(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Six contemporary baseball stars are honored in serviceable biographies, all generously illustrated with color photos, intended for reluctant readers. The books' basic, unremarkable writing focuses primarily on key moments in the players' major-league careers. Rodriguez, currently playing for the Yankees, is pictured in his Rangers uniform; the other titles are also outdated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Mike Piazza, Super Sports Star Alex Rodriguez, Super Sports Star Ichiro Suzuki, Super Sports Star Barry Bonds, Super Sports Star Chipper Jones, and Super Sports Star Ken Griffey, Jr.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. The awkwardly titled book about Amadou Diallo capably recounts the 1999 shooting of an unarmed black man by four white police officers, summarizes the prosecution and defense cases, and explains the verdict's impact on race relations in New York City. Manson, which also examines a notorious trial, feels rushed because of the complexity of the subject and its many participants. Black-and-white photos appear intermittently. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. Extensive background on White Sox history is followed by the "fix" and the 1919 World Series game, settling at last into the court case and the controversy over "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's guilt and exclusion from the Hall of Fame. The writing is somewhat bland and filled with irrelevant detail. Occasional black-and-white photos of the ballplayers break up the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. In each case--the early nineteenth-century trial of politician Aaron Burr and the late-twentieth-century trial of terrorists Ramzi Yousef and Eyad Ismoil--the flatly written books begin with background on the circumstances around the crimes, then relate the court proceedings and the closure (or lack thereof) that followed. Burr is illustrated with reproduced art; Terrorist has black-and-white photos and a timeline. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Headline Court Cases titles: The Aaron Burr Treason Trial and The Terrorist Trial of the 1993 Bombing of the World Trade Center.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Super Sports Star series. Both of these formulaic series books introduce a well-known professional basketball player. Highlights of important games and impressive statistics propel the adulatory books. While the volumes offer only a quick and superficial chronology of the athletes' careers, the color photographs, large print, and engaging text will attract young fans. A list of resources is appended. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Super Sports Star titles: Super Sports Star Latrell Sprewell, and Super Sports Star Stephon Marbury.]

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. Five noted trials--two from the nineteenth century and three from the twentieth--are recounted in formulaic fashion. The utilitarian texts provide background on the accused and their alleged offenses, describe arguments on each side of the case, examine the verdict, and explain the aftermath and its impact. The books are illustrated with sometimes overly dark black-and-white photos and reproductions. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Headline Court Cases titles: The Alger Hiss Communist Spy Trial, The Mary Surratt "Lincoln Assassination" Trial, The Court-Martial Trial of West Point Cadet Johnson Whittaker, The O.J. Simpson Murder Trial, The Trial of Gangster Al Capone.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta