(4) YA Be Smart About Money and Financial Literacy series. These bland-looking volumes provide useful, practical advice about topics related to "financial literacy." The direct-address texts ("Even though you work and make money, do you sometimes feel like you never have any cash?") are accessible if a little dry. Sidebars provide "good sense" and "nonsense" tips; word problem "Do the Math" exercises allow readers to practice applying what they've learned. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Be Smart About Money and Financial Literacy titles: Be Smart About Your Career, Be Smart About Your Future, Be Smart About Money, Be Smart About Credit, Be Smart About Investing, and Be Smart About Shopping.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Got Issues? series. These updated books provide overviews of behaviors that can cause significant teen health problems. Basic research and real-life examples are clearly presented in short chapters; these titles will be more useful for classroom reports and term papers than as self-help manuals, although both append a list of resources. The stiffly staged stock photos contribute to textbooklike designs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Got Issues? titles: Are You Fat? and Are You at Risk for Food Allergies?.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) YA Got Issues? series. Misusing defines plagiarism, cites some well-known cases (e.g., Blair Hornstine, whose Harvard acceptance was revoked because of plagiarism charges), and provides suggestions for avoiding it. Downloading focuses on unfair use of copyrighted material online, particularly music downloading. The short, accessible chapters are accompanied by staged photographs in uninspired designs. Both updated books append a list of resources. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Got Issues? titles: Are You Misusing Other People's Words? and Are You Downloading Copyrighted Stuff?.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) YA Life: A How-To Guide series. Teens can learn what they already know: that they really like to use technology. The book focuses disproportionately on texting and cell phones, and the content lacks clear organization. Personal stories interspersed throughout add a human face but often sound canned; stock photos are similarly hit-or-miss. Quizzes may engage readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) YA Sharpen Your Writing Skills series. These volumes present clear advice for developing writing skills in the title areas. The hints are practical and good-humored, and there are a range of examples, which will make this useful to middle school and high school writers. The page design is accessible if dull; the cartoony writing-implement characters are dorky. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sharpen Your Writing Skills titles: Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills, Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills, Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills, and Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) YA Green Issues in Focus series. These volumes on environmental topics include both subject-specific information and suggestions for teens about how to be mindful on an individual level. Issues such as resource conservation and pollution control are examined from scientific and historical perspectives; possible solutions are also discussed. The texts, accompanied by stock photos and sidebars, are somewhat hindered by uninspired layouts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Green Issues in Focus titles: Conserving and Protecting Water, Solving the Air Pollution Problem, Green and Clean Energy, Unloved and Endangered Animals, and Food for a Greener Planet.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) YA Issues in Focus Today series. Short chapters look at the controversy surrounding the debate between proponents of evolution and of intelligent design. Gordon discusses both sides of the argument and looks at how it has played out in classrooms and the political realm. The accessible if dull design includes stock photos. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) YA Issues in Focus Today series. Drawing on research and personal anecdotes, short chapters explore different types of abuse and discuss short- and long-term physical, emotional, and psychological consequences. The accessible if dull design includes stock photos, many staged. A list of contact information for related organizations is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) YA Issues in Focus Today series. This series identifies and presents current hot topics that are frequent term-paper subjects for young adults. The basic research behind and controversies about stem cells, infertility treatments, and food allergies are clearly presented in short, easy-to-read chapters. Color photographs of scientists in action are interesting, but many of the photos are stiffly staged, making the design look textbookish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Issues in Focus Today titles: The Stem Cell Debate, Peanut Butter, Milk, and Other Deadly Threats, and High-tech Babies.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 You Can Write series. These books provide satisfactory step-by-step guidance for writers. The information is logically organized; the bland presentation is somewhat enhanced by black-and-white drawings of a cartoon pencil that offers encouragement and jokes. A brief listing of Internet addresses may distinguish these books from similar titles. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these You Can Write titles: You Can Write a Business Letter and You Can Write Speeches and Debates.]

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan