(4) YA Social Issues in Literature series. Each collection reprints short pieces introducing the author's life, investigating one theme of his or her title work, and exploring related issues in contemporary society. These collections are most helpful when the theme is central to the work, as the environment is to Walden; in other cases (the Hamlet volume, for example), the approach is a little restrictive. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: The Abuse of Power in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Patriarchy in Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street, Corruption in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, and The Environment in Henry David Thoreau's Walden.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 History in Literature series. This series effectively places literary classics in context without simply regurgitating plot and theme. The authors' biographical details are combined with historical and cultural background, some of which is vague (a too-broad overview of the 1930s in Mice) or confusingly anachronistic (a profile of Barack Obama in Mockingbird). All volumes are busily illustrated with numerous maps and archival pictures. Reading list, timeline, websites. There are five other fall 2006 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these History in Literature titles: John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Willa Cather'sMy Ántonia, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, and George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA World Writers series. The life of Eric Blair, who wrote under the pseudonym George Orwell, is recounted in a dutiful style that describes his political activism and literary achievements but fails to bring him fully alive. Readers who know the author primarily from Animal Farm and 1984 may be disappointed that these two works are not discussed at greater length. Average-quality black-and-white photos are interspersed throughout the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Oxford Portraits series. Sober prose traces the life of Eric Blair, who wrote under the pseudonym George Orwell. The book examines his political beliefs, his career as a journalist, and the literary success he achieved near the end of his brief life as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four. Some of his writings are excerpted in this volume illustrated with black-and-white photos. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta