Difficult Debates
RSSReviewed by Melissa Rabey, Frederick County Public Libraries, MD -- School Library Journal, 11/01/2009
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Also in this article:
Current Issues - 300 |
Current Issues - 300
The issues that dominate the nightly news and the blogosphere can be confusing for adults, but for children and teens, they can be overwhelming. Therefore, books on current events for this audience must strive to be clear and accessible. The series reviewed here cover debates that include science, technology, politics, and ethics. They seek to explain the topics at hand for students, achieving that goal with varying degrees of success.
BARBOUR, Scott Does Illegal Immigration Harm Society? 104p. chart. maps. ISBN 978-1-60152-085-2. LC 2009009265.FRIEDMAN, Lauri S. & Hal Marcovitz Is Stem Cell Research Necessary? 96p. diag. illus. map. ISBN 978-1-60152-088-3. LC 2009016494.
JUETTNER, Bonnie Childhood Obesity 96p. maps. ISBN 978-1-60152-083-8. LC 2009021170.
KALLEN, Stuart A. How Should the World Respond to Global Warming? 96p. ISBN 978-1-60152-086-9. LC 2009002282.
PARKS, Peggy J. Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime? 96p. map. ISBN 978-1-60152-084-5. LC 2009017280. ea vol: (In Controversy Series). photos. reprods. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. ReferencePoint 2009. PLB $25.95.
Gr 9 Up–An excellent series, providing unbiased information on a range of controversial topics. Each volume provides a rigorous investigation of its topic, with chapter titles structured as questions to encourage students to think about the issues. For example, chapters in Illegal Immigration include “Does Illegal Immigration Harm the American Economy?” and “Does Illegal Immigration Lead to Increased Crime and Terrorism?” Each volume is attractively designed, allowing plenty of white space to contrast with the color photos, reproductions, charts and graphs, maps, and sidebars. Quotes are well-cited, and the writing is consistently high. For in-depth research into a topic, these are first-rate resources.
BARKER, Geoff Hunger ISBN 978-1-59920-281-5. LC 2008050430.BARKER, Geoff War ISBN 978-1-59920-278-5. LC 2009005418.
GIFFORD, Clive Child Labor ISBN 978-1-59920-279-2. LC 2008050429.
JAMES, Otto AIDS ISBN 978-1-59920-282-2. LC 2009005417.
JAMES, Otto Poverty ISBN 978-1-59920-277-8. LC 2008050431.
SENKER, Cath Violence ISBN 978-1-59920-280-8. LC 2008050432. ea vol: 46p. (Voices Series). charts. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. Smart Apple Media 2009. PLB $34.25.
Gr 7-9–The chapter spreads in these volumes each pose an open-ended question. For example, in Hunger, topics range from “Can We Feed the World?” to “Can Charities Make a Real Difference?” The sharing of first-person perspectives makes these volumes good choices for classroom supplements, and their many color photographs will draw in browsers. However, the books’ hyperkinetic design, in which multiple typefaces and little white space lead to a cluttered look, mutes their impact. Except where the quotes come from previously published sources, they are unattributed beyond the names of the speakers, their ages, and their locations. Still, this series is a worthwhile resource, especially for students seeking a more immediate sense of current-event topics.
BOWDEN, Rob Energy Sources: The Impact of Science and Technology charts. diags. illus. ISBN 978-1-4339-1987-9. LC 2009012434.HARRIS, Joseph Crime Fighting: The Impact of Science and Technology illus. ISBN 978-1-4339-1985-5. LC 2009012433.
HARRIS, Joseph Space Exploration: The Impact of Science and Technology illus. map. ISBN 978-1-4339-1989-3. LC 2009012436.
HARRIS, Joseph Transportation: The Impact of Science and Technology illus. ISBN 978-1-4339-1990-9. LC 2009012437.
ROONEY, Anne Health and Medicine: The Impact of Science and Technology ISBN 978-1-4339-1988-6. LC 2008054133.
SOLWAY, Andrew Communication: The Impact of Science and Technology charts. diags. illus. ISBN 978-1-4339-1986-9. LC 2009012435. ea vol: 64p. (Pros and Cons Series). photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Gareth Stevens 2009. PLB $35.
Gr 5-8–Providing information on scientific and technological topics in a bright, active layout that features color photographs, maps, graphs, or charts on every spread, this series has much to offer. Short sections summarize various aspects of or concerns about, for example, solar energy (Energy Sources), speed cameras (Crime Fighting), and telecommunications satellites (Space Exploration) and then offer arguments for and against their use. While this approach simplifies the material a great deal, it conveniently outlines the range of views on controversial or unfamiliar subjects, helping students to learn how to view both sides of issues.
CAMPBELL, Andrew Cosmetic Surgery ISBN 978-1-59920-322-5. LC 2008049274.CAMPBELL, Andrew Organ Transplants chart. ISBN 978-1-59920-321-8. LC 2008041436.
OXLADE, Chris Climate Change map. ISBN 978-1-59920-319-5. LC 2008041437.
OXLADE, Chris Nuclear Power diags. map. ISBN 978-1-59920-320-1. LC 2008049277.
VAUGHAN, Jenny Genetics ISBN 978-1-59920-317-1. LC 2008049275.
VAUGHAN, Jenny Making New Life chart. diag. ISBN 978-1-59920-318-8. LC 2008049276. ea vol: 48p. (Science in the News Series). photos. reprods. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Smart Apple Media 2009. PLB $34.25.
Gr 6-9–A well-designed series that discusses current issues. For example, a chapter in Surgery discusses “The Beauty Myth,” one in Transplants covers stem-cell research, and the “Against the Flow” section of Climate Change addresses related skepticism. Treatments of controversial subjects such as evolution versus creationism (Genetics) and gay parenting (New Life) are handled in an evenhanded manner. The narratives move smoothly, occasionally pausing for the definition of a term. The books boast plenty of attractive photos, and a clean layout allows the information to be easily consumed. Many examples and individuals discussed–such as material on protests and dirty bombs in Nuclear Power–are drawn from Britain. This series provides the information that younger teens need on current scientific issues.
GUERNSEY, JoAnn Bren Death Penalty: Fair Solution or Moral Failure? ISBN 978-0-7613-4079-9. LC 2006028984.MORROW, Robert Immigration: Rich Diversity or Social Burden? ISBN 978-0-7613-4080-5. LC 2008049354.
OWEN, Marna Animal Rights: Noble Cause or Needless Effort? ISBN 978-0-7613-4082-9. LC 2009004813.
TAGLIAFERRO, Linda Genetic Engineering: Modern Progress or Future Peril? map. ISBN 978-0-7613-4081-2. LC 2009004271. ea vol: 160p. (USA Today’s Debate: Voices and Perspectives Series). charts. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. 21st Century Bks. 2009. PLB $35.93.
Gr 6-9–Combining straight narrative and excerpts from USA Today articles, these volumes rely on the newspaper’s reputation in news reporting. Well designed with photos and colorful sidebars, the layout complements the information presented. However, Immigration is peppered with definitions in parentheses, interrupting the flow of the narrative. Immigration and Genetic Engineering are each marred by small factual errors and a confusing chart. Still, these are minor quibbles, and the volumes do a competent job of exploring the topic at hand. They will be picked up by students who recognize USA Today, and will provide the information they need.
With budgets tightening, it might not be possible to buy all of these series, although they are all acceptable for public and school libraries. The best choices in terms of bang-for-the-buck are the “In Controversy” series (ReferencePoint) for older teens and “Science in the News” (Smart Apple Media) for younger teens. But don’t overlook the other options as well, to supplement facts with first-person experiences or provide updated overviews.
