(4) YA USA Today Lifeline Biographies series. Each book contains background about social movements, fashion, and musical influences, plus excerpts from USA Today articles. Queen Latifah's childhood and family life, as well as Lady Gaga's development of her persona, are covered in detail, while topics such as drugs and sexual orientation are also discussed. Fans won't mind the crowded layout. Latifah has a glossary; Gaga has a timeline. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these USA Today Lifeline Biographies titles: Queen Latifah and Lady Gaga.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Our America series. This series gives an overview of life for young Americans from the seventeenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. Using primary sources when available, the authors include material from diaries, letters, interviews, and oral histories. Each book includes archival photographs and drawings, sidebars, source notes, and activities. Although somewhat cursory, this historical survey should prove useful for report writers. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Our America titles: Growing Up in the Civil War, Growing Up in a New Century, Growing Up in Pioneer America, Growing Up in World War II, Growing Up in a New World, Growing up in a Revolution and the New Nation, and Growing up in the Great Depression.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA A & E Biography series. Though the prose is more competent than inspired, the biographies of this diverse group of notables adequately traces their personal and professional achievements. Occasional information boxes contain material that supplements the texts, which are illustrated with black-and-white (and occasional color) photos and reproductions. Both Hendrix and Latifah include discographies. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA A & E Biography series. Though the prose is more competent than inspired, the biographies of this diverse group of notables adequately traces their personal and professional achievements. Occasional information boxes contain material that supplements the texts, which are illustrated with black-and-white (and occasional color) photos and reproductions. Both Hendrix and Latifah include discographies. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA A & E Biography series. The adequate, if uninspired, prose follows Rudolph from childhood polio victim to three-time gold-medal winner in the 1960 Olympics. Other challenges, including a teenage pregnancy, later marital problems, and the search for a satisfying career, are superficially explored. Standard black-and-white photographs illustrate this biography. Bib, ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA A & E Biography series. These biographies examine the lives of four twentieth-century figures who achieved fame in vastly different fields (though two--Glenn and Ventura--both ended up in politics). The books, illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs, provide a broad overview of each individual's achievements in prose that is more serviceable than inspired. Lucas contains a filmography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA A & E Biography series. These books provide plenty of information and detail about the personal and professional lives of these individuals. The occasionally dry texts succeed in providing historical context, events, and insights on each person's life, although Albright doesn't measure up to the other two titles. The volumes are illustrated with photographs. Mandela contains a pronunciation guide. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee