(3) YA Black Americans of Achievement series. Each updated biography raises awareness about the unique contributions of an African American, exploring significant events from the subject's childhood through his or her adulthood while successfully blending information about personal experiences and public achievements. Photographs feature extensive captions, and informative sidebars round out the biographical portraits. There are nine other new books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these Black Americans of Achievement titles: Jesse Jackson, Sojourner Truth, Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, and Frederick Douglass.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) YA African-American Biographies series. Jackson has been the subject of many juvenile biographies, but books about humanitarian and educator Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X, and author Giovanni, several of whose poems are included in the text, are particularly welcome. Though these profiles tend to be adulatory in tone, they are also well-researched and thorough in their coverage. Standard black-and-white photos accompany the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA People in the News series. Tracing the lives and careers of six notable figures, these admiring biographies are generally superficial in tone. The most recent events in the subjects' lives are sometimes given brief coverage but are not explored in any depth--making the books seem already dated. Murky black-and-white photographs of varying quality illustrate the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta