(3) YA Drugs series. In these compelling books, facts about drugs are augmented by a look at the sociology of users and anecdotes about individuals in whose lives drugs have featured for one reason or another. Relevant images, straightforward charts, and interesting sidebars (as about temperance lecturer Carrie Nation, who used a hatchet to destroy saloons) appear throughout. Each book contains a bibliography and/or a reading list. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Drugs titles: The Facts about Alcohol, The Facts about Marijuana, The Facts about Ectasy, The Facts about Steroids, and The Facts about Inhalants.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Issues in Focus series. Poverty looks at America's relationship with its poor, highlighting the economics of poverty, and includes experiences of real people. Cyberwar, coherent if overly fatalistic, describes how U.S. dependence on technology makes it vulnerable to attack. The final chapter in each book offers ideas for action. Poorly reproduced black-and-white photos appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Issues in Focus titles: Poverty in America and Cyberwar.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Issues in Focus series. Highlighting a broad range of public concerns about the Internet, this book discusses the "digital divide" between those who can and cannot afford computer access; opposing sides of the censorship debate; and the legalities of downloading music off the web. Menhard is fair-minded, although her prose is a bit dry. The accompanying black-and-white photos are poorly reproduced. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Teen Issues series. This look at the full spectrum of school violence, from bullying ("common in schools, but anywhere else, it would be considered criminal") to the Columbine tragedy, stresses teen prevention, from forewarning authorities to establishing "no put-down zones" to joining antiviolence groups. Scattered throughout are muddy black-and-white photos, some obviously staged, others of actual grieving teens. A list of resources is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram