(3) YA Landmark Supreme Court Cases series. These books chronicle events leading to and results stemming from selected Supreme Court decisions. Basic information includes key individuals as well as specifics related to the cases, the court challenges, and the final decisions. Photographs, archival images, and maps are included. Numerous sidebars extend and clarify the readable texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib. glos., ind. Review covers these Landmark Supreme Court Cases titles: Miranda v. Arizona, Dred Scott v. Sandford, Korematsu v. The United States, and Bush v. Gore.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA People in the News series. From politicians to actors to world leaders, these biographies provide mostly adulatory portrayals of their subjects (with the exceptions of Castro and Kim Jong Il); occasionally something controversial slips in to spice up the texts. Each volume includes biographical information, photographs, and career highlights (through 2008). Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Salma Hayek, Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore, Coretta Scott King, Pope Benedict XVI, Fidel Castro, and Kim Jong Il.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Political Profiles series. These profiles of seven politicians currently in the spotlight are thorough, concentrating heavily on childhood, background, and the forces that shaped these leaders. The volumes will quickly be dated (especially in the four on presidential candidates); Gore ends before his Nobel Peace Prize award. Photographs help break up the dense pages. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Political Profiles titles: Al Gore, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 Landmark Supreme Court Cases series. Starting with the background of the lower-court cases in the Florida recount, this title examines the points of law, arguments, and decision in Bush v. Gore. Hewing closely to the legal aspects of the contest, the book nevertheless gives some of the atmosphere surrounding the decision, maintaining a balanced tone without avoiding the tough questions. Discussion questions end the book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Headliners series. The campaign, election-night confusion, and long court battles over hand-counting ballots in the 2000 presidential election are described in strong narrative prose, illustrated with sometimes blurry color photos. A chapter on the history of the electoral college is helpful but could have been more clearly organized. Minor errors aside, this version of events (with timeline) generally captures the situation. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA People to Know series. Well-known Americans who have achieved success in government, the arts, and popular culture are the subjects of these clearly written biographies. The emphasis is on public success and career growth, never going much deeper to acknowledge idiosyncrasies or personal flaws. Still, the books will be sufficient for those seeking basic biographical information. Illustrated with average-quality black-and-white photos. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta