PA
Not-Ready-For-Newbery Recommended Nonfiction Titles 2001
Agosta, William C.
Thieves, Deceivers, and Killers: Tales of Chemistry in Nature.
Princeton University Press, 2001.
0-691-00488-9. 241p. $26.95.
Grades 10+.
From bacteria that produce yogurt and cheese, to fragrances that ensure
pollination of plants and reproduction of species, William Agosta
explains, in a simplified scientific manner, how organisms react to the chemical
signals of other species. Interesting material for browsing, for larger
collections, or for where there is a need for this type of information.
Elizabeth McChesney
Alagna, Magdalena. Everything
You Need to Know about Chemotherapy. New York:Rosen, 2001.
0-8239-3394-6. 64p. $23.95. Gr. 6-10. This title, part of the Need
to Know Library, presents basic background information about chemotherapy.
Alagna has covered the definitions of cancer and chemotherapy, the side
effects of the treatment and a list of questions to ask doctors about treatment
options. In addition, suggestions
for further help include web sites, addresses and phone numbers of various
organizations, and additional titles noted at the end of the book. Students will use this to gain an initial understanding of
chemo-therapy. Sandra Krieg
Aleskasander, Igor. How to Build a Mind: Toward
Machines with Imagination.
New
York: Columbia University Press, 2001. 0-231-12012-5. 187p. $24.95.
Do we need to know all there is to know about the
human mind before we can create artificial minds? No, according to neural
systems engineer Igor Aleksander. By his own admission, Aleksander makes some
bold statements about the mind/body problem, theology and thinking computers. In
a most accessible fashion, this book cuts through the jargon of philosophical
isms, introduces the readers to some of the great thinkers in the field of
artificial intelligence and demystifies and makes a case for the inevitability
of machine consciousness. Michael
Wagman, Teacher, Springfield Twp. High School
Ali:
The Movie and the Man. Newmarket
Press, 2001. 1-55704-510-0
$22.95 Grades 8+
. This lavishly illustrated official companion to the film contains the full
screenplay, writings about Ali by notable journalists, and offers fascinating
background of Will Smithís transformation from slim actor to convincing boxer.
Will be very popular among fans.
Joyce Valenza
Allen,
Henry. What it Felt Like: Living
in the American Century. Pantheon,
2001. 0-37542063-0. $20.00.
Gr. 7+.
This is a gem of a book that will be loved by teachers of American
history. Each of the ten chapters, which open with an image and a ìmotto,î
is an evocative essay that captures the history, culture, and mood of the
decade. A wonderful read-aloud to
begin study of each period.
Joyce Valenza
Alschuler, William
A. The Science of UFOs. New York : St.
Martinís Press, 2001 0-312-26225-6
211 p. $23.95
Gr. 9-adult. Astronomer
Alschuler examines the mystery surrounding UFOís from a scientific
perspective. He employs the constructs
of science fiction, explains scientific theories in simple terms and from a
cultural perspective. A refreshing
look at an age-old question. A good
companion to The Physics of Star Trek
by Lawrence Krauss.
Pat Naismith
Alter, Judith. Extraordinary Explorers and
Adventurers. NY: Childrenís Press, 2001.
0-516-21693-7. 288p. $37.00. Gr. 5+. Starting from ancient times through
today, those who set out to see their world and beyond are chronicled.
Hercules and Jason lead off as the first of the adventurer/ explorers.
Ms. Alter has included many explorers that are not easily found
elsewhere, such as Hoei-shin, who explored North and South America in the fifth
century and Jacqueline Cochran, the first women to break the sound barrier.
This reference title will be very useful for reports and general
browsing. An extensive bibliography
including both books and websites is included.
Sandra Krieg
Ambrose, Stephen E. The
Good Fight: How World War II Was Won. New
York: Atheneum, 2001. 0-689-84361-5.
96p. $19.95 Gr. 7-12. Donít be fooled ñ this is not a picture book! It is a gripping photo essay of World War II.
Ambrose, the author of Band of Brothers, has written for young people, and engrossing
account of the war. The
straight-forward text pulls no punches as it takes readers from Pearl Harbor to
the end of the war. The photos are
eleoquent, and at times, startling. An
outstanding overview! Every library should have this book.
Pat
Naismith
American Decades 1990-1999. New York:
UXL/Gale Group, 2001.
0-7876-4030-1. 673p. Gr. 9+.
This newest volume in the American Decades series is as
well organized and comprehensive as one would expect. Here are the events the people, and the significance of the
1990s. Pam Kavanaugh
American
War Library Series. $27.45 each. Lucent,
2001.
Yancey, Diane. Vietnam War: Life
of an American Soldier. 1-5606-676-8
. Roberts, Russell. Vietnam War:
Leaders and Generals. 1-56006-717-9. Campbell, Geoffrey A. Persian Gulf
War: Life of an American Soldier.1-56006-713-6
. Each multivolume set offers historical perspective, descriptions of
battles, key personalities, and a good feel for daily life on the battlefield.
Each compact, yet comprehensive volume includes chronologies, maps,
photographs, and annotated bibliographies.
Joyce Valenza
Animal
Ways Series:
Ruff, Sue and
Wilson, Don E. Bats. New York: Benchmark
Books/Marshall Cavendish, 2001.
0-7614-1137-2. $19.95. 104p. Gr.
6-8.
Jango-Cohen, Judith. Crocodiles. New
York: Benchmark Books/Marshall
Cavendish, 2001.
0-7614-1136-4. $19.95. 112p. Gr.
6-8.
Greenberg, Dan. Frogs. New
York: Benchmark Books/Marshall
Cavendish, 2001.
0-7614-1138-0. $19.95. 112p.
Gr. 6-8.
Fleisher, Paul. Gorillas. New
York: Benchmark Books/Marshall
Cavendish, 2001.
0-7614-1140-2.
$19.95. 112p. Gr. 6-8.
Most animal titles up for purchase are of the coffee table variety
or too young for high school use. Each of these beautiful volumes is perfect for
research. The set includes
cheetahs, ants, bears, crocodiles, frogs, gorillas, horses, sharks, snakes and
covers habitat, evolution issues, the life cycle, and survival issues.
Joyce Valenza
& Michelle Stone
Anne Frank in the World : 1929-1945.
Ed. The Anne Frank House. New
York: Knopf, 2001.
0-375-91177-4. 144p. $20.99. Gr.
5-12.
This is an excellent resource for school libraries where the study of the
Holocaust includes the Diary of Anne Frank.
It uses Anne Frankís life and death as a frame for a book of
photographs that shows what was going on in Europe prior to the time the family
went into hiding until the liberation of Europe in 1945.
There are news photographs that show the effects of the Holocaust on the
various communities and also family photographs that allow the reader to become
familiar with the Frank family and identify with their struggle.
It shows the impact the Nazis had on culture and everyday life.
As I looked at pictures of Anne in a Montessori School and pictures of
her family, it is easy to identify with the family and to then understand the
impact of the Holocaust of millions of families.
This book discusses the continued inhumanity of man in other countries
today (in particular, Yugoslavia and Bosnia) and how individuals must work to
stop the violence.
Peg Kleppinger
Ansay,
A. Manette. Limbo: A Memoir. New York: William Morrow, 2001.
0-688-17286-5. 269p.
$25.00. Gr. 10-adult. A. Manette Ansay grew up devoting herself to her
music, and focusing all her energies towards a career as a concert pianist.
After high school, as she is in full preparation for a musical career, she
begins to experience neurological problems which grow increasingly serious, and
eventually force her into a wheelchair and away from her dreams of a musical
career. This memoir tells of her childhood and teen years in rural Wisconsin,
and relates her attempts to conquer this devastating disease, still undiagnosed
as she is writing this at the age of 36, although listed as "probable
multiple sclerosis" on her medical records. Turning to writing when her
body would not allow her to pursue music, Ansay has become a successful author
whose indomitable spirit fills the pages of this biography. Biography
Nancy Chrismer
Armies
of the Past
: Butterfield, Moira. Going to War in Roman Times. 0-531-14591-3. 32p.
_______. Going to War in World War II. 0-531-14596-4 32p.
Gilbert, Adrian. Going
to War in World War I. 0-531-14595-6. 32p.
NY: Franklin Watts, 2001. $17.25. Gr.4-7.
Each volume in this set includes an area map, and a chronology of
the times/war providing the students with a reference point for the information
to follow. Arranged in double-page
spreads, each chapter contains text boxes, illustrations, and photographs.
The information is easily accessible and a glossary and index are
included in these colorful, helpful titles.
Sandra Krieg
Augustyn, Frank and Shelley Tanaka.
Footnotes: Dancing the Worldís Best Loved Ballets.
Brookfield, CT.: Millbrook
Press, 2001. 0-7613-2323-6. 96 p. $19.95 Gr.
6+.
If all you know about ballet is ìThe Nutcrackerî, and you want to know
more, then Footnotes is the place to start.
Augustyn, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada,
explains the language of dance, and the relationship between ballet, music and
dancer. Seven well-known ballets
are briefly described, including the history of the ballet, a synopsis of the
ballet, and the challenges facing both male and female dancers.
Color and black and white photos and a readable text make interesting
reading and provide some guidelines for those who want to venture beyond the
Sugar Plum Fairy.
Rosanne Zajko
Aveline, Erick.
Temporary Tattoos.
Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2000. 1-55209-609-2.
$19.95.
Gr 9-12. The book offers alternative ways of permanent tattoos.
These temporary tattoos are clean, safe and fun. A valuable edition, that offers
alternative suggestions for permanent tattoos, to a high school collection.
Margaret Goodlin
Bachel, Beverly K.
What do you really want? How to set a goal and go for it!: a guide for
teens.
Minneapolis: Free Spirit, 2001. 1-57542-085-6.
134p. $12.95. Gr. 9-12.
A self-help book designed to help students organize and take control of
their lives while setting realistic goals for their future.
The chapters are divided into specific topics including discovering what
you really want, how to become a goal getter, and how to think positively.
There are several reproducible pages that students can sit down with and
critique their skills while figuring out what they need to do to get their lives
on track. The author has had prior
experience with many major corporations and also helps individuals to develop
plans to achieve their goals. She spent many hours with teenagers across the
United States in order to find out their dreams and goals and then devised some
workable solutions that teens can use. Bachel
is the cheerleader for setting goals and then achieving them.
Goal Planning
Peg Kleppinger
Barad, Judith with
Ed Robertson. The Ethics of Star Trek. New
York : HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-019530-4.
368p. $23.00 Gr. 10+.Dr. Barad
teaches philosophy at Indiana State University (where she teaches a course on
the philosophy of Star Trek). She
and co-author Ed Robertson have managed to illustrate virtually every
philosophical theory with episodes of Star Trek.
A wonderful, entertaining and creative way to introduce the study of
ethics to trekkies and non-believers alike. A good companion to The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence Krauss.
Pat Naismith
Barghusen, Joan. Cities
through Time (series). Daily
Life in Ancient and Modern Cairo.
Minneapolis: Runestone Press, 2001. 0-8225-3221-2. $25.26.
Gr. 5-8.
Just as the title implies, this book gives vivid information about life in
Cairo during ancient times, including detailed illustrations of pyramids,
houses, marriage ceremonies, as well as recent photos of Cairo as it appears
today. This series, which
also includes books on Athens, Baghdad, Beijing, Istanbul, Jerusalem, London,
Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Rome and Timbuktu, is sure to capture the interest
of students studying world history.
Joanie Marstiller
Bartoletti,
Susan Campbell. Black Potatoes:
the Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
0-618-00271-5. 184p. $18.00. Gr.
6-12. Many books have been written on this topic, but this one is
particularly attractive. A
comprehensive history of the potato blight that began the Irish
"troubles," this book includes illustrations from 19th century
newspapers (2 examples: The Illustrated London News and Pictorial Times). By the
author of Growing Up in Coal Country, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults,
and based on the memories of those who lived during this nonfiction work is
written specifically for young adults. Black
Potatoes can be read for pleasure and will be a helpful resource for
students looking for information on the Irish Potato Famine.
Pat Bender
Batten, Mary. Anthropologist: Scientist
of the People. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company,
2001.
0-618-08368-5. 64p. $16.00 Gr. 3-8
From the Scientists in the Field series, this book outstanding book
introduces readers to the field of anthropology through the work of Hurtado and
Hill, a husband(Hill) and wife(Hurtado) team studying the Ache, one of the few
remaining hunting-gathering societies in
the rain forest of Paraguay. Describes the methods of observation and data
collection that anthropologists use in their work.
Outstanding full-color photographs, bibliography, and index.
Susan Krenicky
Bellenir,
Karen, Ed. Diet Information for Teens: Health Tips about Diet and Nutrition,
Including
Facts about Nutrients, Dietary Guidelines, Breakfasts, School Lunches,
Snacks, Party Food,
Weight Control, Eating Disorders and More.
Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2001.
0-7808-0441-4. 399p.
$48.00. Gr. 7.
Questions about diet, eating
disorders, and how to gain or lose weight are among the issues covered in this
collection of information. A chart
of the Food Pyramid, facts on cholesterol and a host of other nutrition-related
topics make this a useful reference. The
layout uses charts and highlighted text boxes to bring out key points and makes
the book easy to read. Great for
health classes or nutritional units in science classes.
Candy Blessing
Berry, Halle. Blue,
Rose and Corinne. Chelsea House. 2002. 102p. 0791058026. $30.50.
This excellent biography of Halle Berry details her life and her
struggles as she climbs the road to success. The strength of this book comes
from the historical background of racial issues that are interwoven with Halle's
story, demonstrating the strong links between Halle and others who walked this
road before her. The richness of this narrative gives to the reader a deep
understanding and a true picture of the struggles for racial equality and
justice fought by non-whites who have attempted success in the movie and
television industry. Halle stands out triumphant, her success a tribute, a
victory, and especially, an example of what can be overcome and what can be
achieved. There is an index which will be of great help for research purposes,
although the book is a great read on its own. Biography
Nancy Chrismer
Bober,
Natalie S. Countdown to
Independence. New York:
Atheneum Books, 2001.
0-689-81329-5. 342p. $26.95. Gr. 7
+. Bober spent four years
researching and writing about the events in the years leading up to the
Declaration of Independence. Her
meticulous attention to detail presents a balanced view of the both the
political climate and the personalities engaged in the struggle on both sides of
the Atlantic. By using original sources such as speeches, diaries and letters,
Bober brings the men and women who witnessed the Revolution to life.
This is a book rich in information, not only for report writing, but also
for anyone seeking an understanding of how America gained her independence.
Rosanne Zajko
Boerst, William J.
Generous Anger : The Story of
George Orwell. Greensboro, NC:
Morgan
Reynolds, 2001. 1-883846-74-9.
112p. $20.95. Gr. 6-9.
This short biography of Eric Blair (George Orwell) will introduce students
to a writer they have often read in school.
His childhood experiences at boarding school and later at the university
are interesting and give the reader insight into his background and how it
impacted on his writing. His experiences in India and later Burma influenced his
belief that British imperialism was a destructive force for both the British and
the Indians and Burmese. His
personal experiences were often used in his writing and his empathy for the poor
was the foundation of much of what he wrote during this time period.
Social activism and political writing were an integral part of his
writing and through this biography, one can see how his experiences impacted his
own political philosophy. There is a glossary and bibliography of materials that
students will find readable. Biography
Peg
Kleppinger
Bolin, Frances
Schoenmaker, Ed. The Blackbirch Treasury of American Poetry. Woodbridge,
Connecticut: Blackbirch Press, Inc 2001.
1-56711-472-5. 288p. $46.19.
Gr. 6-adult. A
sampling of American poets shows different facets of the Romantic period of
writing as well as more contemporary styles.
Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub
Bortz, Fred.
Techno-Matter : The Materials
Behind the Marvels. Brookfield:
Twenty-First
Century, 2001. 0-7613-1469-5.
96p. $25.90. Gr. 10-12.
This book is about materials science and engineering and how the marvels of
technology evolved and how they work. There
are photos and diagrams that assist in explaining materials that make up the
future of technology. Bortz
attempts to explain and define many complex structures, terms, developments, and
uses of chemical substances. Some
of the topics he covers include electricity and the function of conductors and
semiconductors, silicon and transistors. There
is an explanation of the binary system used in computers, and types of polymers
and structures. The subjects
covered here are written with the student in mind.
This is actually the first source that I have read that I actually
understand what superconductivity is. The
subjects are complex and will necessitate higher level reading skills.
Students involved in chemistry and/or technology classes will find this a
resource that they can use and understand.
Technology
Peg Kleppinger
Bolin,
Frances Schoenmaker, Ed. The Blackbirch Treasury of American Poetry. Woodbridge,
Connecticut: Blackbirch Press,
Inc 2001. 1-56711-472-5. 288p. $46.19.
Gr. 6-adult. A
sampling of American poets shows different facets of the Romantic period of
writing
as well as more contemporary styles.
Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub
Bragdon, Kathleen J.
The Columbia Guide to American
Indians of the Northeast. New York:
Columbia University Press, 2001. 0-231-11452-4.
292p. $45
Gr. 9-adult.
There
are four main parts to this guide that will assist students who are delving into
Native American cultures. The first
part is an overview of the cultures and histories of the northeastern Indian
people and surveys the major debates. It
defines the region and the people who lived there prior to the time of Columbus.
It then reviews the European exploration and the press toward the
frontier. It reviews the northeast 1850 to present with a discussion of how the
Indians and the government interacted. Part
II is an encyclopedia that alphabetically lists important individuals and places
of significant cultural or historic meaning.
Part III is a chronology of the major events in the history of American
Indians in the Northeast. Part IV
is for serious researchers and it includes an annotated list of tribes,
bibliographies, museums, and sites, published sources, Internet sites and films
that can be easily accessed. The
guide will lead students to resources for in-depth research.
Native Americans.
Peg Kleppinger
Branch, Muriel Miller. Fine Arts and Crafts (African-American
Arts series). Brookfield, CT: 21st
Century, 2001.
0-7613-1868-2. 96p. $28.90.
Gr. 6-12.
The
author connects African American arts and crafts to their roots in Africa and
then presents chapters on home crafts (pottery, basketry, quilts), visual
artists, sculptors, folk artists, photographers, and support for African
American arts by colleges and collectors. The illustrations demonstrate the
variety of styles within each genre, and the text is informative but not
difficult to read. The glossary and bibliography are helpful, but the use of
endnotes or footnotes would have been a useful model for students. Other titles
in the series cover cooking, dance, and music.
Eleanor Howe
Brown,
Bobbi and Annemarie Iverson. Teenage
Beauty: Everything You Need to Know to Look
Pretty, Natural, Sexy & Awesome. Cliff Street
Books (HarperCollins), 2001.
0-06-019636-X. $25.00.
Gr. 8-12.
Make-up
guru and Today show beauty editor, Brown writes the book she wished she had as a
teen. Her sensitive and natural
approach focuses on the ìmakeunder.î She
devotes chapters to African American, Latin American, and Asian American teens.
This upbeat and healthy approach, together with its fabulous pictures of
regular girls will fly off your shelves.
Joyce Valenza
Brown, Gene. Duke
Ellington: Jazz Master. Blackbirch
Press, Inc., 2001. 1-56711-505-5. 128p. $29.94. Gr.
6-9.
This new addition to the Giants of Art and Culture
series highlights the life and career of Duke EllingtonóAmerican jazz piano
player, composer, and bandleader. Born in 1899 in Washington, D.C., he was named
Edward Kennedy Ellington. Edwardís father moved to Washington from North
Carolina and worked his way up the social scale from butler to Navy blueprint
maker. As a result, the family considered themselves middle class. From the very
beginning Edward had high aspirations for himself. He earned the nickname
ìDukeî because of it. He announced to his mother one day that he was going
to be the greatest. True to his word, he was. With a career spanning more than
50 years, Duke created a style that was, and still is, unique. Duke Ellington
provides a well-rounded overview of this multi-talented musician. A
glossary and discography are included, along with a bibliography and index.
Note: Originally published by Silver Burdett Press as Duke Ellington Genius!
The Artist and the Process. Elizabeth McChesney
Browning, Robert. Robert
Browning. Sterling Publishing
Co., Inc., 2001. 0-8069-5543-0. 48p. $14.95. Gr. 5-8
As
part of Sterlingís illustrated Poetry for Young People series, Robert
Browning clearly represents the genius of this English poet. A brief
explanation precedes each poem, some of which are excerpts from longer works. To
clarify meaning, vocabulary appends each entry. An Introduction of biographical
information highlights his career and provides insight to his personal life.
Elizabeth McChesney
Buckley,
Gail. American Patriots: The
Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert
Storm. Random House, 2001.
0-375-50279-3 $29.95
534 p. Gr. 9+. Buckley
(the daughter of Lena Horne) presents a long overdue tribute to servicemen and
women of color. Her stories are
based on hundreds of interviews with veterans since World War I and introduce
such notable stories as West Pointís first
black graduate, Buffalo Soldier,
Benjamin O. Davis--our first black general and his son, a Tuskegee Airman.
An excellent addition to the high school collection! Joyce
Valenza
Burnstein, Andrew.
Americaís Jubilee: How in 1826 a Generation Remembered Fifty Years of
Independence.
New York: Alfred Knopf, 2001. 0-375-41033-3.
361p. $30.
Gr. 9-adult. Burnstein
looks back over the 50 years that followed independence in the United States.
He uses the personal diaries of famous and ordinary citizens, public
journals, and popular literature to tell the story of America.
His main focus is on people like Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson,
John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson. The purpose of
the book is to look at the progress that the United States made after the
Revolutionary War and where it looked like the country was heading in the
future. People were worried about the fact that while the country was
becoming a prosperous nation, it wasnít making as much progress of equality
and justice for all. With his use
of letters and diaries, one is able to get a glimpse of the personalities that
shaped American history. While not
an easy book for students to read, it can provide a wealth of information about
the life and times in American history during the beginning of the 19th
century. History.
Peg Kleppinger
Butterfield,
Moira. Going to War in Roman
Times. New York: Franklin Watts, 2001.
0-531-16352-0. 32p. $12.00. Gr. 3-6.
One
of a series of books called Armies of the Past, this book and like others
in the series provides a very brief look at the soldiers from that time period.
Includes a look at their weapons, strategies for the battles and in some
cases a look at some actual battles, and the living conditions of the soldiers.
Will appeal to young students interested in some information on soldiers and
warfare throughout history. Full
color pictures, diagrams, maps, glossary, and index.
Susan Krenicky
Byman, Jeremy.
Carl Sagan: In Contact with the
Cosmos. Greensboro, NC: Morgan
Reynolds,
2001. 1-883846-55-2. 112p.
$19.95. Gr. 8-12.
Carl
Sagan died in 1996 after a long bout with myelodysplasia, a rare bone marrow
disease that can lead to leukemia. He
was best known for popularizing astronomy through a 13-part television series,
Cosmos. It was interesting to read about his childhood, his education at the
University of Chicago, his years on
the faculty of Harvard (where he was denied tenure!) and Cornell, his three
marriages and his incredible achievements in the field of astronomy.
The movie, Contact, was based on a book that he wrote.
A chronology of his work, a timeline and a bibliography complete this
work. This short biography is highly readable, and overall, quite
fascinating. Biography
Peg Kleppinger
Byman, Jeremy.
J.P. Morgan: Banker to a Growing
Nation. Greensboro, NC: Morgan
Reynolds,
2001. 1-883846-60-9.
$20.95. Gr. 6-9.
J.
P. Morgan was one of the most important businessmen during the late 19th
century and early 20th century.
This short biography is an excellent introduction to his life and his
impact during the Industrial Revolution. The
roles he played as a banker for the federal government, financier for railroad
construction, and as one of the founders of U.S. Steel are described in a
readable format that students will understand.
It was quite interesting to read about his family life and life that he
lead outside of the business world. When students study the American Industrial
Revolution in history classes, this short biography would be a definite asset.
Biography
Peg Kleppinger
Capuzzo,
Michael. Close to Shore: A True
Story of Terror in an Age of Innocence. Broadway
Books, 2001. 0-7679-0413-3.
317p. $24.95.
Gr. 9+.
Unaware
of a lurking danger, Charles Vasant swam in the ocean with his dog. His goal was
to see how far he could go. The dog, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, suddenly seemed
to tire and headed for the New Jersey shore. Unable to coax the dog back into
the water, Charles headed to the shore himself. He realized too late that he was
being stalked. Close to the shore, close to safety, within three and one half
feet of water, Charles was attacked. And that was just the beginning. Without
the sensationalism that usually surrounds such stories, author Michael Capuzzo
has provided a riveting historical account of the first recorded attack by a
great white shark. Scientific background helps the reader to understand how and
when shark attacks occur. Close to Shore is real life drama
at its finest. Elizabeth
McChesney
Cerullo, Mary M.
Sea Soup: Zooplankton.
Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House, 2001. 0-88448-219-7.
39p. $16.95.
Gr. 3-8.
This book has already received rave reviews including being
selected as part of the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2002.
Bill Curtsingerís photographs are exceptional and the text is written
by a local Maine author, Mary Cerullo. One
is able to explore the wide variety of drifting marine life.
Zooplankton includes the eggs of sea animals, their hatched offspring,
other creatures that can often only be seen in a microscope.
Others are much larger and can be seen by the naked eye.
The author has written an easy text that allows students to discover the
world of zooplankton. She describes who eats zooplankton (penguins, whales, and
seals are just a few!), which are the fastest (copepod, a cousin of lobsters and
crabs), where they live and which ones want to bump into when you are in the
ocean. This book will be a welcome addition to libraries seeking information
about sea life. Science.
Peg
Kleppinger
Chiles, James R. Inviting
Disaster. HarperBusiness, 2001.
0-06-662081-3. 338p.
$28.00.
Gr. 9+.
As mentioned on the title page, this truly is an inside
look at catastrophes and why they happen. Whether you read this book from cover
to cover, consult the section entitled ìDisasters, Calamities, and Near Misses
Cited in the Book,î or turn directly to the extensive index and scan for
topics of interest, Inviting Disaster explains how society has
been blessed, or not, with advances in technology. As expected, there are
references to Exxon Valdez, the Titanic, and Three Mile Island. Select
incidences from 1788 to 2000 are covered. For
researchers or browsers.
Elizabeth McChesney
Colbert, Nancy A.
The Firing on Ft. Sumter: A
Splintered Nation Goes to War. Greensboro, NC:
Morgan Reynolds, 2001. 1-883946-51-X.
112p. $19.95. Gr. 6-12.
Students will find this small book very beneficial in their
study of the Civil War. Ms. Colbert deftly describes the issues surrounding the
beginning of the Civil War and gives life to the various people involved in the
decisions that were made at the start of the war. She describes the moral struggles facing both sides of the
dispute. It is particularly
interesting to read about President James Buchanan and the dilemmas he faced
prior to the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln.
Jefferson Davis, then a U.S. Senator, warned him of the crisis and what
might happen to the Union. The
photographs and maps provide excellent resources for students.
In addition, there is a glossary and a bibliography of resources that are
accessible to students. There are
also websites to explore. This readable history of the beginning of the Civil
War will help students understand the issues facing our country.
History
Peg Kleppinger
Colbert, Nancy A. The Firing on Ft. Sumter.
Greensboro, NC: Morgan Reynolds, 2001.
1-883846-51-X. 112 pp. $20.95. Gr. 6-9. Part of the four volume series, First Battles, Ms.
Colbert helps the reader to understand the events leading up to the firing of
Fort Sumter by the Confederacy. Starting
with Kentuckian, Major Anderson being sent to Ft. Moultrie to set up a
defendable position but to try ìto avoid collisionî with the peoples of
South Carolina. When Maj. Anderson
decided he needed to move his troops to Ft. Sumter because of logistics, the
events were set in motion for the beginning of the war.
Poor communication, hidden agendas and secret dealings are all revealed.
Students should find this useful for report writing especially with its
bibliography of both books and websites.
Sandra Krieg
Collier, Christopher, and James Lincoln Collier. The
Rise of the Cities: 1820-1920 (Drama of
American History series).
New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark Books, 2001.
0-7614-1051-1.
95 pp. $29.39.
Gr. 8-12.
The goal of this series, written by the authors of My
Brother Sam is Dead and other fiction and nonfiction about American history,
is to create books that independently address basic themes, concepts, and ideas
in American history. While many titles in the series focus on specific periods
or events, this is one of the few that concern a topic over the entire period of
American history: the first cities, the explosion and growth of cities,
technology and the city, city problems, the failure of city government, and
reform. Charts and period photographs and drawings supplement the text. While
there are bibliographies for teachers and students, the lack of endnotes or
footnotes makes this otherwise fine book a less than desirable model for
secondary student research.
Eleanor Howe
Complete War of the Worlds: Mars Invasion of Earth from H. G. Wells to
Orson Welles. Eds.
Brian Holmsten & Alex Lubertozzi.
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Media Fusion, 2001.
1-57071-714-1. 201p. $39.95.
Gr. 9-adult.
This book will delight students who are interested in H.G.
Wellsí story and Orson Wellsí broadcast on Halloween, 1938. The book
includes a CD that tells how Orson Wells and the Mercury Theater drove 1.2
million people into a panic over an alleged invasion from Mars. This book has everything.
The radio play is broadcast on the CD and reprinted in the book.
There are reprints of the various articles in the newspapers that
followed the broadcast that describe the panic that thousands felt after the
broadcast. In addition, there is an extensive section of the book that discusses
H.G. Wells and his writing. The Wellsí story, The War of the Worlds, is
also included. This book and CD
will fascinate students because they will have an opportunity to hear the
broadcast, read the newspaper accounts and even read the story that caused all
the panic back in 1938. This book would be a great teaching resource for teachers in
English and history classes. Science
Fiction.
Peg Kleppinger
Coppens,
Linda Miles. What American Women
Did, 1789-1920. MacFarland,
2001. $38.50.
0-7864-0899-5. Gr.
9+.This
year-by-year volume chronicles the activities of women from the beginning of the
republic through the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment.
Each section explores activities in the areas of domesticity, work,
education, religion, the arts, the law and politics, and joining forces. This
book offers a wealth of information and will be especially useful for student
projects. Joyce Valenza
Cruz, Barbara C.
Multiethnic Teens and Cultural
Identity: A Hot Issue. Berkeley
Heights:
Enslow. 0-7660-1201-8. 64p. $12.95. Gr. 5-12.
This short work discusses the many issues facing teens of
multiethnic descent, including discrimination and the search for ethnic
identity. The author traces the growth of the multiethnicity in the United
States and points out that the population is expanding and creating questions
about ìwhat is race?î and the difficulties that people face when asked the
question ìwhat are you?î
Questions that students often face when growing up are discussed and role
models like Tiger Woods and Halle Berry speak out.
There are many charts and graphs that show the changes in our society as
well as a suggestion for a bill of rights for multiethnic people that expresses
the right to not have to justify their existence as a multiracial person and to
have the right to freely choose whom they befriend and love.
This is an interesting resource that should have teens talking about the
problems students face when people judge them by their multiethnicity. Ethnic Identity
Peg Kleppinger
Cultures
of the World Series. 2nd edition. Marshall Cavendish, 2001.
$24.95 ea. 144 p. Gr. 6-11.
This fully updated and very attractive series (we saw the
set on Asia), covers Japan, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and
Mayamar. Color photos enhance the engaging narrative which
examines curricular issues like the role of woman,
religion, the arts, history, and the economy.
Outstanding for school projects! Joyce Valenza
Current
Controversies Series. Greenhaven
Press. $26.20. Gr. 9+
Cothran, Helen, ed. Illegal
Immigration. 0-7377-0685-6. Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting. 0-7377-0558-2.
Grapes, Bryan J. ed. Child
Abuse. 0-7377-0679-1Critical curricular updates to the high-quality series of
primary sources carefully selected to represent all sides of current debates.
Joyce Valenza
Day, Nancy.
Your Travel Guide to Ancient Egypt.
Minneapolis: Runestone, 2001. 0-8225-3075-9.
96p. $26.60.
Gr. 4-9.
This is another title in the series done by Runeston Press
that looks at life in an historical period through the use of humor.
This particular volume introduces students to life in Ancient Egypt.
Critics have expressed skepticism on the validity of this approach, yet I
suspect students will enjoy looking at this guide and they will want to explore
Ancient Egypt further in their readings and class work.
The work describes clothing, accommodations, foods, local customs,
transportation, and then introduces some of the important historical figures in
Ancient Egypt. Despite the fact
that it does skip around in the time periods, there are tidbits of information
that students will find interesting. There
is a section that describes selecting a name that students will enjoy.
They will also be intrigued by the description of how to build a pyramid
as well as descriptions of home life in the ancient world.
There are short biographical sketches of Ramses II, Hatshepsut, Ahhotep
and Akhenaton. History.
Peg Kleppinger
Day, Nancy.
Your Travel Guide to Civil War
America. Minneapolis: Runestone,
2001. 0-8225-3078-3. 96p. $26.60.
Gr. 4-9.
Students
will find this flippant guide to the Civil War entertaining and they will likely
learn more about the Civil War than they expect.
The author describes clothing, accommodations, food, local customs,
transportation, and a few people who are important to the era are also described
in the ìWhoís Whoî section of the travel guide.
The clever introduction of vocabulary from the Civil War will undoubtedly
help students to understand their text readings when they do additional reading
for their classes. Helpful hints
are given by the tour guide in little graphics to the side of the text and they
are often rather humorous. There is
an interesting look at salaries of the soldiers, common problems they faced each
day, as well as a short history of some of the most important battles. The author includes information about family life, school and
how the average family survived the war in both the North and South.
In addition, a readable bibliography, Internet sites and a glossary for
students are included. History.
Peg Kleppinger also Eleanor
Howe
Diouf,
Sylviane A. Growing Up in
Slavery. Brookfield, Ct.: Millbrook Press, 2001.
0-7613-1763-5. 96p. $19.95. Gr.7+.
Focusing
solely on the children of slavery, Diouf presents a grim, brutally honest
assessment of the effect of slavery on children, both those born into the
institution and those kidnapped and sold into slavery. The living conditions,
including dress, chores and leisure activities, and relationships between black
and white children, are documented from slave narratives. The facts are so
compelling that students reading this information can not help but put
themselves in the place of the enslaved children. Pair with Julius Lesterís To
Be a Slave. Includes an index,
source notes and bibliography, and a selection of books, videos and web sites
for further information.
Rosanne Zajko
DiSpezio, Michael.
Optical Illusion. NY: Sterling Publishing, 2001. 0-8069-6627-0. 80p. $17.95.
Gr. 3-adult. Have
you ever wondered how those optical illusions work? Michael DiSpezio has provided insight into a multitude of
different optical illusions. This candy for the brain will have your students
trying to make their own optical illusions by following directions to make
mosaic blocks, the 2D target and lots of eye tricking line drawings. An index is
included.
Sandra Krieg
Duey,
Kathleen. Amelia Carrett:
Bayou Grand Coeur. Louisiana, 1863.
American Diaries.
New York: Aladdin, 1999.
0-689-82402-5 (pbk.). 137p.
$3.99. Gr. 4-7. Here
is another addition to the popular historical fiction series, American Diaries.
Each story is about a
different girl living in a different time period of Americanís past, who
reveal their life secrets through the pages of their diaries.
Each encounters a life altering challenge.
In this story, an orphan, Amelina is used to being left all by herself
while her Uncle Pierre is off trapping or fishing. And it's a Cajun custom to
welcome strangers into your home. But she soon realizes that the two men who've
come to her tiny wooden house are dangerous. It will take all her knowledge of
the dark swamp--and all her courage--to save herself and her uncle.
More mature than some of the others in the series. Candy Blessing
Ellis, Rex. M. With a Banjo on My Knee: A Musical
Journey from Slavery to Freedom. New York:
Franklin Watts, 2001.
0-531-11747-2. 160p. $26.00.
Gr. 7-12.
Ellis,
an African American curator at the Smithsonian Institution, chronicles the
importance of the banjo in the African American tradition and the interaction
between this music and black culture. The informally written but informative
text includes the periods before and after 1900 and is supplemented by period
photographs and drawings, biographical sketches, an index, glossary,
discography, and bibliographies including web sites. The authorís research is
demonstrated by the use of endnotes which provide a valuable model for secondary
students. Eleanor Howe
Engelbert, Phillis. Dangerous
Planet. Detroit, MI: UXL, 2001. 0-7876-2848-4. 446p. $135.00.
Gr. 5-9. This
three-volume set explores sixteen (16) natural disasters.
Each chapter includes words to know, how the disaster occurs, and
consequences of the disaster. Within the topic one or two specific disasters are
profiled. Some of the natural
disasters covered in depth are the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Black Sunday,
the dust storm of April 1935, and the 1925 tornado in Murphysburg, Illinios.
Each chapter ends with a list of books, periodicals and websites for
further information. A welcome
addition to all middle school and junior high libraries.
Sandra Krieg
Farlow, James.
Bringing Dinosaur Bones to Life:
How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Were Like?
New York: Franklin Watts, 2001. 0-531-11403-1.
$17.96. 63p. Gr. 5-8.
With
an excellent explanation of the scientific method, Farlow explains how
paleontologists hypothesize and know what dinosaurs actually looked like and how
they behaved. Pertinent illustrations and photographs of specimen fossils add to
the clear explanations. Glossary,
bibliography, list of helpful web sites, and index round out this interesting
book.
Jeannie Bellavance
Flannery,
Sarah with David Flannery. In Code: A Mathematical Journey.
New York:
Workman Publishing. 2001. 0-7611-2384-9. 268p. $24.95. Gr.
This book tells
the story of Sarah Flannery, a sixteen-year-old whose excitement about
mathematics led her to the study of cryptography. In developing a new algorithm for encoding information, Sarah
Flannery became Irelandís Young Scientist of the Year 1999.
In Code presents the early influences and challenges that Sarah
Faced, as well as the elementary number theory and mathematics she used to
develop the algorithm that won her much attention.
Sarah Flanneryís passion and enthusiasm shines through in this
autobiography and is an inspiration to the mathematics student.
Biography, mathematics.
Colleen Doyle, Math Teacher, Springfield Twp High School
Fodor_s
Compass American Guides (series). $21.00 ea. 320 (or so) p. Grades 6-8.
This
appealing series of travel books also covers history, landscape, and culture and
will be very useful for middle school projects. Each is written by a resident and contains beautiful
photographs, maps, and informative sidebars.
Joyce Valenza
Foerstel,
Herbert N. From Watergate to
Monicagate: Ten Controversies in Modern Journalism
and Media. Greenwood, 2001.
0-313-31163-3. $49.95. 279p.
Gr. 9+. The
significant controversies in modern journalism include monopolistic control, the
paparazzi, anonymous sources, and plagiarism. This volume will be extremely valuable to high school
students engaged in controversial issue research.
Joyce Valenza
Ford,
Carin T. Helen Keller: Lighting the Way for the Blind and Deaf.
Berkeley Heights, NJ:
Enslow, 2001.
0-7660-1530-0. 112p. $20.95. Gr. 6-12.
A
well written account of Helen Keller's life from birth till death at the age of
88. Many quotes and excerpts from
letters compliment the story. Photos
of Keller at different ages accompany the text.
Includes a chronology of Keller's life and accomplishments, chapter
notes, further reading, Internet addresses and an index.
Michelle Stone
Former
Soviet Republics Series. Lucent,
2001. Grade 7-12.
Corona, Laurel. The
Russian Federation. 1-56006-675-X.
112p.
Streissguth, Thomas.
The Transcaussus. 1-56006-736-5.
111p.
Carliedge, Cherese and Charles Clark.
The Central Asian States. 1-56006-735-7. 128p. This
approachable series offers much needed background material on the new nations of
the former Soviet Union. A wise
purchase for any high school library to support global studies!
Joyce Valenza
Franco,
Betsy, ed. Photographs by Nina
Nickles. Things I Have to Tell
You: Poems and Writing
by Teenage Girls. Candlewick, 2001. 0-7636-0905-6
$15.99 63p.
Gr. 9+. Following
on the heels of You Hear Me: Poems and Writing for Teenage Boys, this
slim volume of poems, stories and essays, covers the range of experiences_the
angst and confusion and joy of being a teenage girl. Girls will love it!
Joyce Valenza
Fraser, Antonia. Marie Antoinette: The Journey.
New York: Doubleday, 2001. 0-385-48948-X.
512p. $35. Gr.
10-adult.
Fraser, recipient of several literary and historical
awards, chronicles Marie Antoinetteís physical, emotional, and mental journeys
from Vienna as a teenage princess to Versailles as a mother and queen, from a
young unsophisticated barely literate girl who wants to please others to a
mature woman who speaks intelligently and maturely in her own defense at the
mock trial of 1797. In between lie
her adaptations to marriage and the more formal French court with its social
protocols and political intrigues. It is a riveting and thought-provoking
portrait that validates Laskyís briefer fictionalized treatment in the Royal
Diaries series. This well researched biography, built on an abundance
of primary sources such as diaries and letters, provides an objective, intimate,
and ultimately sympathetic view of Antoinette that reads like a novel with a
keen sense of persons, places, and times. Biography Eleanor Howe
Frey, Marc and Todd
Davis. The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents. Philadelphia:
Courage Books, 2001. 0-7624-0849-9. $9.98. Gr. 5-8.
This interesting, well-written book gives the reader an
inside look at the personal, as well as political, biography of each of our
Presidents. With a timeline
for each presidential era and added historical tidbits, even reluctant readers
will be attracted to this book.
Joanie Marstiller
Fridell, Ron.
Terrorism: Political Violence and
Home and Abroad. (Issues in Focus Series).
Berkeley Heights: Enslow, 2001. 0-7660-1671-4.
112p. $20.95.
This is a very timely addition to this series. The author
offers a basic introduction to the world of terrorism.
The chapters are divided into explanations of what terrorism is, how
terrorism has expanded throughout the world and now to the United States.
There is a discussion of how terrorists operate and how countries are
attempting to search for terrorists prior to their destructive acts. It briefly
touches on some of the terrorist trials that have been held in the past ten
years. The incidents described are
current and include the terrorist bombings of the American embassies in Africa,
the gassing in the Tokyo subway system and the attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon. A bibliography of
books, magazines and Internet resources is provided.
It provides a basic introduction into the world of terrorism and students
will likely find it a place to begin research on the various acts of terrorism. Terrorism Peg Kleppinger
Friedlander, Mark
P., Jr. & Terry M. Phillips.
When Objects Talk: Solving a Crime
with
Science.
Minneapolis: Lerner, 2001. 0-8225-0649-1.
120p. $26.60. Gr. 5-10.
As
TV watchers, many are already acquainted with the technology that is used to
solve crimes, so this book can be a fascinating trip into the world of crime
solving. The authors use a
fictional murder case to showcase how the police go about solving a crime.
It describes the use of fingerprints, facial reconstruction, and other
scientific methods used by detectives to solve crimes.
There are some color photographs included to show how techniques like
facial reconstruction are done. There
is an extensive glossary, web sites, and a list of further readings also
included. Since it is written at a student accessible level, it is interesting
to read about all the various methods used to solve a murder case.
The DNA testing section is fascinating to read after having heard so much
about it in the news. Forensics. Peg Kleppinger
Fudzie, Vince and Andre N. Hayes.
Your Brain Is a Muscle Too. Amistad,
2001. 0-06-019854-0. 212p. $24.00.
Gr. 9+.
Originally
published as The Sport of Learning in 1995, Your BrainÖ has been
updated and revised. Although the main focus is on male, African-American
athletes, the issues discussed are applicable to any student athlete desiring
academic success. The text progresses from high school aspirations through
professional levels of achievement. Because the chapters are self-contained,
they can be read in any sequence. Issues regarding language (Kingís English
vs. non-standard English), substance use/abuse (drugs, alcohol, steroids), and
interpersonal relationships (date rape, sexually transmitted diseases) are
presented in a realistic, though sometimes graphic, manner. Speaking from
firsthand experience, the authors have provided a resource that is candid,
thought provoking, and recommended for student athletes with professional goals
in mind.
Elizabeth McChesney
Furbee, Mary R.
Shawnee Captive: The Story of Mary
Draper Ingles. Greensboro, NC:
Morgan
Reynolds, 2001. 1-883846-69-2.
112p. $20.95. Gr. 5-9.
Mary
Draper Inglesí story will capture the interest of young readers.
As a young, pregnant woman with two small children, she is captured by
the Shawnee and taken from her home in the Shenandoah Valley.
Mary and her young children are taken hundreds of miles from home but
survive the ordeal. There are
graphic descriptions of scalping and running the gauntlet when the group finally
stops at a settlement. Her two
young sons were taken away and likely adopted by others in the group. In a
daring escape, Mary Draper leaves her young daughter and walked over 800 miles
to return home. This biography will
fascinate young readers. It is
based on the memoirs of one of her sons and is very readable for students. Biography
Peg Kleppinger
Furbee, Mary R.
Shawnee Captive: The Story of Mary Draper Ingles.
Greensboro: Morgan Reynolds,
2001. 1-883846-69-2.
$17.95.112p. Gr. 6-8.
A true story of a
pioneer girl who survives being captured by the Shawnee Indians.
The book describes her life during Colonial times, her escape from her
captors, and her struggle to return to her husband and home.
Karen Reese, Sandy
Run Middle School Sub
Ganeri, Anita. Buddhism.
New York: McGraw-Hill Childrenís Publishing, 2001. 0-87226-685-0.
46p.$16.95. Gr. 3-8. This short book tries to cover everything from the
definition of Buddhism to the splits within the religion.
It traces the beginnings of the religion in India to China, Japan and
into the West. Buddhism
will be most useful for the many illustrations and photographs gracing its
pages.
Sandra Krieg
George,
Charles. Civil Rights: The
Struggle for Black Equality. Words
that Changed the World
Series. Lucent,
2001. 1-56006-799-3. $27.45
128p. Gr. 7+. This
new Lucent series ìexamines how the worldís most important documents and
speeches have influenced beliefs, laws, and public opinion.î
The historical significance of the five major documents included in the
appendix is discussed in five thorough chapters.
Very useful for projects, especially with the current focus on primary
sources. Also in the series: Nuremberg Laws, Declaration of
Independence, Origin of the Species, and the U.S. Constitution.
Joyce Valenza
Glassman,
Bruce S. John Paul Getty:
Billionaire Oilman. Blackbirch
Press, Inc., 2001. 1-56711-513-6. 112p.
$29.94. Gr. 6-9.
At
the age of eleven John Paul Getty bought 100 shares in the Minnehoma Oil
Company. It was his first investment, an investment in his fatherís business.
By the time Getty was 24 years of age, before the end of his second year as
partner in his fatherís business, he was worth more than a million dollars.
Instead of reinvesting his wealth, as was expected, Getty announced his
retirement and went to California. Soon after his arrival in California Getty
was named in a questionable paternity suit. Shamed, suddenly aware of the social
dangers that his wealth had brought with it, Getty returned to the Oklahoma oil
fields and his fatherís business. Driven, shrewd, and not to be deterred, J.
Paul Getty built a billion dollar empire. Part of the Giants of American
Industry series, this biography is a worthy addition for most collections.
(Note: Others included in the series are Elizabeth Arden: Beauty Empire
Builder; William Randolph Hearst: Modern Media Tycoon; John D. Rockefeller:
Richest Man Ever.) Elizabeth McChesney
Gottfried, Ted. Teen
Fathers Today. Connecticut:Twenty-First
Century Books, 2001. 0-7613-1901-8.
128p. $23.90.
Gr. 8-12.
A realistic approach to the problems facing teen dads, from
money to familiesí reactions to the day-to-day care of an infant, is
presented. Using interviews with
actual teen fathers introduce the problems they are facing. Especially helpful is the bibliography of further reading and
websites. Donna Darmofal
Gravelle, Karen. 5
Ways to Know About You. New York : Walker, 2001.
0-8027-8749-5. 166p.
$16.95. Gr. 5-10.
A
fun and informative look at your personality through the use of astrology,
Chinese horoscopes, numerology, palm reading and handwriting analysis.
Not a great scholarly work, but lots of interesting stuff for teens to
explore.
Pat Naismith
Great
Explorations series. Marshall
Cavendish, 2001/02 $19.95 each 80
(or so) p. Gr. 6-10.
Written
by noted non-fiction authors Milton Meltzer, Harold Faber, and Patricia Calvert,
these lavishly illustrated slim titles cover the explorations of Magellan,
LaSalle, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, Cook, and Peary.
Joyce Valenza
Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan. Frank O. Gehry:
Outside In. New York: Dorling
Kindersley, 2001.
0-7894-2677-3. 47p. $19.95 .
Gr. 6-adult.
The
brief book provides beautifully illustrated coverage of the innovative
architectural and furniture designs of Canadian-born architect, Frank O. Gehry.
The informative but easy-to-read text covers his life, remodeling his own house
in Los Angeles, work with clients, creative art from leftover materials,
furniture design, computer modeling, and his chef-díoeuvre, the Guggenheim
Museum in Bilboa, Spain. Following the text are a glossary, bibliography, and
lists of the locations of completed buildings and buildings in progress.
Eleanor Howe
Greenberg,
Lorna and Margot F. Horwitz. Digging Into the Past: Pioneers of Archeology.
Danbury, Connecticut: Franklin Watts, 2001.
0-531-11857-6. 127p. $25.00. Gr. 7-12. Part
of the Lives in Science series, this volume presents a brief introductory
history to the field of archeology, and gives biographical snapshots of 8 famous
archeologists and their famous discoveries. Featuring archeologists and their
finds from around the world, this volume includes well-written chapters on
Giovanni Belzoni and the Pyramid of Khafre, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon and
the Tomb of King Tut, Hiram Bingham and Macchu Picchu, Mortimer Wheeler and the
Indus Valley, Gertrude Bell and Kathleen Kenyon in the Middle East, and Kent
Weeks and the sons of Ramesses II burial sites. This volume would be a good
starting point for students researching the archeologists or their sites. Archeology
Nancy Chrismer
Gregson, Susan R.
Heart Disease (Perspectives on
Disease and Illness). Mankato, MN: Capstone,
2001. 0-7368-0749-7. 64p.
$23.93. Gr. 5-9.
As
Ms. Gregson points out, heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and
the education of young people is essential to combat this disease.
In simply written text, the author explains heart disease, how the heart
works, types of heart disease and how doctors diagnose and treat heart disease.
An important chapter that is included describes a heart-healthy lifestyle
that students should become familiar with now in order to avoid problems in the
future. For students doing health
reports there is a handy section of useful addresses and Internet sites to help
them locate additional resources. Health.
Peg Kleppinger
Growing Up Poor : A
Literary Anthology. Edited by
Robert Coles, Randy Testa, and Michael
Coles. New York: New Press,
2001. 1-56584-623-0
279 p. $23.95. Gr. 8-adult.
This is wonderful collection of stories, poems, and essays
about growing up poor. The stories
range from a young girlís story of growing up in New York slums at the
beginning of the 20th century, to a southern familyís struggles
during the Depression, to contemporary stories of rural and urban poverty. The
collection includes stories and poems by Langston Hughes,
Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, Dorothy Allison, Sandra Cisneros,
Sherman Alexie, William Carlos Williams, and Gary Soto are just a few of the
many included in this book. There are also selections by young people who are
currently living in poverty in New York or even detention centers in California.
Each selection is preceded by a short introduction to the author that
provides background material. This book would be an excellent addition to use
with American history and literature courses.
It could also serve as an introduction to class discussions and debate
about the issues of poverty in the United States. It is very readable and an
excellent resource for students. Poverty/American
Literature Peg Kleppinger
Gunderson, Mary. American
Indian Cooking before 1500. Mankato, MN: Blue Earth Books, 2001. 0-7368-0605-9. 32p.
$22.60. Gr. 4-7. Ms.
Gunderson, a food historian, uses this title in the series Exploring History through Simple Recipes to tell how a tribe
developed diets based on the food native to their region. She also explains how
an archeological dig provides information about American Indians during this
time period. Sample recipes from the major geographic areas are shared. The
Haida of the Northwest would have eaten grilled salmon; the Chumash of
California, acorn cakes; Hopi farmers of the Southwest, squash stew, etc. The
recipes are easy to read and follow. Further readings, places to write and visit
and Internet sites are included. This is a helpful addition for the many Native
American projects assigned. Sandra Krieg
Halberstam, David.
War in a Time of Peace. Scribner,
2001. 0-7432-0212-0.
543p. $28.00.
Gr. 10+.
Noted journalist and historian David Halberstam won the
Pulitzer Prize in 1964 for his insights on the Vietnamese Conflict. Seventeen
books and twelve national bestsellers later, Halberstam again takes on
Washington politics and foreign policy in post-Cold War America, contrasts the
Clinton, Bush, and Reagan administrations, and challenges the advisability of
certain military action in the nineties. Guaranteed to provoke serious
discussion, War in a Time of Peace will best serve students involved in
term paper research, larger collections, or where there is a need.
Elizabeth McChesney
Hampton,
Wilborn. Meltdown: A Race Against Nuclear Disaster at Three Mile Island.
Cambridge, MA; Candlewick Press, 2001. 0-7636-0715-0.
$19.99. 104p. Gr. 7-12. This
first-hand account of the nuclear accident at Three-Mile Island was written by a
reporter, Wilborn Hampton, who was assigned to cover this incident for his news
agency, United Press International. This fascinating narrative is set in
historical perspective, beginning with an explanation of how nuclear energy
works, how the first nuclear bomb was used, and much more. His day-by-day
account of the Three-Mile Island accident brings to the reader a very real idea
of the danger inherent in this form of energy production. He concludes his book
with details of the frightening nuclear disaster at Chernobyl and also a later
incident in Japan. He leaves the reader pondering a very real puzzle: how to get
the energy we need for our world from a safe, inexpensive source. This truly is
a riddle for today's teen scientists to unravel as they move into their adult
careers. Science
Nancy Chrismer
Handel,
Sherry S. Blue Jean: What Young Women Are Thinking, Saying, and Doing.
New York:
Blue Jean Press, 2001. 0-9706609-1-X. 246p. $14.95. Gr. 9-12. This
set of writings by girls and young women is a very unique book that should be in
every library collection. The editor of this collection, Sherry Handel, started
a print magazine and an on-line magazine as alternatives to the health and
glamour focus of most all others, and both are very welcome voices in today's
world. The subjects about which these girls and young women write are
refreshing: issues that affect them in our world today such as the health of
children in third world countries, the rights of blacks, females, and Native
Americans, human rights, teen social issues such as suicide, and much more.
These girls and young women are not writing about hair, makeup, skin care, and
how to stay thin; their voices speak to important life issues in a way that is
empowering to girls everywhere. Although the print magazine, blue jean magazine,
was out of print briefly, it is now being re-launched in 2002. The on-line 'zine,
www.bluejeanonline.com, is the only web site written and produced by young women
from around the world. Both are devoted to empowering young women so that they
can positively affect their lives and the lives of others. Self-Help/Inspirational/Teen
Nancy Chrismer
Hare, Tony. Animal
Habitats: Discovering How Animals Live in the Wild.
Facts on File Natural Science Library.
New York: Facts on File, 2001. 0-8160-4593-3. 189p. $40.00. Gr
6-12. Animal
Habitats are described in this gorgeously illustrated book as the area where
animals are born, live, eat, sleep and die.
A cross-section of mammals from the animal kingdom was selected for this
book for their suitability or adaptability to their environment.
Pat Bender
Hare, Tony. Animal
Life Cycles: Growing Up in the Wild. Facts
on File Natural Science Library. New York: Facts on File, 2001.
0-8160-4595-X. 157p. $40.00. Gr. 6-12. This book describes the ways in which mammals live in the
wild, how they learn to survive, separate from their mothers and mate.
Breeding season, litter size, and average life expectancy of mammal is
described and beautifully illustrated.
Pat Bender
Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese
Comics. New York:Watson-Guptill Publications, 2001.
0-8230-3035-0. 144p. $19.95. Gr.
7-12. This
is an excellent and profusely illustrated text that highlights both the visual
and the philosophical differences between the typical American super hero and
Japanese comic art, better known as "MANGA." Manga, derived from
Japanese anima, or animation art, is and has been a universal artistic
phenomenon here in America since the 1970's. American artists have admired and
copied its graphic techniques and style, and this text offers a step-by-step way
of becoming more proficient. There is a nice balance between illustrations and
the written word. Art
Nancy Chrismer
Hatt, Christine.
Documenting History Series - World
War I: 1914-18 and World War II: 1939-45.
New York: Franklin Watts, 2001. 0-531-14611-1
and 0-531-14612-X. $22.00 Gr. 6-11.
Each of these books, from the Documenting History Series, is an outstanding addition to any
historical reference section. Along
with succinct explanations of major events, the author also adds eye-catching
sidelights such as personal diaries and many photos of people and places
representing this time period. Joanie
Marstiller
Heller, Norma.
Information Literacy and Technology Research Projects: Grades 6-9.
Englewood,
CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001. 1-56308-752-9. 205p. $32.00. Gr.
6-9.
This book presents ideas for teachers who want to improve
studentsí literacy skills and help them become self-directed learners.
In creating collaborative, problem-solving projects, which can integrate
many curriculum areas, this former school librarian not only provides activity
guides, she also includes procedures and assessments. If youíre looking for
ways to help students learn to think critically about the vast amounts of
information available to them over the Internet, youíll find this book a
valuable addition to your collection. Propaganda,
America at the Turn of the Century, Art and the Environment, and I Love a
Mystery are a sampling of the units Heller provides.
Candy Blessing
Henderson,
Harry. Library in a Book:
Terrorism. Facts on File. 2001
0-8160-4259-4.
Hip Hop Divas (Vibe). Three Rivers Press, 2001.
$17.95. 0-609-80836-2. Gr.
10+. This book, produced by Vibe magazine, covers such
superstars as Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and TLC, has attracted a great deal of
student interest. The essays and interviews are honest and gritty as hiphop
itself, but the language will not fly for every library.
Joyce Valenza
Henderson,
Harry. Terrorism. Library in a
Book. New York: Facts on File, 2001. 0-8160-4259-4.
300p. $45.00. Gr. 7-12.
Part of the Library in a Book series, Terrorism is a
one-volume up-to-date reference work giving an introduction, a survey of
international terrorism, laws and court cases, a chronology, biographical
listings, an index an