(3) YA This book highlights exploits of pirates, from those of ancient eras through the twenty-first-century Somali raiders, but much concentration is on the "Golden Age of Piracy," beginning around the mid-1600s and including notables such as Blackbeard. Kaplan also touches on the image of pirates in popular culture and separates reality from myth. Illustrations and sidebars enhance the informative text. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. A career in designing video games requires an understanding of the many contributors involved in developing a successful game. Story writer, sound technician, animator, code writer, and background designer are a few of the people critical to the process. This busily designed, superficial introduction allows young enthusiasts the opportunity to see the puzzle pieces fit together. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. Brain discusses benefits of video-game technology in education, medicine, aviation, and the military. Awesome offers a simplified look at the internal electronics. Evolution provides an overview of gaming's development. Wild looks at how the virtual world meets reality at online gatherings, festivals, and competitions. These are superficial and busily designed but adequate introductions. Wild includes a timeline. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shockzone--Games and Gamers titles: The Awesome Inner Workings of Video Games, The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Gaming, The Epic Evolution of Video Games, and The Wild World of Gaming Culture.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. From 1947's Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device to World of Warcraft, this book introduces nine game creators (including one woman) and their iconic video games. The discussion covers the designers' inspirations, which include tennis and Ping-Pong, animated comics, bugs, battles, robots, architecture, and fantasy worlds. This is a busily designed and superficial but adequate introduction. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. Brain discusses benefits of video-game technology in education, medicine, aviation, and the military. Awesome offers a simplified look at the internal electronics. Evolution provides an overview of gaming's development. Wild looks at how the virtual world meets reality at online gatherings, festivals, and competitions. These are superficial and busily designed but adequate introductions. Wild includes a timeline. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shockzone--Games and Gamers titles: The Awesome Inner Workings of Video Games, The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Gaming, The Epic Evolution of Video Games, and The Wild World of Gaming Culture.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. Brain discusses benefits of video-game technology in education, medicine, aviation, and the military. Awesome offers a simplified look at the internal electronics. Evolution provides an overview of gaming's development. Wild looks at how the virtual world meets reality at online gatherings, festivals, and competitions. These are superficial and busily designed but adequate introductions. Wild includes a timeline. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shockzone--Games and Gamers titles: The Awesome Inner Workings of Video Games, The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Gaming, The Epic Evolution of Video Games, and The Wild World of Gaming Culture.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 ShockZone--Games and Gamers series. Brain discusses benefits of video-game technology in education, medicine, aviation, and the military. Awesome offers a simplified look at the internal electronics. Evolution provides an overview of gaming's development. Wild looks at how the virtual world meets reality at online gatherings, festivals, and competitions. These are superficial and busily designed but adequate introductions. Wild includes a timeline. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Shockzone--Games and Gamers titles: The Awesome Inner Workings of Video Games, The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Gaming, The Epic Evolution of Video Games, and The Wild World of Gaming Culture.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA American Music Milestones series. These well-researched, comprehensive chronologies of modern American musical genres are presented on jazzy magazine-style layouts with eye-catching vintage and contemporary photos. Descriptions of specific transformative moments and key musicians are smoothly worked into the engagingly written narratives. Sections highlighting periods and subgenres include "must download playlists"; longer lists of recommended albums and songs are appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these American Music Milestones titles: American Latin Music, American Rock, American Pop, American R&B, American Country, and American Hip-Hop.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo