(3) YA Being Female in America series. In readable prose, Harris unpacks the biases, double standards, and unrealistic expectations placed on American women in a variety of settings. Harris manages to provide a fresh and unique approach with each title, and throughout the series she encourages readers to consider the issues from a wide angle. Discussion starters and related-topic sidebars are sprinkled throughout each text. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Being Female in America titles: Growing Up a Girl, Male Privilege, Sexism and Race, Sexism at Work, Sexism in Politics, and Sexism in the Media.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Building by Design series. The author presents a brief history of the three most noted Egyptian pyramids, providing pertinent information related to their construction and modern use. Details about planning, design, selection of location, and the search for appropriate building stones for these engineering marvels are included. Stock photographs, diagrams, direct quotes, and sidebars provide clarity. "Fast Facts" and critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Modern Engineering Marvels series. This book briefly introduces biotechnological advances, from implanting a computer chip into the brain that reads wireless signals to a camera in glasses to help blind people see. The clearly written text contains a short, fascinating overview of the past, present, and future of such technologies, but the layout is boxy and boring, with full-color stock photographs and potentially confusing infographics. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Modern Engineering Marvels series. The high-tech vehicles and equipment discussed in these brief introductory texts are still being developed, though some are operational today. Each book briefly traces the technology's history, current uses, and future possibilities and risks in clearly written text. Unfortunately, the books' layouts are boxy and boring, with full-color stock photographs and sometimes unclear infographics that add little to the content. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Modern Engineering Marvels titles: 3-D Printers, Virtual-Reality Headsets, Wearable Technology, Drones, and Self-Driving Cars.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Presidential Powerhouses series. Through these four significant presidencies, the continuing series examines milestones in America's history including the Louisiana Purchase, American Indian removal, the Civil War, and the dawn of the Progressive Era. Each president's early life, administration milestones, and ultimate legacy are discussed in detailed chapters filled with maps and period photos or illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Presidential Powerhouses titles: Abraham Lincoln's Presidency, Thomas Jefferson's Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency, and Andrew Jackson's Presidency.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Wild West series. This series presents condensed information about the development of the American West in the 1800s (e.g., the Louisiana Purchase; building the Transcontinental Railroad) and the people who helped shape this region. Although details are limited, these books may inspire a deeper curiosity about this colorful historical period. Sidebars, maps, captioned archival photographs and paintings, and back matter activity prompts add interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Wild West titles: Famous Lawmen, The Oregon Trail, The Pony Express, The Louisiana Purchase, Notorious Outlaws, Women of the American West, and The Transcontinental Railroad.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Science Discovery Timelines series. Clear organization helps make fairly dense content accessible. Four sections (e.g., "Full Steam Ahead") begin with a pictorial timeline of selected milestones, such as Otto's 1860s–1870s internal combustion engine, followed by illustrated text that expounds on these milestones. The selections are generally sound, though somewhat limited, and the prose undistinguished. A suggested activity lacks sufficient background. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science Discovery Timelines series. Clear organization helps make fairly dense content accessible. Four sections (e.g., "Evolving Ideas of Evolution") begin with a pictorial timeline of selected milestones, such as Lamarck's 1809 book proposing inherited changes, followed by illustrated text that expounds on these milestones. The selections are generally sound, though somewhat limited, and the prose undistinguished. A suggested activity lacks sufficient background. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science Discovery Timelines series. Clear organization helps make fairly dense content accessible. Four sections (e.g., "Escaping Earth") begin with a pictorial timeline of selected milestones, such as Gagarin's 1961 space flight, followed by illustrated text that expounds on these milestones. The selections are generally sound, though somewhat limited, and the prose undistinguished. A suggested activity lacks sufficient background information. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Essential Health: Living with Health Challenges series. "Expert Advice" from a practicing clinician precedes nine chapters, each opening with the personal story of a teen dealing with the title challenge and concluding with questions for readers to consider. Definitions, symptoms, causes, susceptibility, diagnosis, treatment, and coping mechanisms are clearly described. Use of the second person and a conversational tone involve readers. Generic color photos are plentiful. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Living with Health Challenges titles: Living with Acne, Living with Anxiety Disorders, Living with Depression, and Living with Asthma.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Science Gets It Wrong series. Detours along the path of scientific progress are explored to show the development of scientific thought across the centuries. In each volume, no-longer-valid concepts such as the flat earth, geocentric universe, alchemy, spontaneous generation, and astrology showcase the way scientific thinking evolves; historical and modern images illustrate these changes. The books' clip-art-like graphics are unattractive. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Science Gets It Wrong titles: Let's Make Some Gold!, and That Bull Is Seeing Red!, We're the Center of the Universe!.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Science Gets It Wrong series. Now-debunked theories in medicine and psychology are revisited to show how scientific ideas have changed over the centuries. Misconceptions about diseases, human body systems, and personality traits illustrate the development of the life sciences, as well as the importance of scientific experimentation to provide better knowledge. Historical and modern images and unattractive clip-art-like graphics illustrate the text. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Science Gets It Wrong series. Detours along the path of scientific progress are explored to show the development of scientific thought across the centuries. In each volume, no-longer-valid concepts such as the flat earth, geocentric universe, alchemy, spontaneous generation, and astrology showcase the way scientific thinking evolves; historical and modern images illustrate these changes. The books' clip-art-like graphics are unattractive. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Science Gets It Wrong titles: Let's Make Some Gold!, and That Bull Is Seeing Red!, We're the Center of the Universe!.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Science Gets It Wrong series. Detours along the path of scientific progress are explored to show the development of scientific thought across the centuries. In each volume, no-longer-valid concepts such as the flat earth, geocentric universe, alchemy, spontaneous generation, and astrology showcase the way scientific thinking evolves; historical and modern images illustrate these changes. The books' clip-art-like graphics are unattractive. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Science Gets It Wrong titles: Let's Make Some Gold!, and That Bull Is Seeing Red!, We're the Center of the Universe!.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! series. In this high-interest series, simple text defines and then expands on each titular robot type. Though easy to understand, the prose often lacks clarifying transitions, and the authors regularly use the term scientists when the more accurate word would be engineers. However, colorful photos lavishly illustrate concepts, and captions and callout labels are well placed. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! titles: Helper Robots, Robots in Space, Robots at Home, and Weather Robots.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! series. In this high-interest series, simple text defines and then expands on each titular robot type. Though easy to understand, the prose often lacks clarifying transitions, and the authors regularly use the term scientists when the more accurate word would be engineers. However, colorful photos lavishly illustrate concepts, and captions and callout labels are well placed. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! titles: Helper Robots, Robots in Space, Robots at Home, and Weather Robots.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Medical Marvels series. The rapidly advancing medical research we benefit from is often grounded in accidental findings, trial and error, and the ever-evolving understanding of the human body. In each hefty volume, eight chapters cover the history, science, methods, and people responsible for medical discoveries. Diagrams, charts, photos, micrographs, X-rays, and scans help clarify complex concepts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Medical Marvels titles: Anesthetics, Gene Therapy, Joint Replacements, and Antibiotics.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA Unsolved Mysteries series. Archival photographs, sidebars, and maps combine with a straightforward text to present thought-provoking examinations of these unresolved phenomena. Theories and possible explanations along with myths and current debates provide a comprehensive discussion. The concluding "Tools and Clues" feature includes a list of equipment used to investigate crop circles and a summary of popular explanations for the Bermuda Triangle. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Unsolved Mysteries titles: The Bermuda Triangle and Crop Circles.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Looking Glass Library: The Planets series. Illustrated by Scott Burroughs. In this series, a girl or boy space traveler, accompanied by a pet dog or cat, undertakes a space mission to explore the title planet. The information, though selective, is succinct and easy to understand. Digital cartoon illustrations look 1950s retro-ish. Not a required purchase for libraries, but the format may engage readers to seek out meatier information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: The Planets titles: Your Mission to Mars, Your Mission to Jupiter, Your Mission on Earth, and Your Mission to Mercury.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Looking Glass Library: The Planets series. Illustrated by Scott Burroughs. In this series, a girl or boy space traveler, accompanied by a pet dog or cat, undertakes a space mission to explore the title planet. The information, though selective, is succinct and easy to understand. Digital cartoon illustrations look 1950s retro-ish. Not a required purchase for libraries, but the format may engage readers to seek out meatier information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: The Planets titles: Your Mission to Mars, Your Mission to Jupiter, Your Mission on Earth, and Your Mission to Mercury.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee