(4) 4-6 American Citizenship series. These books are designed to give young readers an overview of how the American political system was created and how it operates. Primary sources (e.g., an excerpt from Washington's farewell address) extend the serviceable texts, but related core-standards-geared prompts and activities may distract general researchers. Photographs and charts provide additional insight. "Fast Facts" and discussion questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following American Citizenship titles: Modern Political Parties, Our Electoral Leaders, Voting and Elections, and Constitutional Rights.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Essential Library of Inventions series. These books focus on pivotal inventions as historical events, examining why each was created and what preceded it; how each has changed life today; and how it will evolve. Supplemented with excellent photos, archival images, and diagrams, the well-written narratives also clearly explain the technology of each invention. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Library of Inventions titles: How the Light Bulb Changed History, How the Refrigerator Changed History, How the Internet Changed History, How the Toilet Changed History, and How the Printing Press Changed History.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA In Controversy series. After introducing the growing concern regarding drug testing in student and professional athletics, subsequent chapters address five key issues from differing perspectives. Captioned stock photographs add little to the straightforward text; text boxes provide supplementary information, and pull quotes highlight salient points. The text-heavy pages may be off-putting to some readers. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA In Controversy series. Marijuana and Video Games focus on legal, social, and political issues as they discuss positive and negative aspects of their topics. Performance-Enhancing analyzes the degrees of danger these drugs pose for users and how to best limit their use. The dense texts are complemented by appendices, photos, sidebars, and a fact summary following each chapter. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these In Controversy titles: Are Video Games Harmful?, How Dangerous Are Performance-Enhancing Drugs?, and Should Marijuana Be Legalized?.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA American History series. The origins of the Cherokee Nation and its initial contact with Europeans provide background before the book delves into the U.S. government's forcible removal of the Cherokee and other tribes from their homes in the 1830s. Numerous captioned art reproductions and sidebars offer further insight and help break up the dense, textbooklike pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Diseases & Disorders series. One common foreword and a short introduction specific to each volume lead to chapters defining the condition and explaining diagnosis, treatment, and current research. The writing is straightforward but not particularly engaging. Some schematic drawings of human cells and organs are included, but most of the illustrations are generic photos. There are four other spring 2010 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Diseases & Disorders titles: Autism, Depression, Acne, and MRSA.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Lucent Library of Black History series. Many of the volumes in this series tracing African American history address slavery, from the Atlantic slave trade to the ongoing slavery reparation movement; Rosa Parks focuses on the civil rights movement and Religious discusses faith and the history of gospel music. The texts are dense but informative. Some black-and-white illustrations and photographs help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review includes these Lucent Library of Black History titles: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Reparations for Slavery, The Civil War and Emancipation, The African American Religious Experience, The Atlantic Slave Trade, and Reconstruction.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) YA World History series. Four eras in American history are surveyed in well-focused but somewhat dry texts. A lackluster design and dreary black-and-white photos and historical reproductions give the series an unappealing textbook-like quality; however, primary sources, including letters, speeches and legal documents, are presented as boxed sidebars and add to the effectiveness of the volumes. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta