(4) YA World History series. Archival photographs combine with dense text to provide an introduction to the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The impact and aftermath of the tumultuous period in world history is also explored for readers. Sidebars featuring news headlines and personal accounts add some immediacy to the historical account. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Lucent Library of Black History series. Washington traces the man's life from slavery to international prominence, with particular focus on his dedication to education and his lasting legacy. Office, which includes a timeline, is a more general survey of prominent local, state, and national politicians before and after the Civil War. The texts are dense but informative. Illustrations and photographs break up the pages. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Lucent Library of Black History titles: Blacks in Political Office and Booker T. Washington and Education.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) YA People in the News series. Tracing the lives and careers of six notable figures, these admiring biographies are generally superficial in tone. The most recent events in the subjects' lives are sometimes given brief coverage but are not explored in any depth--making the books seem already dated. Murky black-and-white photographs of varying quality illustrate the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA American War Library series. Each of nine volumes focuses on a different aspect of World War II. The articulate texts provide detailed accounts of specific battles and participants, as well as anecdotes, both grim and moving, that personalize the lives of those who served in the military and those who remained on the homefront. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, six of the books contain time lines and three include glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA American War Library series. Each of nine volumes focuses on a different aspect of World War II. The articulate texts provide detailed accounts of specific battles and participants, as well as anecdotes, both grim and moving, that personalize the lives of those who served in the military and those who remained on the homefront. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, six of the books contain time lines and three include glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Overcoming Adversity series. Published spring 1998. Although these four biographical subjects would seem strange bedfellows, they are gathered in a series focusing on notables who have overcome problems such as homelessness, having an abusive stepfather, and spending time in jail. Derived from secondary sources and illustrated with familiar black-and-white photographs, the texts have an often unctuous quality. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Legends of the West series. This patchy, somewhat moralistic biography of the good-natured outlaw presents a bare-bones outline of Cassidy's life: his work as a ranch hand and horse stealer; the formation and exploits of the Wild Bunch; Cassidy's flight to Argentina; the mystery surrounding his death. The book is amply illustrated with photographs of the key players, and a chronology is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Golf Legends series. Durbin, Sirak, and Wukovits chronicle the careers of three golf champions in readable texts illustrated with adequate black-and-white photos. Accompanied by chronologies and lists of stats, these formulaic books offer descriptions of major tournaments and give some sense of the athletes' personal lives. Wilner briefly profiles eleven other professionals, such as Tom Watson, Fred Couples, and Paul Azinger. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Basketball Legends series. Readable texts and adequate black-and-white photos chronicle the careers of these two basketball stars. From high school to college to NBA, these formulaic books offer play-by-play descriptions of games and accounts of the athletes' personal lives. A chronology and list of stats are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Composite Guide series. Published spring 1998.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Composite Guide series. Published spring 1998. Each book traces a sport's historical development, discusses its regulations, and introduces notable participants. Although the information is basic, the books sometimes delve deeper; Track and Field contains a brief chapter on commercialism and performance-enhancing drugs. Illustrated with unexciting black-and-white photographs, all of the volumes contain chronologies; only Wrestling and Track and Field contain glossaries. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta