Engdahl, Sylvia. Electronic Devices.

Engdahl, Sylvia.  Electronic Devices.  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven) 2012 143p     $29.68  978-0-7377-5825-2  series: Teen Rights and Freedoms ms/hs  E-BNS  

This book is an amazing compilation of 16 controversial and contemporary issues relating to teenagers’ use of electronic devices, written by a variety of contributors.  Issues include academic cheating with phones, texting while driving, using phones for educational purposes, sexting, addiction to violent video games, and many more.  Some of the articles are presented in full, whereas others, like Susan Maushart’s, are excerpts that leave the reader wanting more!  Maushart’s issue was the imposition of an electronic media ban on her household and the conflicts that arose as a result.  Other contributors are authority figures rather than laymen, making for a nice variety.  Actual court cases are mentioned as well! 

The book represents a very high interest level, especially the chapter about addiction.  Parents can now track their children, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage as pointed out by the author of this chapter.  Parents, educators and psychologists alike need to read the chapters pertaining to the dangers facing our young people who overuse electronics, who abuse them and who do not know their rights under the law.  Everyone will find something of interest in this book, whether reading for pleasure or for researching cutting-edge information about a very controversial topic.  Extra features include a timeline of inventions and other dates of interest, an extensive resource list, an index, and a list of organizations to contact.

There are several errors in comma usage in the table of contents; however, they do not detract in any way from the excellent BON (“Book of Note”) recommendation.     

The series includes books about the free press, religion, social networking and other topics.  There is a great variety of contributors to each book offering interesting accounts of the numerous issues relating to each topic.  Each book offers an extensive list of resources at the end, names and addresses of agencies to consult, and a thorough index.  

Electronic devices                                   --Martha Squaresky