(4) YA Living History series. These books attempt to cover complicated subjects with mixed results. In addition to country and city life, troop support, and blacks' segregated existence, North considers the varied economic and social issues that motivated the Northern war movement. South contains useful information but oddly avoids slavery's horrors. Illustrations and boxed quotes create infrequent breaks in the text-heavy pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Living History titles: Life in the North During the Civil War and Life in the South During the Civil War.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Science Behind Sports series. These overviews of popular sports foreground performance; chapter headings include topics such as "Training and Nutrition," "High-Tech Equipment," and "Injuries and Treatments." Physics, biology, and psychology concepts related to the sports are rarely isolated; instead, they're wrapped into technical discussions of moves and techniques. Many photographs of pros and novices in action add interest to the volumes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Science Behind Sports titles: Gymnastics, Snowboarding, Ice Hockey, and Basketball.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Eye on Art series. Both volumes examine their respective art movements within the context of culture and society. Deco touches on architecture, fashion, and design while Graffiti positions the practice as a descendant of cave painting and explores the ongoing debate between art and vandalism. Informative sidebars cover such topics as graffiti slang and industrial design. Numerous photographs add interest. Deco includes a glossary. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Eye on Art titles: Graffiti and Art Deco.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders series. In each volume, eight chapters cover the basics of each illness or disorder: definitions, symptoms, treatment, and research. The scientific writing is serviceable; personal stories plus articles, interviews, graphics and other material from USA Today provide real-life context. Accompanying photos are generic, but the photomicrographs are clear and specific. Reading lists, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders titles: Diabetes, Leukemia, and STDs.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. This series examines the skills, resources, technologies, and determination needed to solve crime, with an emphasis on the collaborative efforts between law-enforcement agents and forensic scientists, when applicable. Sidebars and photographs shed light on evidence gathering and interpretation, notable cases, career information, and statistics. The writing is dense, but readers interested in criminal justice will appreciate the level of detail. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: Poisoning, The O. J. Simpson Murder Trial, Computer Hacking, and The Case of the Zodiac Killer.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. This book focuses on the medicocriminal (studying insects to assist criminal investigation) subset of forensic entomology. Beginning with the field's history then providing an overview of key insects, the volume explores collaboration between law enforcement and science. Sidebars, case studies, and photographs enhance the text. Though the writing is dense, readers interested in criminal justice will appreciate the level of detail. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. A shared foreword explains that these books should dispel the television myth that forensic crimes are solved by just one or two people. Instead, the series emphasizes collaborative efforts and highlights emerging technologies. The writing is dense; sidebars and photographs help break up the text. Burgeoning criminal justice enthusiasts will be fascinated by the technical and personal details. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: The Oklahoma City Bombing, Identity Theft, The Case of the Green River Killer, Tracking Serial Killers, and The Unabomber.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. A shared foreword explains that these books should dispel the television myth that forensic crimes are solved by just one or two people. Instead, the series emphasizes collaborative efforts and highlights emerging technologies. The writing is dense; sidebars and photographs help break up the text. Burgeoning criminal justice enthusiasts will be fascinated by the technical and personal details. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: The Oklahoma City Bombing, Identity Theft, The Case of the Green River Killer, Tracking Serial Killers, and The Unabomber.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Crime Scene Investigations series. A shared foreword explains that these books should dispel the television myth that forensic crimes are solved by just one or two people. Instead, the series emphasizes collaborative efforts and highlights emerging technologies. The writing is dense; sidebars and photographs help break up the text. Burgeoning criminal justice enthusiasts will be fascinated by the technical and personal details. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Crime Scene Investigations titles: The Oklahoma City Bombing, Identity Theft, The Case of the Green River Killer, Tracking Serial Killers, and The Unabomber.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. Tourette's clinical look at the syndrome is complemented by testimonials of child sufferers. The book features black-and-white photos, including images of people experiencing "tics." STDs balances science and sociology relevant to young readers (e.g., the reasons teens are especially vulnerable to STDs) with case studies. Both of these series books offer solid information and sound advice. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Twenty-first Century Medical Library titles: Tourette Syndrome and STDs.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. Each volume does a solid job in describing a particular health concern and its symptoms, explaining its impact on individuals (personal case studies are included) and society as a whole, and outlining various forms of treatment. Depression focuses specifically on teens dealing with that disorder. Tuberculosis is addressed as a contemporary, escalating concern. Unexceptional black-and-white photographs are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA American War Library series. Focusing in some depth on a particular aspect of the Civil War, each of these books is appropriate for supplemental research and classroom support, although readers with some prior knowledge of the war will be at an advantage. The texts, which contain some overlap from one book to another, are accessible and are accompanied by black-and-white photo reproductions, a number of which are used in more than one volume. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) YA American War Library series. Focusing in some depth on a particular aspect of the Civil War, each of these books is appropriate for supplemental research and classroom support, although readers with some prior knowledge of the war will be at an advantage. The texts, which contain some overlap from one book to another, are accessible and are accompanied by black-and-white photo reproductions, a number of which are used in more than one volume. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. Readers will be drawn to case histories of seven eating-disordered individuals--male and female, teen and adult--illuminating chapters on symptoms, causes, treatments, effects on family and friends, and struggle to overcome anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating. Black-and-white photos are unimaginative but add a visual component to this clearly written book about a subject particularly important to teens. A list of resources is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges