(4) YA Special Reports series. These volumes offer balanced explorations of social problems facing American citizens today. Each book examines the topic's past and current history, outlines the issues involved, and discusses possible solutions. Statistical data is included when relevant, but much of the information will be quickly dated; photographs and sidebars (many with tiny type) extend the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Hate Crimes in America, Gun Control and the Second Amendment, The Gender Wage Gap, and The War on Poverty.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Cutting-Edge Science and Technology series. These volumes survey the rapidly expanding fields of human biology and medicine, encompassing neuroscience and brain mapping, brain disorders, organ generation, cancer treatment, vaccines, and genetics. The science and technologies used to explore the brain and body are described in detail, along with profiles of contemporary scientists and their projects. Photographs and medical images are included. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cutting-Edge Science and Technology titles: Brain Science and Medical Research and Technology.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA Digital Issues series. Although the surveys, statistics, and other data will soon be dated, this series is a thorough look at serious concerns of our digital world, from hacking to violent video games to overreliance on social media. Many of the topics overlap and are covered by more than one title. Text boxes, quotations, and stock photos help to break up the dense texts. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Digital Issues titles: Online Predators, Online Security, Online Addiction, Online Entertainment, Online Privacy, and Social Media.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Deadliest Predators series. After a general introduction titled "Apex Predators," six chapters cover individual types of sharks (great white, tiger shark, spotted wobbegong, etc.). Topics include appearance, habitat, hunting and capturing prey, and threat-level to humans; the text's tone is sometimes reassuring, sometimes gruesome. "At-a-Glance" sidebars are useful for comparison. The dense text is off-putting, but the many photos should fascinate shark fans. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Wild About Wheels series. These books use brief texts and large photographs to introduce types of mechanical equipment. Military features helicopters, battle tanks, transport vehicles, fighter planes, and ocean-going vessels; Farm includes tractors used for specific operations: plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting. The information is cursory, but the books will appeal to kids drawn to machinery. Common Core questions are included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following titles: Military Vehicles and Farm Machines.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Great Achievements in Engineering series. These substantial books begin with a brief introduction and history, then validate the "Amazing Feats" label with remarkable projects including the International Space Station, a thought-controlled bionic leg, the Canadian Confederation Bridge, and the driverless car; challenges and problem-solving are emphasized. Illustrations include both color photos and diagrams. Career advice, facts, and a hands-on project are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Great Achievements in Engineering titles: Amazing Feats of Biological Engineering, Amazing Feats of Civil Engineering, Amazing Feats of Aerospace Engineering, and Amazing Feats of Electrical Engineering.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and short introductions specific to each topic precede chapters defining the title condition, diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing, though dull, is straightforward. References to celebrity sufferers (though not up-to-the-minute) are meant to engage readers. Largely generic stock photos are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Osteoporosis, Exercise Addiction, and Tourette Syndrome

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short volume-specific introduction lead to chapters defining each condition and explaining symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing is straightforward but not particularly engaging. Some photomicrographs and charts are included, but most of the pictures and illustrations are generic (or even anatomically incorrect). Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Autoimmune Disorders, Hepatitis, Alzheimer's Disease, Lyme Disease, and Asthma.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short volume-specific introduction lead to chapters defining each condition and explaining symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing is straightforward but not particularly engaging. Some photomicrographs and charts are included, but most of the pictures and illustrations are generic (or even anatomically incorrect). Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Autoimmune Disorders, Hepatitis, Alzheimer's Disease, Lyme Disease, and Asthma.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short volume-specific introduction lead to chapters defining each condition and explaining symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing is straightforward but not particularly engaging. Some photomicrographs and charts are included, but most of the illustrations are generic photos. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Multiple Sclerosis, Migraines, Speech Disorders, Sports Injuries

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short introduction specific to each volume lead to chapters defining the disease/disorder and explaining diagnosis, treatment, current research, and the challenges patients face. The writing is straightforward, and most volumes (less in Muscular Dystrophy) include quotes and anecdotes from people who have experienced the disorder. Many of the photographs are generic or incongruous, some jarringly so. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Muscular Dystrophy, Blindness, Infectious Mononucleosis, Mood Disorders, Allergies, and Prostate Cancer.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common forword and a short introduction specific to each volume lead to several chapters defining the disease/disorder and explaining diagnosis, treatment, current research, and the challenges faced by patients and their families. The writing is straightforward and includes scattered anecdotes and quotes from sufferers (some well known). Photos are generic or incongruous and often placed several pages away from pertinent text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Lupus, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Skin Cancer, Postpartum Depression, Sickle Cell Disease, Lung Cancer, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. A short introduction leads to several chapters defining the disease/disorder and explaining diagnosis, treatment, current research, and challenges patients face. The writing is straightforward, though Growth repeats a quote twice. Photos of mainly Caucasians (except Malnutrition) are generic, some are misleading (a treatment for skin cancer in Papillomavirus). Most sources are secondary. All but Retardation list websites. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Mental Retardation, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Malnutrition, and Growth Disorders.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges