(4) 4-6 Tech Bytes series. These two additions to the series explore budding technologies, describing the amazing potential--and incumbent risks--of autonomous vehicles and 3-D printing. Although text-heavy, both books provide robust introductions to important topics through clear text, concrete examples, and strong organization. The series relies on intriguing contents, which the bland covers identify rather than advertise. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Tech Bytes titles: Self-Driving Car and 3-D Printing.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) YA Future of Technology series. With the directness of textbooks, the books in this series explore exciting, interrelated areas of technological innovation with in-depth, straightforward text; clear organization; and well-documented sources. Sidebars contain supplementary information and "Words in Context," a user-friendly alternative to a glossary. Introductory timelines are difficult to navigate, and minimal visual elements and unremarkable covers do little to draw in readers. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers the following Future of Technology titles: What Is the Future of Artificial Intelligence?, What Is the Future of Nanotechnology?, What Is the Future of Drones?, What Is the Future of 3D Printing?, What Is the Future of Virtual Reality?, and What Is the Future of Self-Driving Cars?

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA While covering some historical examples of torture, the majority of this dense, small-trim book focuses on twentieth- and twenty-first-century examples and current thoughts on the subject; Marcovitz provokes questions on the usefulness and morality of the practice. Photographs and individuals' stories serve as stark reminders of the human element in an uncomfortable subject. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Guy's Guide series. The boy-edition of this updated series examines emotions and offers advice on coping. Chapters look at situations where these emotions crop up, the physical and emotional effects of feelings, how the moods manifest, and when they might be dangerous. Text boxes, quotes, and quizzes help break up the information. The page design is drab, and production quality is poor. Includes hotlines for further information. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Guy's Guide titles: A Stressed-Out Guy's Guide, A Hassled Guy's Guide, An Unloved Guy's Guide, A Lonely Guy's Guide, and An Angry Guy's Guide.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(4) YA Guy's Guide series. The boy-edition of this updated series examines emotions and offers advice on coping. Chapters look at situations where these emotions crop up, the physical and emotional effects of feelings, how the moods manifest, and when they might be dangerous. Text boxes, quotes, and quizzes help break up the information. The page design is drab, and production quality is poor. Includes hotlines for further information. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Guy's Guide titles: A Stressed-Out Guy's Guide, A Hassled Guy's Guide, An Unloved Guy's Guide, A Lonely Guy's Guide, and An Angry Guy's Guide.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) YA Understanding World History series. Report writers will find an accessible, detailed discussion of the factors that led to Industrial Revolution; how innovations in transportation, warfare, and communication sustained it; and the impact of the rapid changes on society. Sidebars, maps, and archival illustrations extend and help break up the dense text, which is enriched with primary source quotes. An annotated list of "Important People" is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Understanding World History series. Marcovitz surveys rock music's evolution from rhythm and blues in the 1930s to the 1990s grunge bands and beyond. In addition to profiles of influential DJs, producers, performers, and musicians, the engaging discussion touches on the effects of social and technological changes through the decades. Sidebars and captioned photos help break up the dense text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Understanding American History series. These titles treat complex topics with a high degree of sophistication. The texts include many primary source quotations; source notes reference academic work on the subjects. The vocabulary is suited to high school students, but the lack of a glossary may limit the audience. Photos and sidebars help break up the dense texts. An annotated list of "Important People" is appended. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Understanding American History titles: The Constitution and the Founding of a New Nation and The Internment of Japanese Americans.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA In Controversy series. After providing background on the issue ("What Are the Roots of the Controversy over Illegal Immigration?"), the text examines questions surrounding border control, policing, and paths toward citizenship. Informative sidebars, stock photographs, and summaries of facts ending each chapter complement the dense narrative. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Understanding World History series. These books chronicle the personalities and events that played principal roles in the development of Western civilization from 3100 BC in ancient Egypt to the end of the Middle Ages, circa 1450. The readable, concise texts are reinforced with numerous illustrations and maps. Readers will appreciate the sidebars that give additional information about particular eras. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Understanding World History titles: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, The Early Middle Ages, and The Late Middle Ages.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Issues in the Digital Age series. From research and entertainment to communication and consumerism, this series explores the continuing development, variety, and impact of online resources and usage, including the challenges and dangers that accompany instant access to people and information. Sidebars and photographs provide additional facts and commentary but fail to enliven the dry (but instructive) text. Websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Issues in the Digital Age titles: Online Privacy, Online Gaming and Entertainment, Online Information and Research, Online Predators, Online Security, and Online Communication and Social Networking.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Issues in the Digital Age series. From research and entertainment to communication and consumerism, this series explores the continuing development, variety, and impact of online resources and usage, including the challenges and dangers that accompany instant access to people and information. Sidebars and photographs provide additional facts and commentary but fail to enliven the dry (but instructive) text. Websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Issues in the Digital Age titles: Online Privacy, Online Gaming and Entertainment, Online Information and Research, Online Predators, Online Security, and Online Communication and Social Networking.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Extraterrestrial Life series. Aliens as fact and fiction and the basis for their existence (or lack thereof) are recounted in painstaking detail in this series. The books are generally accessible. For some (especially Search), strong interest and aptitude in astronomy and physics would help comprehension. Some drawings and photographs, along with sidebars, help liven up these textbooklike volumes. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Extraterrestrial Life titles: Are Extraterrestrials a Threat to Human Life?, The Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Aliens in Pop Culture, Alien Encounters, and UFOs.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) YA In Controversy series. This topical issue is framed as a debate, with chapter headings posed as provocative questions to drive reader interest. The book provides superficial coverage of various concepts interspersed with popular opinions and anecdotes. The text is complemented by photos, sidebars, and a fact summary following each chapter. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA In Controversy series. Topical issues are framed as debates, with chapter headings posed as provocative questions to drive reader interest. The books provide superficial coverage of various scientific and legal concepts interspersed with popular opinions and anecdotes; Climate Change in particular overstates the opposition to maintain its consider-all-sides format. The texts are complemented by photos, sidebars, and a fact summary following each chapter. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these In Controversy titles: How Serious a Threat Is Climate Change? and Is Offshore Oil Drilling Worth the Risks?.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA In Controversy series. Topical issues are framed as debates, with chapter headings posed as provocative questions to drive reader interest. The books provide superficial coverage of various scientific and legal concepts interspersed with popular opinions and anecdotes; Climate Change in particular overstates the opposition to maintain its consider-all-sides format. The texts are complemented by photos, sidebars, and a fact summary following each chapter. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these In Controversy titles: How Serious a Threat Is Climate Change? and Is Offshore Oil Drilling Worth the Risks?.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Essential Issues series. Trade discusses the issues related to commodities grown and sold on world markets; safe working conditions and living wages are also touched on. Energy presents different types of energy sources and suggests ways of dealing with shortages and potential sabotage. The readable texts are crowded by (informative) sidebars and photographs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Issues titles: Energy Security and Fair Trade.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Exploring World Governments series. While describing the ideas, histories, policies, and economics behind the title political ideologies, these overviews vary widely in their assessments. Democracy focuses mainly on its strengths; Communism and Dictatorships emphasize their political unfairness and the human misery they have caused; and Anarchism concentrates on the impact of its ideas on other ideologies. Photographs and sidebars break up the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Exploring World Governments titles: Anarchism, Dictatorships, Communism, and Democracy.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Essential Issues series. Trade discusses the issues related to commodities grown and sold on world markets; safe working conditions and living wages are also touched on. Energy presents different types of energy sources and suggests ways of dealing with shortages and potential sabotage. The readable texts are crowded by (informative) sidebars and photographs. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Issues titles: Energy Security and Fair Trade.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(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