(4) 4-6 Innovators series. This solid volume profiles eight people who made technological contributions to motion pictures, including W. K. L. Dickson, who developed the early movie camera, and talking-picture pioneer Lee de Forest. Illustrated with so-so quality black-and-white photos, the book mainly focuses on the early years of cinema, but the final chapter provides an intriguing overview of more-recent innovations. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Great Disasters: Reforms and Ramifications series. The disasters fully described in each volume are recounted in terms of their historical importance as well as their significance in changing future laws and legislation, scientific methodology, and cultural attitudes. The prose sometimes becomes anecdotal (Blizzard) or redundant, but the books do a competent job of presenting each event; adequate black-and-white photos accompany the texts. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Overcoming Adversity series. The inspiring life of African-American professional baseball player and civil rights activist Jackie Robinson is captured in this well-written, thorough biography. In addition to detailing his incredible skill as an athlete, De Angelis stresses Robinson's character as he faced segregationist America's climate of racism during the forties and fifties. Well-selected black-and-white photos help bring Robinson's story to life. A chronology is appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary R. Holt

(4) 4-6 Great Disasters: Reforms and Ramifications series. Stock Market opens with a pallid account of 1929's "Black Thursday"; Triangle Shirtwaist contains a dramatic retelling of the factory fire. Both describe the social conditions that led up to these disasters and discuss what political and social reforms resulted from them. Illustrated with black-and-white reproductions, the books are written in utilitarian prose. Time lines are included. Stock Market contains a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Great Disasters: Reforms and Ramifications series. Two catastrophic twentieth-century events are recounted in volumes that present historic background, provide details of each disaster, and discuss how these events led to transportation safety reforms. Hindenburg is padded with extraneous information and Titanic's prose is somewhat repetitive, but the topics are inherently interesting. Time lines and standard black-and-white photos are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Women of Achievement series. These biographies of two American activists, both of them abolitionists and founders of the women's rights movement, describe in direct, lucid prose the lives and accomplishments of their subjects and the history of the era. The volumes are generously illustrated with nineteenth-century photos and drawings. Both books contain time lines. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Junior Drug Awareness series. Generally informative and clear, with an obvious "just say no" message throughout, this series will provide helpful information for students seeking up-to-date facts, whether for personal reasons or for school reports. Each volume includes color photos and charts and appended lists of websites and organizations to contact. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA Crime, Justice, and Punishment series. White-Collar Crime presents a broad overview of crimes committed by swindlers, government officials, corporations, and the mob. Crimes Against Children is flawed by the inclusion of posed, artificial-looking photos. Major Unsolved Crimes summarizes six historical cases, including Jack the Ripper and product tampering, but the writing lacks detail. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Black Americans of Achievement series. Five notable figures in American popular culture, whose talents crisscross the fields of acting, singing, dancing, and modeling, are profiled in clearly written volumes illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Although personal lives are somewhat sanitized to emphasize positive traits, the books' main focus is on the professional careers of each individual and the determination and talent that have led to their achievements. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Black Americans of Achievement series. Five notable figures in American popular culture, whose talents crisscross the fields of acting, singing, dancing, and modeling, are profiled in clearly written volumes illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Although personal lives are somewhat sanitized to emphasize positive traits, the books' main focus is on the professional careers of each individual and the determination and talent that have led to their achievements. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 African-American Achievers series. Following a brief overview of "Blacks in the Americas," the text provides detailed descriptions of the life of a cowboy and the particular problems and successes encountered by African-American cowboys. The interesting account is illustrated with black-and-white archival photographs and drawings. Unfortunately, no cow'girls' are included, but you can pair this with William Loren Katz's 'Black Women of the Old West'. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.