(4) YA Life: A How-To Guide series. These volumes teach teens about how common human experiences--making friends and dealing with stress--affect their age group in particular. The information is more a general overview than something that provides a cohesive thread. Personal stories interspersed throughout add a human face but often sound canned; stock photos are similarly hit-or-miss. Stress includes hotlines to contact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Life: A How-To Guide titles: Friendship and Dealing with Stress.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) YA Green Issues in Focus series. These volumes on environmental topics include both subject-specific information and suggestions for teens about how to be mindful on an individual level. Issues such as resource conservation and pollution control are examined from scientific and historical perspectives; possible solutions are also discussed. The texts, accompanied by stock photos and sidebars, are somewhat hindered by uninspired layouts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Green Issues in Focus titles: Conserving and Protecting Water, Solving the Air Pollution Problem, Green and Clean Energy, Unloved and Endangered Animals, and Food for a Greener Planet.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) YA Famous Court Cases That Became Movies series. This series provides detailed accounts of the court cases in question; the movie aspect is both less prominent and less interesting than information about the actual trials (in large part because none of the movies was made anytime recently). Historical photographs and documents are interspersed with movie stills. Sidebars provide related information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous Court Cases That Became Movies titles: Racism on Trial, Evolution on Trial, Presidential Power on Trial, and The Right to Counsel.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 4-6 In American History series. With a focus on presenting positive portraits of two famous presidents, these series books discuss legislature that greatly affected United States history. The text reads fairly smoothly and includes quotes from primary documents. Small black-and-white period sketches and photos of uneven quality occasionally break up the pages. A timeline is included. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In American History titles: Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation in American History and The New Deal and the Great Depression in American History.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 Endangered Animals and Habitats series. Packed with facts and statistics, these well-researched books provide evenhanded accounts of the issues surrounding four endangered species and one ecosystem. Each book relates information about the animal/habitat, describes human threats, and discusses the future challenges for its survival. Illustrated with dark black-and-white photos, editorial cartoons, diagrams, maps, and reproductions, these volumes also include lists of related organizations. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.