(3) YA ISIS has been on the forefront of global affairs for more than a decade. This investigative volume provides a look at the group's origins and beliefs, as well as the terrorist acts it has committed or inspired. The narrative, including gripping stories of survival from attacks, is accompanied by numerous photographs of the aftermaths and people involved. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Privacy doesn't really exist, profit motives spur businesses to cull information wherever they can find it, and government agencies analyze and share gigabytes of data constantly. Cautionary chapters describe vulnerabilities lurking in cyberspace. Anecdotes are a reality check for teen users who may not be aware of eroding privacy. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. This series explores events that had profound and long-lasting impacts on world civilizations. More than just a dry relating of facts and dates, the volumes dig deeper into the spread of Islam (Middle East) and the root causes and aftermath of the plague (Death). Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps (there is a minor mistake in Middle East), and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Pivotal Moments in History titles: The Arab Conquests of the Middle East and The Black Death.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. This volume details an important turning point in world history. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the book not only relates facts about the 1979 Iranian Revolution but also delves into events leading up to it, beginning with its roots in medieval Persia, as well as exploring the lasting effects. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA These well-written volumes offer valuable insight into important topics. Focused mostly on Muslim bombers, Suicide overcomes unattractive book design with its balanced exploration of why young people choose to become suicide bombers. Genocide delves into the horrifying issue of mass murder with a much-needed eye for the subtleties surrounding the topic. Genocide has a timeline. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these titles: Genocide and Suicide Bombers.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) YA World Art & Culture series. Though the two pages about beliefs are too general, overall this book provides good background information about Native American art and culture. The descriptions of carvings, textiles, clothing, and hairstyles include tribes from different regions. There is also a chapter on songs, ceremonies, and dances. The striking photos of artwork are stronger than the text. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 American Battlefields series. Each book in the series highlights important battles in American history, dropping interesting tidbits that young readers might not have encountered yet (e.g., clarifying that Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre was inaccurate, but helped to raise support for the colonists' side). Maps, reproduced paintings and photographs, and other graphics complement the information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Battlefields titles: Lexington & Concord, Gettysburg, Little Bighorn, and The Alamo.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 American Battlefields series. Each book in the series highlights important battles in American history, dropping interesting tidbits that young readers might not have encountered yet (e.g., clarifying that Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre was inaccurate, but helped to raise support for the colonists' side). Maps, reproduced paintings and photographs, and other graphics complement the information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Battlefields titles: Lexington & Concord, Gettysburg, Little Bighorn, and The Alamo.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Making of a Champion series. This ambitious series strives to cover all aspects of the featured sport, from its history and development to the equipment and skills required to succeed. Sidebars, color and black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and charts combine with a detail-rich text to provide a busy, thorough, and well-researched introduction for the hard-core sports enthusiast. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Making of a Champion titles: An International Soccer Star, A Basketball All-Star, A Football All-Pro, A Baseball All-Star, A World-Class Ice Skater, and A World-Class Boxer.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 History in Art series. Each first chapter explains, with varying success, the relationship between art and artists. Subsequent chapters give a chronology of the main events of certain periods. Captioned, labeled images serve as examples of artistic conventions, materials, and techniques. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these History in Art titles: Ancient China, Islamic Empires, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Native Americans, and Middle Ages.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Starting with the 1999 Seattle protests, this volume covers globalization pros and cons, including the effects of the financial "Asian malaise" and the September 11 attacks. While at times passionate, the prose never abandons its commitment to present both sides, and the financial explanations are clear and comprehensive. Maps and occasional black-and-white photos add visual references. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Groundbreakers series. The books in this series profile three explorers of North and Central America. The volumes focus on the expeditions and their effects rather than on the men themselves, and the two-page chapters provide only limited information about many aspects of the expeditions. The pages are illustrated with period reproductions and sidebars. Maps, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Groundbreakers titles: Francisco Coronado, John C. Frémont, and Hernán Cortés.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Cornerstones of Freedom series. Reconstruction discusses the political and civil rights climate in Congress and in the South following the Civil War. Mount Rushmore provides a look at the almost twenty-year process of the sculpting of this national monument. The large-type texts are both supported by well-reproduced archival photos, sketches, and political cartoons. Time lines are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 True Book series. The history and geography of these countries is relayed in plenty of photos and brief, easy-to-read texts, which include some sophisticated concepts and little about child life. Some present-day information is included but is limited mostly to popular sports, although Ireland makes reference to music. January describes "the Troubles" in appropriate terms for the intended audience. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Each book offers a straightforward introduction to some of the scientific and technical accomplishments of these cultures. Among the areas discussed are medicine, mathematics, astronomy, natural history, and physics. Science is defined broadly and includes mention of such peripheral applications as the Mayan use of decorative jade and gold dental fillings and the Indian practice of yoga. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) 4-6 Science of the Past series. Each book offers a straightforward introduction to some of the scientific and technical accomplishments of these cultures. Among the areas discussed are medicine, mathematics, astronomy, natural history, and physics. Science is defined broadly and includes mention of such peripheral applications as the Mayan use of decorative jade and gold dental fillings and the Indian practice of yoga. Color photos and reproductions illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(3) 4-6 Cornerstones of Freedom series. Although the prison at Alcatraz should more properly qualify as a cornerstone of confinement, the five volumes in this series all deal with important episodes and places in American history. Written in simple language and illustrated with archival images, the books serve as solid introductions that contain intriguing historical vignettes without neglecting the overarching historical significance of the topics. Time lines are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Cornerstones of Freedom series. Enduring episodes from American history are neatly summarized in compact volumes that combine clearly written texts with historical reproductions and photographs. The simple prose makes judicious use of quotes from principle periods, resulting in a series of non-intimidating introductions to major historical events. Time lines are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 4-6 Cornerstones of Freedom series. Enduring episodes from American history are neatly summarized in compact volumes that combine clearly written texts with historical reproductions and photographs. The simple prose makes judicious use of quotes from principle periods, resulting in a series of non-intimidating introductions to major historical events. Time lines are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Community Builders series. Black-and-white and color photos and boxed sidebars of relevant information accompany texts that introduce these five influential Americans. Though the texts are often choppy, they adequately give a sense of events that shaped the subjects' lives and the times in which they lived. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.