photos graphically illustrate the bloodiness and deadliness of the battle. A simplified but possibly useful introduction for readers. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Sports Records series. The sound-bite qualities of these volumes may be welcome to readers; they can memorize a few names and numbers to toss around with their friends. Charts throughout track such information as "most career touchdown passes" and "most times hit by a pitch." The many photographs provide glimpses of the elite players in action. Titles are current through 2007. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Edge Books: Sports Records titles: The Greatest Baseball Records and The Greatest Football Records.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA People in the News series. From politicians to actors to world leaders, these biographies provide mostly adulatory portrayals of their subjects (with the exceptions of Castro and Kim Jong Il); occasionally something controversial slips in to spice up the texts. Each volume includes biographical information, photographs, and career highlights (through 2008). Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Salma Hayek, Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore, Coretta Scott King, Pope Benedict XVI, Fidel Castro, and Kim Jong Il.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA People in the News series. This series tries to be comprehensive in its coverage, including childhood and adult life, achievements, successes, and failures. Though controversies surrounding each person are included, the books mainly show their subjects in a positive light. The many photographs and sidebars underscore the fanzine look and feel. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Hilary Duff, Zac Efron, Hillary Clinton, Kelly Clarkson, Condoleezza Rice, and 50 Cent.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA People in the News series. This series tries to be comprehensive in its coverage, including childhood and adult life, achievements, successes, and failures. Though controversies surrounding each person are included, the books mainly show their subjects in a positive light. The many photographs and sidebars underscore the fanzine look and feel. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Hilary Duff, Zac Efron, Hillary Clinton, Kelly Clarkson, Condoleezza Rice, and 50 Cent.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics series. The subjects are here presented within the context of culture and identity. García Márquez explores political themes in the author's work. Alvarez emphasizes her determination to develop an authentic female voice that reflects her multicultural experience. In Lopez, fact and fluff blur in the manner of the book's celebrity magazine primary sources. Text and photos vary greatly in style and quality. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics titles: Julia Alvarez, Jennifer Lopez, and Gabriel García Márquez.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard: Awesome Athletes series. These books for reluctant readers briefly cover each subject's early years before focusing on his or her athletic career. The coverage is superficial and adulatory but accessible; controversy and adversity are ignored. Action photos, a timeline, and stats help break up the text. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard: Awesome Athletes titles: Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Tony Hawk, Kobe Bryant, Venus & Serena Williams, and Yao Ming.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn