Video Games and Youth

Gr 7 Up—While teachers and parents may be more interested in the topic than tweens and teens, these companion books will provide readers with an insightful look at a review of the literature. The authors do a balanced job of presenting both potential positives and negatives of spending time playing video games. Nakaya specifically points out that understanding research outcomes may depend on the organization executing the research and that the results may be interpreted by with varying and conflicting conclusions. The link between possible violence and video games is well researched in both books. Blocks of information, quotations, and color photographs add welcome breaks to the text while offering additional information and enhancing visual appeal. This topic is of interest to adults, and they may find the books an insightful read, as they are a solid offering on a perplexing subject, while students may find the resources helpful for research. Acceptable additional purchases.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego