(4) YA Out in Front series. This book starts with the story of Nujood, a Yemeni girl forced to marry at nine, then surveys the broader issue of child marriage and its ramifications, including abuse, health issues, lack of education, and the loss of freedom and civil rights. Despite some misinformation (e.g., "availability of birth control pills beginning in the 1920s"), the detailed narrative and strong accompanying images are powerful. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Shadow Squadron series. Illustrated by Wilson Tortosa & Benny Fuentes. Lt. Commander Cross's elite special forces team travels to Yemen to capture an Iraqi bomb-maker (Dark). In Sand, they're charged with rescuing a senator's kidnapped son in Mali. Illustrated with dark, tense artwork, these military adventures are designed to resemble classified military reports, including dossiers on the stock characters, mission briefings/debriefings, and an author interview. Short glossaries ("Com Chatter") precede each action-heavy chapter. Review covers these Shadow Squadron titles: Dark Agent and Sand Spider

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Major Muslim Nations series. These revised and updated series entries provide adequate general background on the volatile Middle East. Report writers looking for up-to-date information on this constantly changing area will need to supplement their research. Many photographs of the people and places, in addition to maps, illustrate the texts, which tend to generalize. There are twenty-three other spring 2010 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Major Muslim Nations titles: Yemen, Bahrain, Facts & Figures About the Middle East,Qatar, and Syria.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World series. These surveys, intended for report writers, try to be up to the minute in terms of political events but must be supplemented by current sources. They provide adequate background material on geography, history, people (including minority groups), and foreign relations. The photos are clear, but the stylized borders on some pages are distracting. There are seventeen other fall 2003 books in this series. Chronology, reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World titles: Israel, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, and Iraq.]

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. These thorough overviews trenchantly examine each country's geography, history, and government. The accessible texts and appealing color photographs also focus on engaging topics such as festivals, foods, and leisure activities, giving readers a sense of everyday life in these varied cultures. Maps and a page of basic facts are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta