(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. These standard-issue biographies, accompanied by numerous stock photos, introduce readers to celebrities who died young, relating their superstardom, troubled last years, and continuing legacies without adoration or sensationalism. Serious issues such as substance abuse, public-image struggles, and marriage problems are covered directly and honestly. Plentiful sidebars break up the text but sometimes distract from the main narrative. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: Whitney Houston, Kurt Cobain, Diana, and Marilyn Monroe.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Snap Books: Queens and Princesses series. In five short chapters, these biographies introduce some interesting and little-known facts, though the books' content is imbalanced (e.g., Diana's wedding dress is described in great detail, but her emotional problems are merely skimmed). The layouts are easily navigated, and the photographs and reproductions are well chosen. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Snap Books: Queens and Princesses titles: Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) YA A & E Biography series. Illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs, these are serviceable biographies--based primarily on magazine and newspaper sources--of three well-known individuals. Each book provides clearly written accounts of its subject's childhood and young adult years, before moving on to discuss accomplishments and past and present difficulties and challenges. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Women of Achievement series. Published spring 1998.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn