(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Sports' Best Ever series. Each volume profiles fourteen of the best-ever players in its athletic category. Ranging from pioneers (Jacques Plante, who wore the first hockey goalie mask) to current stars (Serena Williams), the readable texts highlight what made each player exceptional. Restrained layouts consist of two-page bios with two photographs and an informational stats box. "Honorable mentions" are included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following SportsZone: Sports' Best Ever titles: The Best Golfers of All Time, The Best Tennis Players of All Time, The Best Hockey Players of All Time, The Best Soccer Players of All Time, The Best Extreme Sports Stars of All Time, and The Best Auto Racers of All Time.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. These standard-issue biographies, accompanied by numerous stock photos, introduce readers to celebrities who died young, relating their superstardom, troubled last years, and continuing legacies without adoration or sensationalism. Serious issues such as substance abuse, public-image struggles, and marriage problems are covered directly and honestly. Plentiful sidebars break up the text but sometimes distract from the main narrative. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: Whitney Houston, Kurt Cobain, Diana, and Marilyn Monroe.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Legendary Athletes series. These reasonably comprehensive volumes explore the title athletes' childhoods, early careers, and rise within their sports. Admirable attention is paid to the societal and political constraints facing the men and women, in addition to their own social activism (e.g., King's fight for women's and gay rights, Ashe's work against apartheid in South Africa). A good selection of photographs are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Legendary Athletes titles: Billie Jean King, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Arthur Ashe, and Jesse Owens.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA Legendary Athletes series. These reasonably comprehensive volumes explore the title athletes' childhoods, early careers, and rise within their sports. Admirable attention is paid to the societal and political constraints facing the men and women, in addition to their own social activism (e.g., King's fight for women's and gay rights, Ashe's work against apartheid in South Africa). A good selection of photographs are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Legendary Athletes titles: Billie Jean King, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Arthur Ashe, and Jesse Owens.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Girls Play to Win series. This series brings home the great strides that female athletics has taken over the years. The history of the title sport and its rules are discussed, along with famous figures. With an easy design and format, the texts are highly accessible to even the most reluctant of readers and provide great exposure and insight into the world of female professional sports. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Reviews covers these Girls Play to Win titles: Girls Play to Win Skiing and Snowboarding, Girls Play to Win Figure Skating, Girls Play to Win Volleyball, Girls Play to Win Hockey, and Girls Play to Win Basketball.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 Girls Play to Win series. This series brings home the great strides that female athletics has taken over the years. The history of the title sport and its rules are discussed, along with famous figures. With an easy design and format, the texts are highly accessible to even the most reluctant of readers and provide great exposure and insight into the world of female professional sports. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Reviews covers these Girls Play to Win titles: Girls Play to Win Skiing and Snowboarding, Girls Play to Win Figure Skating, Girls Play to Win Volleyball, Girls Play to Win Hockey, and Girls Play to Win Basketball.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn