(4) YA Cutting Edge Technology series. Numerous current (as of publication) products of biotechnology research and industry are featured in this book. Innovations such as medical robots, assistive devices, artificial organs, and smart sensors, as well as precision medicine, are described in detail, but explanations of the underlying scientific principles are lacking. Photographs of the various devices in development or in use accompany the dense text. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Great Achievements in Engineering series. These substantial books begin with a brief introduction and history, then validate the "Amazing Feats" label with remarkable projects including the International Space Station, a thought-controlled bionic leg, the Canadian Confederation Bridge, and the driverless car; challenges and problem-solving are emphasized. Illustrations include both color photos and diagrams. Career advice, facts, and a hands-on project are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Great Achievements in Engineering titles: Amazing Feats of Biological Engineering, Amazing Feats of Civil Engineering, Amazing Feats of Aerospace Engineering, and Amazing Feats of Electrical Engineering.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) YA Jenna Fox Chronicles series. In this trilogy ender, Locke (The Fox Inheritance) is recruited by the Resistance to find out whether their missing leader, long presumed dead, is really alive and imprisoned by Security. The Jenna Fox Chronicles distinguish themselves among dystopian novels because of their combination of genre appeal and literary merit, the juxtaposition of personal struggles and political turmoil, and the subtle exploration of human nature.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2013

(2) YA Revolution is brewing. Risa, Conner, Cam, and Lev (Unwind; UnWholly) can't stay passive while the world so desperately needs changing. It's all heady stuff, and Shusterman effectively balances the big-picture ethical musings with scenes of the teens simply being teens. New readers would likely find this complex world bewildering, though the series easily warrants backtracking to figure out what they are missing.

Reviewer: April Spisak | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(2) YA In this Unwind sequel, unwinding (harvesting body parts of unwanted teens for transplanting) continues, and Connor, Lev, and Risa are still caught up in the fray. The particularly targeted storked kids (left on doorsteps as infants) are given a sharper focus in this volume, adding depth to the picture of this dystopic society; Shusterman elegantly balances the different perspectives of the protagonists.

Reviewer: April Spisak | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(3) YA Social Issues in Literature series. The Huxley volume in this reliable (if not always inspired) series stands out. The timeliness of debate surrounding bioethics makes it useful; the editor is careful to maintain neutrality by presenting a well-chosen selection of essays. The volumes on Hansberry and Knowles are dependable but less likely to elicit enthusiasm from students. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issue in Literature titles: Bioethics in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, War in John Knowles's A Separate Peace, and Gender in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Inside Science series. The authors examine cutting-edge research topics, from the Human Genome Project to genetically modified food. After some history of the field, the volume examines current basic and applied research studies, and the historical and contemporary scientists engaged in the work. Color photographs and diagrams accompany the dense text. Unfamiliar words are defined in text boxes. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) YA Jenna Fox Chronicles series. In this Adoration of Jenna Fox sequel, an unscrupulous scientist restores Locke and Kara's minds into new, improved bodies. They escape into an alien future world with one target: finding Jenna. Locke is the main character, and it's through his viewpoint that we experience the story's thrilling suspense, the friends' charged reunion, and the admirably complex playing out of trust, ethics, and betrayal.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011

(2) YA The four teens from Streams of Babel who nearly died after a terrorist attack on their town's water supply endure an uncertain recovery in a remote estate. Meanwhile, the two teenage hackers who saved their lives uncover a new plot. This sequel is less tightly woven than its predecessor. Still, readers will appreciate Plum-Ucci's continuing development of the themes and characters.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2010

(3) YA After terrorists release a virus that kills every adult, a group of teenage survivors creates a community in an amusement park, organizing homes, jobs, and school for the younger kids. Reminiscent of Lord of the Flies (but with way more gadgets), this gripping book explores the bonds of human relationships and the dangers of a leadership with too much power.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Essential Viewpoints series. This book presents the history, significant events, laws, and opposing viewpoints surrounding genetic engineering. The dry but informative text provides a generally well-balanced discussion that equips readers to make informed decisions of their own. Photographs, diagrams, and sidebars make pages crowded. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(2) YA Jenna Fox Chronicles series. Jenna can't remember her past after emerging from a coma, but pieces of her memory begin to return as she recuperates. The novel is set in a future with advanced biomedical technology, and characters wrestle with the attendant ethical implications. With faith and science woven throughout, this provocative thriller is heightened by its portrait of a family under enormous stress.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008

(2) YA This harrowing thriller tells of a biological attack on a New Jersey suburb, focusing on the four young adults, complicated and distinct, who are primarily affected. Plum-Ucci deftly layers global intrigue atop more intimate mysteries, using perspective shifts to manipulate tension and propel the plot. Rich with unanswerable questions and timely urgency, the book captures the frailty of post-9/11 American life.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008

(3) YA In the not-too-distant future, natural humans are segregated from genetically enhanced people and forced to live in squalor while the enhanced live in luxury. Maxo, a GemX, and Gala, a natural, find themselves drawn together after a government-generated explosion tries to wipe out the GemX generation due to a flaw in their genetic makeup. The book's premise is disturbing and the execution intriguing.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) YA Gray Matter series. These books exhaustively explore the sciences of the brain. Most include an overview of the nervous system along with biological and psychological content; New Techniques focuses on scientific methods of studying the brain, and Teen Brain gives an overview of physical and emotional changes in adolescence. Color diagrams and photographs (many superfluous) help explain the dense, textbooklike writing. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Gray Matter titles: Brain Development, New Techniques for Examining the Brain, Emotion and Stress, Sensation and Perception, The Teen Brain, and Biofeedback.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Science News Flash series. Beginning with newsmaking achievements such as modifying plant and human genes for specific purposes, the three divisions of each book then move on to the science enabling such activity, followed by its history, then current issues and future considerations, such as potential dangers of GM foods. Illustrations help clarify the information, but these books (particularly Genetics) require considerable background knowledge to decode. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Science News Flash titles: Genetics in the News and Medicine in the News.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science News Flash series. Beginning with newsmaking achievements such as modifying plant and human genes for specific purposes, the three divisions of each book then move on to the science enabling such activity, followed by its history, then current issues and future considerations, such as potential dangers of GM foods. Illustrations help clarify the information, but these books (particularly Genetics) require considerable background knowledge to decode. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Science News Flash titles: Genetics in the News and Medicine in the News.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) YA A near-future America allows for unwanted teenagers to be "unwound," or retroactively aborted, their body parts used for transplants. Three teens escape this fate and search for a safe haven. Shusterman balances three separate and compelling journeys of self-discovery for his characters. The substantial array of issues is precisely, provocatively conveyed, offering plenty for readers to contemplate in this character-driven thriller.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2008

(4) YA Microlife series. This series covers the biology and chemistry of microscopic life, including both the negative and positive interactions of microorganisms and humans. Each revised volume is organized into subtopics covered on two-page spreads that include sophisticated, dense text and well-captioned color images. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Microlife titles: The Benefits of Bacteria and A World of Microorganisms.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Gray Matter series. These books exhaustively explore the sciences of the brain. Most include an overview of the nervous system along with biological and psychological content; New Techniques focuses on scientific methods of studying the brain, and Teen Brain gives an overview of physical and emotional changes in adolescence. Color diagrams and photographs (many superfluous) help explain the dense, textbooklike writing. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Gray Matter titles: Brain Development, New Techniques for Examining the Brain, Emotion and Stress, Sensation and Perception, The Teen Brain, and Biofeedback.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford