(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Melati suffers from OCD and calms her tormenting thoughts (imagining her mother's gruesome death) by tapping and counting. When race riots begin in 1969 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, violence explodes all around Melati and she's separated from her mother. With the help of a Chinese boy, Melati travels through the war-torn city in hopes of reuniting with her mother. A beautifully written, riveting novel.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Immigration Today series. These volumes cover basic information about why people choose to or are forced to leave their home countries. Profiles of individual immigrants' journeys to the United States are featured throughout and effectively humanize the concept of immigration. Lots of photographs, charts, sidebars, and "Did you Know" text boxes add context and enhance the presentations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Immigration Today titles: Immigrants from Afghanistan and the Middle East and Immigrants from India and Southeast Asia

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Natural Disaster True Survival Stories series. In a series about real-life disaster survival, these volumes focus on two earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Asia. In each book, a brief introduction describes the disaster, followed by chapters that detail real individuals' involvement. Gripping, you-are-there narratives are supplemented with primary source quotations (footnoted and sourced); photos and other graphics (maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.) provide additional insight. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Natural Disaster True Survival Stories titles: Indian Ocean Tsunami and Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals series. This encyclopedic series gives detailed information about a wide range of endangered animals. Front and back matter explains the context and threat levels, while two dozen spreads each feature an excellent photograph, packed paragraphs of text, and a data panel for a single animal such as Siberia's Baikal seal. Though the theme is inherently cautionary, conservation measures are also documented. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Facts at Your Fingertips: The World of Endangered Animals titles: Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South and Central Asia.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Nam: The Vietnam War series. Not a chronological series, these scattered but informative and insightful volumes cover many facets of the controversial war; causes, key players, international involvement, solders' experiences, and effects are all touched on. Small-font text printed on colored backgrounds along with archival photos and inserts on virtually every spread contribute to a cluttered appearance. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nam: The Vietnam War titles: Causes and Outbreak, Disengagement and Defeat, 1969–1975, The Experience of War, The International War, The Johnson Years, 1965–1968, and The War and U.S. Society.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Nam: The Vietnam War series. Not a chronological series, these scattered but informative and insightful volumes cover many facets of the controversial war; causes, key players, international involvement, solders' experiences, and effects are all touched on. Small-font text printed on colored backgrounds along with archival photos and inserts on virtually every spread contribute to a cluttered appearance. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Nam: The Vietnam War titles: Causes and Outbreak, Disengagement and Defeat, 1969–1975, The Experience of War, The International War, The Johnson Years, 1965–1968, and The War and U.S. Society.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Global Organizations series. These books highlight the interconnectedness of the modern world, focusing on governmental organizations and international associations. Readers will gain insight into today's oil, energy, and banking crises (though the information isn't up-to-the-minute) and learn about governmental challenges. The writing is dry, but some personal stories and well-captioned photographs enliven the texts. There are four other fall 2008 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review includes these Global Organizations titles: The African Union, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, The International Atomic Energy Agency, and The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Great Historic Disasters series. The author explains in detail the seismic activities that caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as the lack of systems in place to quickly notify those in danger. Also included are many well-captioned photos (some graphic and disturbing) and short but interesting personal stories of both survivors and victims. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(3) YA Vassar Spore's "Life Goals" include a PhD and a Pulitzer Prize; they definitely do not include trekking across Southeast Asia with her bohemian artist grandmother. Vassar's travels are fascinating and funny (though a hiking trip in a Laotian jungle becomes unexpectedly dark). Finally leaving her comfort zone and planner behind leads Vassar to adventure, romance, and self-discovery.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams

(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. The Australian Secret Service wants Alex to investigate a people-smuggling ring. Working with a godfather he never knew about, Alex agrees to help but steps into more danger than he expected, including chasing down a bomb for his old friends at MI6. Written tightly and with a bit more character development than other titles in the series, this is a suspenseful addition.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(3) YA This accessible study highlights Japan, China, Taiwan, both Koreas, Southeast Asia (including Vietnam and Cambodia), Indonesia, and Malaysia. Pascoe approaches the economies of these countries from an American perspective, discussing both their rich potential for contributing to the world economy and the obstacles they face in developing their own. Color photos are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman