(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Special Reports series. These volumes offer balanced explorations of social problems facing American citizens today. Each book examines the topic's past and current history, outlines the issues involved, and discusses possible solutions. Statistical data is included when relevant, but much of the information will be quickly dated; photographs and sidebars (many with tiny type) extend the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Hate Crimes in America, Gun Control and the Second Amendment, The Gender Wage Gap, and The War on Poverty.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Ignite: Whoops! A History of Bad Days series. Both accidental discoveries and damaging experiments are highlighted in this accessible series volume. The succinct and entertaining text is supplemented with "Fast Fact" and "Did You Know?" boxes throughout, adding appealing tidbits of science history. Bright comic book–style graphics and color and archival photographs illustrate the narratives. Additional "Fun Facts" are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Conservation Success Stories series. Each in-depth volume examines conservation issues in a major habitat, focusing on topics such as deforestation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, as well as scientific and legal efforts to restore and revitalize plant and animal populations. Full-page "Science Connection" inserts touch on related background science. Large photographs clearly show humans' impact on the environment. A cause-and-effect diagram is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Conservation Success Stories titles: Bringing Back Our Freshwater Lakes, Bringing Back Our Oceans, Bringing Back Our Tropical Forests, Bringing Back Our Deserts, Bringing Back Our Wetlands, and Bringing Back Our Tundra.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Special Reports series. The authors describe the history of the internet, major security breaches (e.g., Target's customer data hack), and efforts to curb cyber crime. Although the fast-changing topic means the book will be quickly dated, the volume provides serviceable if dry background for report writers. Stock photographs and frequent sidebars contribute to the choppy layout. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA Essential Library of the Information Age series. Who owns and can regulate the internet? How has social networking affected privacy? How can kids evaluate the legitimacy of what they read? These questions and more are examined in this series that addresses weighty issues raised by internet technologies of our information age. Color photos and informative sidebars complement the straightforward and balanced narratives. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Essential Library of the Information Age titles: Big Data and Privacy Rights, Net Neutrality, Content Ownership and Copyright, Book Banning and Other Forms of Censorship, Information Literacy in the Digital Age, and Online Identity.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Cause-and-Effect Disasters series. Five disastrous events in American history are explored from a cause-and-effect perspective. Each volume includes four succinct chapters, first establishing setting before relating the major events and their aftermath/results (e.g., the Chicago Fire and 1888 Blizzard precipitated future building codes and public warning systems). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentations. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Cause-and-Effect Disasters titles: The Jamestown Colony Disaster, Death in the Donner Party, Hurricane Katrina and the Flooding of New Orleans, The Great Chicago Fire, and The Children's Blizzard of 1888.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Paragraphs describing the physical and psychological benefits of participating in sports ("Sports give you a chance to dream"; "Sports bring people together all over the world") accompany dozens of color photos depicting school-aged kids and teenagers from around the world at play. Unfortunately, the dull, generalizing text fails to generate the excitement that the images of active boys and girls do.

Reviewer: Nell Beram