(1) YA Levy takes readers back one hundred years to the sleepy town of Dayton, Tennessee, and the historic Scopes trial. At first glance, the time period -- before television, the internet, and other modern sources of infotainment -- seems far removed from our own. But as Levy suggests, and then explains in detail in an insightful epilogue, the issues of the trial -- racism, disinformation, journalistic integrity, a distrust of science, control over school curricula, and the separation of church and state -- remain with us today. She begins with a group of community leaders who want to publicize Dayton and believe a high-profile trial will accomplish the goal. They ask high school teacher John T. Scopes to admit he taught evolution in his biology class and thus violated a recently passed law. And the circus begins. The ACLU challenges the charges, and eminent lawyer Clarence Darrow joins the defense, opposing thrice-unsuccessful presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and the prosecution. Using a breezy, conversational tone laced with subtle humor, Levy discusses the principal players and their motivations, Darwin's findings, the legal arguments of each team, the media frenzy, and the trial itself. Archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons bolster the detailed text. This fine, thoroughly researched book concludes with a timeline, source notes, an extensive bibliography, and an (unseen) index.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Brian Selznick. The student has become the teacher in this sequel to Frindle (rev. 11/96). Nick Allen is now Mr. N, a Hawaiian shirt wearing sixth-grade ELA teacher who makes his students bring a paperback copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style to class and doesn't allow the use of laptops, much to the chagrin of protagonist Josh Willett. Mr. N is the antithesis of computer-savvy coder Josh...or so Josh believes, until he stumbles upon Mr. N's secret past when, looking for a pen to complete an assignment, he finds his mother's childhood "frindle." While he and his friend Vanessa figure out what to do with the information in his "Frindle Files," Josh discovers there's a bigger issue to address: getting a pirated version of Elements removed from the internet. With help from his classmates and Mr. N and a rallying cry "for Wilbur!" (in honor of White's Charlotte's Web), Josh learns about the power of language to enact change and the potential ills of technology if used improperly. Rebellious, smart, persistent Josh is a classic Clements main character, and the parallels between this plot and the original are evident (student/teacher battle, learning from a reference book, national fame). In his straightforward storytelling, Clements pulls modern young readers in by connecting something they might relate to (coding philosophy) to the principles of good writing. This posthumously published novel brings Clements's impressive collection of middle-grade stories to a satisfying close. Black-and-white spot illustrations "drawn entirely with a frindle" are interspersed.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) YA Adapting Lee's 2015 adult title (The Making of Asian America) for a younger audience -- and beginning with a context-setting introduction about the lack of education about Asian and Asian American history -- the authors begin their account with the expansion of the Spanish Empire from the end of the fifteenth century through the mid-1700s. Short, accessibly written chapters aim to counter the sanitized (or ignored) history of Asian experiences in America, including those from East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Taking a nonlinear approach, the book groups topics thematically, pairing and contrasting events and reintroducing people and ideas as they come up again. Callouts are used to explain terms and concepts; a list of racist so-called justifications is particularly effective in reminding readers of the different faces of bigotry. Lee and Soontornvat also highlight the ways public opinion and trending topics in the news change which groups get attention, forcing racial minorities to compete for resources. Especially illuminating are stories of Korean, Filipino, and South Asian people during WWII's Japanese internment as well as South Asian and Muslim experiences after 9/11. An informative, useful, and strong survey for those learning more about their own cultures and histories and about others'.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 arrator Keegan thinks his family's recent move to a box-shaped house in Happy Town is just another in a string of relocations. Located in the Nevada desert, Happy Town is, according to Keegan, "the biggest online shop in the world." His new home just seems weird, with its driverless "conveyor" that carries kids to Happy Academy and its fleet of advertising blimps. But things turn dark very quickly. First he learns that Happy Town owns the rights to all his schoolwork; then he must take part in a Mandatory Saturday Work Opportunity (they don't call it detention); then he arrives home to find that his parents -- along with all the other adults -- have purchased marching-band instruments in response to an ad. Something's up with the implants all Happy Town adults have installed in their heads, Keegan and his friends reason, and it's up to the kids to save them all from becoming "band-instrument-hoarding...and-possibly-cannibalistic zombies." This is the broadest of satires, and van Eekhout leaves nothing up to chance in the delivery of his message: "If you can control what people want, you can control what they think [and] what they do." But if it's unsubtle, it's also funny, and readers will relish every outlandish detail as much as van Eekhout clearly does.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) 4-6 Two jelly bean–shaped creatures, one blue, one pink, delve into the intricacies and duplicity behind one of the most insidious and pervasive issues of our time, and the first chapter of this middle-grade comic dives right in: "What Is Fake News?" Gravel (Arlo & Pips, rev. 1/21) does a fine job breaking down complex ideas, beginning with the definition of news ("information about important stuff that's happening in the world right now") and explaining that while disinformation is not new ("Hear ye, hear ye! An evil magician turned the king into a goat!"), the internet and other modern technologies have made it much easier to make lies look real and to intentionally spread them. The hows and whys are explored using specific, goofy fictional case studies; and people's motives (e.g., "Reason 1: To make money... Reason 2: To make money and get famous," etc.) are plainly laid out. Though the examples aren't necessarily serious, the consequences are: "So far, I have given you a bunch of silly examples of fake news," says the pink protagonist, "but fake news is not funny at all. It can actually be very dangerous." The tone is non-blame-y of consumers (but not purveyors) of fake news, with acknowledgment of the ease of being duped ("Admit it--you'd be curious, too") and useful advice about thinking critically, examining sources, etc. Well-delineated panel illustrations featuring blobby critters and pastel colors make these thorny concepts relatively easy to get and should leave many readers feeling empowered.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(3) YA Special Reports series. This excellent, extensively researched, and well-balanced series unpacks the details behind trending topics and current events. With extensive sidebars and peppered with well-captioned color photographs, each volume endeavors to cover all angles, from historical context and origins to coverage and reaction in social media. The complicated swirl of opinions surrounding the #metoo movement is handled particularly well. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Mass Shootings in America, The Charlottesville Protests and The Silence Breakers and the #MeToo Movement

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Race and Sports series. These titles expertly examine the interconnection of sports, race, and society and highlight the issues and topics that are born from these intersections. Stereotypes and Media Coverage provide the foundation for the other titles. Instructive sidebars and captioned photos accompany the crisply written, informative narratives. Useful introductions to the many-layered subjects for students writing research papers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Race and Sports titles: Fighting Stereotypes in Sports, Gender and Race in Sports, Politics and Protest in Sports, Race and College Sports, Race and Sports Management, Race in Sports Media Coverage.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Digital Citizens series. Illustrated by Diego Vaisberg. This nonfiction series presents a balanced, practical view of how to manage one's online presence in the (increasingly pervasive) digital world, addressing responsible behaviors and dangerous/emotionally damaging situations. Appealing blocky graphics and illustrations draw inspiration from Minecraft, evoking popular online interactions. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Digital Citizens titles: My Digital Community and Media, My Digital Future, My Digital Health and Wellness, My Digital Rights and Rules, My Digital Safety and Security and My Digital World

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) YA The complicated topic receives earnest if superficial treatment in this slim, densely-printed volume. Miller traces a continuum, from medieval blood libels to "Pizzagate," and attempts to differentiate between real fake news and those who decry unfavorable press using the epithet. In his attempts to be timely, Miller refers to the Mueller Report, but the text is, of course, already dated. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA A thorough, clear introduction to the concepts of fandom and fanworks, aimed primarily at those new to the subculture. DiPiazza uses plenty of examples from--and quotes from members of--a variety of fandoms, and she doesn't shy away from discussing controversies such as the misogynistic harassment of Gamergate. Black-and-green graphics and relevant photos break up the text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Being Female in America series. In readable prose, Harris unpacks the biases, double standards, and unrealistic expectations placed on American women in a variety of settings. Harris manages to provide a fresh and unique approach with each title, and throughout the series she encourages readers to consider the issues from a wide angle. Discussion starters and related-topic sidebars are sprinkled throughout each text. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Being Female in America titles: Growing Up a Girl, Male Privilege, Sexism and Race, Sexism at Work, Sexism in Politics, and Sexism in the Media.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA American Values and Freedoms series. This series (by a lawyer/American studies PhD) discusses fundamental American rights and freedoms established by the Constitution and legislative action, both the history and their evolution through time; the message is that these freedoms are continually debated. Photographs and archival documents, inserts on related topics, and chapter-ending "Discussion Starters" add interest to the informative and thought-provoking texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Values and Freedoms titles; Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Governmental Checks and Balances, The Right to Bear Arms, The Right to Protest, and The Right to Vote.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg