(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Larry Day. Based on documents written by male and female soldiers and others involved on both sides of the Revolutionary War, this book describes daily routines in the context of historical events. Supplemented with black-and-white drawings and reproductions of paintings, the well-written, somewhat formal narrative emphasizes how the concept of honor infused both military success and failure. Resources, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Questions ranging from "What Is Sexuality?" to "Is My Penis Too Small?" propel this welcome primer, which is equal parts science, coping manual, and reality check. Brynie's celebratory attitude makes it a standout of the genre: she's pro-masturbation, anti-homophobia, and anti-guilt without being anti-abstinence. Scattered throughout are sidebars, graphs, black-and-white photos, and diagrams. Directory, reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA At age fourteen, Olympia Dowd was one of two Vancouver dancers plucked from obscurity to dance with the Moscow City Ballet on an international tour. Assisted by color photos of performances and rehearsals, Dowd tells the story of her grueling but rewarding year on tour. Ballet fans will enjoy living Dowd's glamorous life vicariously, but the book may be a harder sell for those not already ballet-mad.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 In a Perfect World series. Fridell thoroughly explores topics relating to world hunger, including poverty, repressive governments, debt, and human suffering. Color photos of malnourished children add context, but some of the book's maps are confusingly labeled, and Fridell presents his political opinions (e.g., the benefits of free trade) as facts. A section called "How You Can Help" appears toward book's end. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 In a Perfect World series. Fridell offers strategies toward and barriers of worldwide education, touching on topics such as gender, geographic remoteness, limited resources, and armed conflicts. Color photos give an idea of conditions that hinder the goal of education for everyone. Regrettably, Fridell doesn't label his political opinions as such, and the book's maps are confusing, but the discussion is well laid out and clearly argued. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union series. Illustrated by Melanie Reim. Gottfried adds to his series with these two volumes. Fatherland details how WWII and its aftermath affected the Soviet people. Cold War concentrates on Soviet politics after Stalin and how American foreign policy adapted during the post-Stalin era. The informative, clearly documented narrative is complemented by black-and-white photos and a strong design. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union titles: The Cold War and The Great Fatherland War.]

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union series. Illustrated by Melanie Reim. Gottfried adds to his series with these two volumes. Fatherland details how WWII and its aftermath affected the Soviet people. Cold War concentrates on Soviet politics after Stalin and how American foreign policy adapted during the post-Stalin era. The informative, clearly documented narrative is complemented by black-and-white photos and a strong design. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union titles: The Cold War and The Great Fatherland War.]

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 This overview skims over the personalities of turn-of-the-century activists such as Jane Addams, Alice Paul, and Carry Nation, giving summaries of their struggles for temperance, abolition, suffrage, and other reforms. The prose is clear and direct, while black-and-white archival photos depict the era. Although aficionados will want more, the text offers a solid introduction. Further reading, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA This offering discusses the seven basic drug categories and their related dangers; interspersed are somewhat cursory profiles of addicted teens. The authors are remarkably evenhanded on the subject of legalizing drugs, but they argue well their conviction that drug addiction should be treated as a medical (versus criminal) problem. Charts, sidebars, and muddy black-and-white photos break up the somewhat dry text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Twenty-first Century Medical Library series. Providing diagnostic criteria, the authors define OCD as recurrent obsessions or compulsions that take up "more than one hour a day." The accessible text discusses common symptoms, causes, and treatment, including medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Older readers won't mind the lack of illustrations, as they will be drawn in by the case studies of OCD-suffering teens. Directory, reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) YA Starting with the 1999 Seattle protests, this volume covers globalization pros and cons, including the effects of the financial "Asian malaise" and the September 11 attacks. While at times passionate, the prose never abandons its commitment to present both sides, and the financial explanations are clear and comprehensive. Maps and occasional black-and-white photos add visual references. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Material World series. The books in this series form a superior concatenation of science (mostly chemistry), history, archaeology, and engineering, mortared together with bits of economics and art history. Explanations are clear, illustrations and reproductions well chosen. These books are useful above the suggested grade levels. Futher reading, map, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Material World titles: Ceramics, Dyes, Glass, Gold, and Iron and Steel.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) 4-6 Material World series. The books in this series form a superior concatenation of science (mostly chemistry), history, archaeology, and engineering, mortared together with bits of economics and art history. Explanations are clear, illustrations and reproductions well chosen. These books are useful above the suggested grade levels. Futher reading, map, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Material World titles: Ceramics, Dyes, Glass, Gold, and Iron and Steel.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) 4-6 Material World series. The books in this series form a superior concatenation of science (mostly chemistry), history, archaeology, and engineering, mortared together with bits of economics and art history. Explanations are clear, illustrations and reproductions well chosen. These books are useful above the suggested grade levels. Futher reading, map, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Material World titles: Ceramics, Dyes, Glass, Gold, and Iron and Steel.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) 4-6 Material World series. The books in this series form a superior concatenation of science (mostly chemistry), history, archaeology, and engineering, mortared together with bits of economics and art history. Explanations are clear, illustrations and reproductions well chosen. These books are useful above the suggested grade levels. Futher reading, map, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Material World titles: Ceramics, Dyes, Glass, Gold, and Iron and Steel.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) 4-6 Material World series. The books in this series form a superior concatenation of science (mostly chemistry), history, archaeology, and engineering, mortared together with bits of economics and art history. Explanations are clear, illustrations and reproductions well chosen. These books are useful above the suggested grade levels. Futher reading, map, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Material World titles: Ceramics, Dyes, Glass, Gold, and Iron and Steel.]

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(3) YA From ancient practices through present-day treatments and legislation, Kent provides an extensive history of (primarily Western) societies' responses to mental illness. Profiles of researchers and reformers share the stage with accounts from patients writing about their experiences. Sidebars extend and help clarify information and, along with the archival photos, break up the dense but readable text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Science on the Edge series. Students considering careers in the earth sciences will find these detailed accounts of sub-disciplines of meteorology and geology helpful. The descriptions highlight intense and exciting fieldwork and include photographs of the phenomena as well as the scientists conducting research. Lindop also covers the risks involved and the need for advanced degrees. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science on the Edge titles: Chasing Tornadoes and Probing Volcanoes.]

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Science on the Edge series. Students considering careers in the earth sciences will find these detailed accounts of sub-disciplines of meteorology and geology helpful. The descriptions highlight intense and exciting fieldwork and include photographs of the phenomena as well as the scientists conducting research. Lindop also covers the risks involved and the need for advanced degrees. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science on the Edge titles: Chasing Tornadoes and Probing Volcanoes.]

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 This adeptly written biography traces the life of Poe and details his astonishing literary output despite (or perhaps because of) his often tortured existence. Illustrated with black-and-white photos and reproductions, the book also contains the full text of Poe's "The Raven" and excerpts from some of his other works. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta