(4) YA Special Reports series. These volumes offer balanced explorations of social problems facing American citizens today. Each book examines the topic's past and current history, outlines the issues involved, and discusses possible solutions. Statistical data is included when relevant, but much of the information will be quickly dated; photographs and sidebars (many with tiny type) extend the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Hate Crimes in America, Gun Control and the Second Amendment, The Gender Wage Gap, and The War on Poverty.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Ecological Disasters series. These in-depth books examine major threats to biological and ecological systems. Invasive explores the history and science of animal species invading foreign locations, and Coral looks at the rapid destruction of coral reefs from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Descriptions of attempts to mitigate the problems; quotes from experts; and helpful photographs, diagrams, and sidebars round out each presentation. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Ecological Disasters titles: Invasive Species and Coral Reef Collapse.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Ecological Disasters series. Contemporary threats to ecological systems and to the health of people, plants, and animals include natural disasters and human production of waste. These books delve deep into related science and technologies, each issue's history, and ethical considerations. Descriptions of attempts to mitigate a problem; quotes from experts; and helpful photographs, diagrams, and sidebars reinforce each problem's severity. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Ecological Disasters titles: E-Waste, Melting Arctic Ice, The California Drought, and The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. The life and work of journalist Ida Tarbell is just one of several topics in this inspiring and accessible volume. Bodden also examines the history of investigative journalism and its impact on the rise of big business and the Progressive era; later chapters cover the evolution of modern investigative journalism through the twenty-first century, including the influence of technology. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) YA Essential Literary Genres series. Each volume briefly introduces a genre, then summarizes four or five well-selected books within it, suggests simple critical angles for understanding and interpreting the titles, and gives examples of topics for high-school essay-writing. Brevity rather than depth defines this series. The light-pastel sidebar type was a poor design decision. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Literary Genres titles: Young Adult, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, and Science Fiction.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA Women in Science series. These thorough biographies of pioneering women in scientific and technical fields delve deeply into their personal and professional lives. The series includes frank and balanced discussions of both the successes and challenges each woman faced, as well as the qualities and intellect that drove her significant accomplishments. Numerous photographs of the scientists and additional information about their fields are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Science titles: Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, Mae Carol Jemison, Rosalind Franklin, Grace Hopper, and Chien-Shiung Wu.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. Well-paced chapters with archival photos examine Native American activists' first attempt to invade Alcatraz in 1964, the history of their struggles with white settlers and the government, and the seeds of activism in the Native American community. Later chapters cover the nearly two-year-long occupation of Alcatraz beginning in 1969 and the protest's ongoing impact. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) YA Essential Literary Genres series. Each volume briefly introduces a genre, then summarizes four or five well-selected books within it, suggests simple critical angles for understanding and interpreting the titles, and gives examples of topics for high-school essay-writing. Brevity rather than depth defines this series. The light-pastel sidebar type was a poor design decision. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Literary Genres titles: Young Adult, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, and Science Fiction.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Special Reports series. Capek offers insight into the plight of the Syrian people's struggle against the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. The informative narrative discusses Assad's rise to power, the regime's brutality, and the dilemma of today's Syrian refugees. Photographs add interest and impact; many sidebars (with tiny type) extend the text. The timeliness of the topic means the volume will be quickly dated. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Women in Science series. These thorough biographies of pioneering women in scientific and technical fields delve deeply into their personal and professional lives. The series includes frank and balanced discussions of both the successes and challenges each woman faced, as well as the qualities and intellect that drove her significant accomplishments. Numerous photographs of the scientists and additional information about their fields are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Science titles: Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, Mae Carol Jemison, Rosalind Franklin, Grace Hopper, and Chien-Shiung Wu.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Defining Images series. Cornell explores Mathew Brady's Civil War photographs and their role in the development of photojournalism. In addition to the war itself, this series installment focuses on Brady's life and career--with sections on technical and practical aspects of photography at the time--resulting in a compelling interplay of history, photography, and biography. Additional information on key photographs appended. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) YA Essential Literary Genres series. Each volume briefly introduces a genre, then summarizes four or five well-selected books within it, suggests simple critical angles for understanding and interpreting the titles, and gives examples of topics for high-school essay-writing. Brevity rather than depth defines this series. The light-pastel sidebar type was a poor design decision. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Literary Genres titles: Young Adult, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, and Science Fiction.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA Hip-Hop Insider series. This title, ideal for student research, explores hip-hop dance in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layout employs a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. Overall, this series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns such as commercialization. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Hip-Hop Insider series. These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Hip-Hop Insider series. These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Big Business series. Each volume chronicles a major industry's history, its importance to and impact on the economy, principal players, strategic actions, and status in the twenty-first century. The insightful and informative series uses well-chosen photos, advertisements, illustrations, and related sidebars to extend the texts. A world production map is included. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Big Business titles: Inside the Gold Industry, Inside the Cotton Industry, Inside the Oil Industry, and Inside the Tobacco Industry.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Special Reports series. Edwards takes a close look at the Zika outbreak of 2015. The book chronicles the history of the virus; its range, transmission and symptoms; and the actions being taken to eradicate it. Photographs add interest and impact; many sidebars (with tiny type) extend the text. The timeliness of the topic means the volume will be quickly dated. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Hidden Heroes series. This well-researched volume examines the overlooked history of black women who worked for NASA as "human computers." Despite their essential research and diligence, the women faced segregation and unequal opportunities in the work place. The book also discusses the history of educating black Americans, the Space Race, and basics of aerospace engineering and computation. Archival photos illustrate the account. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) YA Essential Literary Genres series. Each volume briefly introduces a genre, then summarizes four or five well-selected books within it, suggests simple critical angles for understanding and interpreting the titles, and gives examples of topics for high-school essay-writing. Brevity rather than depth defines this series. The light-pastel sidebar type was a poor design decision. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Literary Genres titles: Young Adult, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, and Science Fiction.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Special Reports series. These volumes offer balanced explorations of social problems facing American citizens today. Each book examines the topic's past and current history, outlines the issues involved, and discusses possible solutions. Statistical data is included when relevant, but much of the information will be quickly dated; photographs and sidebars (many with tiny type) extend the texts. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: Hate Crimes in America, Gun Control and the Second Amendment, The Gender Wage Gap, and The War on Poverty.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg