(4) YA Unbarred series. Shakespeare's tragedies--Antony and Cleopatra (Duty), Hamlet (Fight), Othello (Friend), Romeo and Juliet (Heart)--are adapted to modern settings. Gangs, racial conflicts, drug trafficking, and correctional institutions feature strongly in these unsubtle attempts to make Shakespeare relevant to readers unfamiliar with aristocratic politics or the Roman Empire. Short chapters, fast action, and lots of dialogue increase the hi-lo appeal. Review covers the following Unbarred titles: Duty or Desire, Fight or Flee, Friend or Foe, and Heart or Mind.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Unbarred series. Shakespeare's tragedies--Antony and Cleopatra (Duty), Hamlet (Fight), Othello (Friend), Romeo and Juliet (Heart)--are adapted to modern settings. Gangs, racial conflicts, drug trafficking, and correctional institutions feature strongly in these unsubtle attempts to make Shakespeare relevant to readers unfamiliar with aristocratic politics or the Roman Empire. Short chapters, fast action, and lots of dialogue increase the hi-lo appeal. Review covers the following Unbarred titles: Duty or Desire, Fight or Flee, Friend or Foe, and Heart or Mind.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Unbarred series. Shakespeare's tragedies--Antony and Cleopatra (Duty), Hamlet (Fight), Othello (Friend), Romeo and Juliet (Heart)--are adapted to modern settings. Gangs, racial conflicts, drug trafficking, and correctional institutions feature strongly in these unsubtle attempts to make Shakespeare relevant to readers unfamiliar with aristocratic politics or the Roman Empire. Short chapters, fast action, and lots of dialogue increase the hi-lo appeal. Review covers the following Unbarred titles: Duty or Desire, Fight or Flee, Friend or Foe, and Heart or Mind.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Bounce series. These short hi-lo novels are dominated by fast basketball action and off-court ethical dilemmas created by school pressures and family troubles. Jones unsubtly but engagingly portrays both the stories' basketball tensions and the personal life choices the male and female protagonists must make to resolve their problems. Quick, thought-provoking reads for teen hoops enthusiasts. Review covers the following Bounce titles: At the Center, On Guard, Pass It Forward, and To the Point.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Bounce series. These short hi-lo novels are dominated by fast basketball action and off-court ethical dilemmas created by school pressures and family troubles. Jones unsubtly but engagingly portrays both the stories' basketball tensions and the personal life choices the male and female protagonists must make to resolve their problems. Quick, thought-provoking reads for teen hoops enthusiasts. Review covers the following Bounce titles: At the Center, On Guard, Pass It Forward, and To the Point.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Bounce series. These short hi-lo novels are dominated by fast basketball action and off-court ethical dilemmas created by school pressures and family troubles. Jones unsubtly but engagingly portrays both the stories' basketball tensions and the personal life choices the male and female protagonists must make to resolve their problems. Quick, thought-provoking reads for teen hoops enthusiasts. Review covers the following Bounce titles: At the Center, On Guard, Pass It Forward, and To the Point.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Bounce series. These short hi-lo novels are dominated by fast basketball action and off-court ethical dilemmas created by school pressures and family troubles. Jones unsubtly but engagingly portrays both the stories' basketball tensions and the personal life choices the male and female protagonists must make to resolve their problems. Quick, thought-provoking reads for teen hoops enthusiasts. Review covers the following Bounce titles: At the Center, On Guard, Pass It Forward, and To the Point.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA "Almost all youth do stupid, impulsive things. Yet only some of them turn into criminal acts." Jones deftly covers multiple aspects of juvenile justice in America, including its history, current reforms, and the root causes of delinquency. The text is detailed enough for research but engaging enough for general interest reading; glossy pages include sidebars, pull-quotes, and color photos. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Unbarred series. Shakespeare's tragedies--Antony and Cleopatra (Duty), Hamlet (Fight), Othello (Friend), Romeo and Juliet (Heart)--are adapted to modern settings. Gangs, racial conflicts, drug trafficking, and correctional institutions feature strongly in these unsubtle attempts to make Shakespeare relevant to readers unfamiliar with aristocratic politics or the Roman Empire. Short chapters, fast action, and lots of dialogue increase the hi-lo appeal. Review covers the following Unbarred titles: Duty or Desire, Fight or Flee, Friend or Foe, and Heart or Mind.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Locked Out series. DeQuin wants to avoid the cops, but his friends give him a beating for running away from a fight (Right). Deja, seventeen, has agreed to raise her mom's new baby until Mom gets out of prison (Heaven). The books' open endings may frustrate some, but this series about urban teens with incarcerated parents should appeal to reluctant readers. There are three other spring 2015 books in this series. Review covers the following Locked Out titles: Doing Right and Raising Heaven.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Locked Out series. DeQuin wants to avoid the cops, but his friends give him a beating for running away from a fight (Right). Deja, seventeen, has agreed to raise her mom's new baby until Mom gets out of prison (Heaven). The books' open endings may frustrate some, but this series about urban teens with incarcerated parents should appeal to reluctant readers. There are three other spring 2015 books in this series. Review covers the following Locked Out titles: Doing Right and Raising Heaven.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Support and Defend series. This hi-lo series focuses on the difficulties that veterans and their families encounter during the transition back to civilian life; diverse teenage protagonists must deal with their own issues while trying to understand what their veteran parent is dealing with. Despite predictable plot lines and abrupt resolutions, the series' veteran-related issues, from addiction (Freedom) to traumatic brain injury (Collateral), are important and timely. Review covers the following Support and Defend titles: Always Faithful, Collateral Damage, Combat Zone, and Freedom Flight.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Support and Defend series. This hi-lo series focuses on the difficulties that veterans and their families encounter during the transition back to civilian life; diverse teenage protagonists must deal with their own issues while trying to understand what their veteran parent is dealing with. Despite predictable plot lines and abrupt resolutions, the series' veteran-related issues, from addiction (Freedom) to traumatic brain injury (Collateral), are important and timely. Review covers the following Support and Defend titles: Always Faithful, Collateral Damage, Combat Zone, and Freedom Flight.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Support and Defend series. This hi-lo series focuses on the difficulties that veterans and their families encounter during the transition back to civilian life; diverse teenage protagonists must deal with their own issues while trying to understand what their veteran parent is dealing with. Despite predictable plot lines and abrupt resolutions, the series' veteran-related issues, from addiction (Freedom) to traumatic brain injury (Collateral), are important and timely. Review covers the following Support and Defend titles: Always Faithful, Collateral Damage, Combat Zone, and Freedom Flight.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Alternative series. Each installment of this new hi/lo series focuses on the turnaround experienced by one featured teen via his/her experience at an alternative high school. Issues range from gang life to anxiety disorders to crushing family responsibilities and beyond, and protagonists' previous (unfortunate) choices are presented with refreshing candor. The messaging often overtakes character development, privileging adult perspectives and simplifying the teens' struggles. Review covers these Alternative titles: Barrier, Bridge, Controlled, Outburst, and Target.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Support and Defend series. This hi-lo series focuses on the difficulties that veterans and their families encounter during the transition back to civilian life; diverse teenage protagonists must deal with their own issues while trying to understand what their veteran parent is dealing with. Despite predictable plot lines and abrupt resolutions, the series' veteran-related issues, from addiction (Freedom) to traumatic brain injury (Collateral), are important and timely. Review covers the following Support and Defend titles: Always Faithful, Collateral Damage, Combat Zone, and Freedom Flight.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Alternative series. Each installment of this new hi/lo series focuses on the turnaround experienced by one featured teen via his/her experience at an alternative high school. Issues range from gang life to anxiety disorders to crushing family responsibilities and beyond, and protagonists' previous (unfortunate) choices are presented with refreshing candor. The messaging often overtakes character development, privileging adult perspectives and simplifying the teens' struggles. Review covers these Alternative titles: Barrier, Bridge, Controlled, Outburst, and Target.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Red Zone series. These high-interest books feature players on Troy Central High's football team. In Option, Gary is conflicted about exposing a drunk-driving star quarterback. In Tunnel, Brian discovers being an elite member of his father's storied team is not what he expected. In Take, Orlando defects to a rival team. Light on character development, these are quick, undemanding reads. There are three other fall 2014 books in this series. Review covers these Red Zone titles The Option, Out of the Tunnel, and Take Away.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) YA Alternative series. Each installment of this new hi/lo series focuses on the turnaround experienced by one featured teen via his/her experience at an alternative high school. Issues range from gang life to anxiety disorders to crushing family responsibilities and beyond, and protagonists' previous (unfortunate) choices are presented with refreshing candor. The messaging often overtakes character development, privileging adult perspectives and simplifying the teens' struggles. Review covers these Alternative titles: Barrier, Bridge, Controlled, Outburst, and Target.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Alternative series. Each installment of this new hi/lo series focuses on the turnaround experienced by one featured teen via his/her experience at an alternative high school. Issues range from gang life to anxiety disorders to crushing family responsibilities and beyond, and protagonists' previous (unfortunate) choices are presented with refreshing candor. The messaging often overtakes character development, privileging adult perspectives and simplifying the teens' struggles. Review covers these Alternative titles: Barrier, Bridge, Controlled, Outburst, and Target.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross