Espejo, Roman. What Is the Impact of Twitter?

Espejo, Roman.  What Is the Impact of Twitter?  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/ Greenhaven)     2013 99p  $25.45  ISBN 978-0-7377-6216-7  series: At Issue #12  ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BN

Several articles are collected here to discuss the impact of Twitter on culture, its positive and negative features, its history and future, as well as whether it can ever be profitable.  This is one of the very few books for middle- and high-school students on this topic.  The only concern is that several of the articles are from 2009, which will quickly date this compilation.  Yet the points raised are valid: will Twitter dumb down the written language, can Twitter be profitable, can Twitter eclipse other journalistic sources, can Twitter affect politics locally, or even internationally?  This would be a good place to find information for research papers and pro/con writing.  Each chapter starts with a summary of the question presented and a biography of the writer of the article.  A list of organizations that have an interest in how Twitter is evolving, an index and a list for further reading complete the book.  One minor grammatical issue on page 30: within a space of four lines the word “spaciality” is also written as “spatiality”; granted that these are alternate spellings for the same term, but that will confuse the linguistically challenged student.

Summary: Several articles are collected that focus on the profitability of Twitter, its impact on society, its political power, its journalistic power, and its history and development.  The book gives a pro/con presentation that provides insight into this newest technology craze. Gr 7-12.    

     

Twitter                                                           --Lois McNicol

Thompson, Tamara. Fracking.

Thompson, Tamara.  Fracking.  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven)  2013  106p  $25.45  ISBN 978-0-7377-6510-6  series: At Issue #12  ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BNs     

This book provides a good introduction to the issue of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing of natural gas, with points of view in favor of and opposed to the practice.  Each piece is short, with an initial, succinct summary.  Some of the points of view expressed were written by officials of ExxonMobil, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Food and Water Watch, and individuals from a variety of legal, literary and energy organizations.  The juxtaposition of the articles, pro and con, will give the student a lot to think about and will arm him/her with many of the arguments supporting each side of the debate.  One argument on the anti-fracking side that is missing, however, is the one about how many years of fuel fracking will actually be able to provide … there is a large body of evidence that, as the easier-to-obtain gas is depleted, it will no longer be cost-effective to continue fracking.  Including that argument in the anti-fracking articles would have presented a more balanced and accurate portrayal of the anti-fracking side.

The book is well organized, and there is a list of organizations to contact.  There is a bibliography, which is a good thing, but, as in other books in this series, the bibliography does not include all of the references that it should … namely, all the original pieces from which the articles were excerpted.  The index is good.

Summary: This book provides a good introduction to the issue of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing of natural gas, with points of view in favor of and opposed to the practice.  Each piece is short, with an initial, succinct summary.
     

Shale gas industry                                                --Carol Kennedy

Watkins, Christine. Club Drugs.

Watkins, Christine.  Club Drugs.    Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven) 2013  117p ISBN 978-0-7377-6162-7  series: At Issue  hs/adult   E-BNS Nonfiction

This volume of the At Issue series presents the many dangers and prevalent use of club drugs by young people.  The drugs discussed are synthetics, ecstasy, ketamine, “spice”, and methamphetamine.  The editor’s introduction clearly presents many discussion points on this topic, and she has compiled a selection of articles that address the social and physical impacts of a variety of club drugs and whether or not the use and manufacture of these drugs should be regulated at any level.  Each of the articles is well sourced and written by knowledgeable and/or expert individuals in their field.  Some of the affects and impacts of the specific drugs are written out in full detail, and could serve as a wake-up call to young people engaged in the use of these drugs.  The information found in this book would be of value to any student doing a health-class paper on the topic, or students who participate in forensic studies.      This is a must-have title for any secondary-school library collection.  In addition, it would be an interesting title to offer public-library patrons.

Summary: This volume of the At Issue series presents the many dangers and prevalent use of club drugs by young people.  The drugs discussed are synthetics, ecstasy, ketamine, “spice”, and methamphetamine.   

Club drugs                                                  --Lynn Fisher

Espejo, Roman. Policing the Internet.

Espejo, Roman.  Policing the Internet.    Cengage/Greenhaven  2012  122p        $34.45  978-0-7377-5591-6  series: At Issue.      secondary  VG-BNS

Twelve articles and essays by informed writers with varying opinions on the subject of internet censorship and cyber-crime have been assembled to enable a reader to form an educated opinion. The book includes directions to many high-quality resources for further research.  Covering an issue of particular interest and relevance to the youth of today, this volume in the At Issue series takes a close look at the issues raised by proponents of internet regulation, as well as the arguments of those who oppose the imposition of external governance on the internet.  Some of the issues that are dealt with include identity theft, pornography, cyber-terrorism, and especially cyber bullying.  Readers are strongly encouraged to form their own opinions while keeping an open mind to the opinions of others.  They are also encouraged to seek more information on their own.  Each issue is examined with at least one representative article from each side, which has been selected for its accessibility to readers of various levels.  The articles are neither too technical nor too simplistic, holding a reader’s interest without losing them.  At the beginning of each article there is an abstract of sorts, intended to draw readers’ attention to the key points of the article.  The end of the book has a fine list of organizations to contact as well as a full bibliography.  This is a book that will encourage informed debate among readers, and it achieves the difficult feat of presenting truly balanced viewpoints, so that even those who feel very strongly about a particular issue will have no difficulty in grasping the point of view espoused by an opponent.      The At Issue series is intended to provide a diverse sampling of facts and opinions on a wide variety of individual social issues.

Computer crimes-Prevention, Internet-Law and legislation, Internet-Social aspects                                             -- Bethany Geleskie

Watkins, Christine. Is Selling Body Parts Ethical?

Watkins, Christine.  Is Selling Body Parts Ethical?   Cengage/Greenhaven  2013  116p     $34.45  978-0-7377-6190-0  series: At Issue. Secondary  VG-BNS

     

Ten articles and essays by informed writers with varying opinions on the subject of legal and illegal organ donation have been assembled to enable a reader to form an educated opinion.  The book includes directions to many high-quality resources for further research.  Seemingly a straightforward question, Is Selling Body Parts Ethical? actually provides a thorough evaluation of the world of organ donation, both in its idealized form and in the seedy underbelly of black-market organ sales and harvesting.  Many of the articles published in this book discuss the inherent inequalities in the organ-donor-and-recipient system and the exploitation of poverty-stricken donors who rarely receive after-care or any noticeable benefits in the reimbursement they receive for their body parts, if they are reimbursed at all.  It is basically a bleak picture of the industry that the articles paint, but there are also examples of organ sales and donations done ethically and well, as in Iran.  There are also suggestions for revamping the system in the United States and elsewhere, so that recipients will receive organs after a shorter wait, and those who give up their organs will receive better care and treatment, so the book is not entirely depressing.  It is definitely enlightening in a way that will gratify many types of readers, and it will spark lively debate of the sort that the abortion issue dredges up, but on a less over-done topic, which will be a relief to teachers and debate moderators.  The list of organizations to contact for more information is well-selected and balanced, and the abstracts written by editor Watkins are spot on.   

The At Issue series is intended to provide a diverse sampling of facts and opinions on a wide variety of individual social issues.    

Organ donation-Moral and ethical aspects        --Bethany Geleskie

Berlatsky, Noah. Transportation Infrastructure.

Berlatsky, Noah.  Transportation Infrastructure.  Cengage/Greenhaven    2012  118p $24.95 978-0-7377-6542-7  series: At Issue #12  ms/hs    VG-BNS   

This book presents pro and con opinion pieces related to the need for improved infrastructure sponsored by national debt. Since many articles center around the party platforms of the 2012 election, the book may seem dated within a year or two.  Grades 7-12.      

      Although the title refers to transportation infrastructure projects, there is a broader mention of crumbling schools, water treatment plants, sewage disposal systems, and other aging systems in large metropolitan areas.  The articles, taken from a variety of magazines and journals representing divergent points of view, discuss the sometimes flawed studies cited by people who support the urgent need for upgrades, the economic impact (or not) of government-funded projects, the political pork included in federal proposals, and the environmental effects of new projects.  Students will find facts and figures to support either side of the argument on whether infrastructure projects are an appropriate use of federal money and whether the projects actually solve problems.  Issues receiving special attention include mass transit, high-speed rail, bridges, and the privatization of roadways.  This book is a good jumping-off place for students who need to write a pro/con paper on government.     

At Issue provides pro/con articles taken from a variety of journals, most published within the last three years.  A summary of the article appears at the beginning of each chapter.  An annotated list of organizations to contact, bibliography and index complete each book.    

Infrastructure Improvements                                --Lois McNicol

 

Thompson, Tamara. Wikileaks.

Thompson, Tamara.  Wikileaks.  Cengage/Greenhaven    2013  120p  $24.95      978-0-7377-6220-4 series: At Issue   #12  ms/hs    E-BN    

The continuing controversy about the right to release government documents onto the internet without obtaining prior permission will continue to evolve as the internet becomes a first place of publication and a venue for individualistic, sometimes nonconformist expression.  What constitutes journalism and how much freedom of speech is allocated to journalists have been and will continue to be hot topics, as concerned citizens attempt to make government more transparent. The articles, taken from a variety of magazines and journals representing divergent points of view, discuss the ethics of the case known as WikiLeaks. Students will find persuasive arguments to support both sides of the argument on whether Julian Assange bears any culpability and whether the newspapers should have assisted in the dissemination of the various government documents that were illegally obtained by his group.  This is a good jumping-off place for students who need to write a pro/con paper on WikiLeaks and the government’s ability to control the dissemination of information.

The series At Issue provides pro/con articles taken from a variety of journals, most within the last three years.  A summary of the article appears at the beginning of each chapter.  An annotated list of organizations to contact, a bibliography and an index complete each book. 

Wikileaks                                                         --Lois McNicol

Francis, Amy, editor Should the United States Be Multilingual?

Francis, Amy, editor.  Should the United States Be Multilingual? 

Cengage(Gale,Lucent,Kidhaven/Blackbirch 2011   119p   23.85  978-0-7377-4893-2            

hs/adult         At Issue (Cengage/Gale/Greenhaven)       VG-BN 

Primary and secondary sources examine the controversial topic of multingualism from a variety of perspectives.

                      Internationally, students graduate with proficiency in multiple

languages.  One in five Americans speak a foreign language at home. But in the

United States, the "melting pot" of nationalities, education is generally

conducted in English and students are rarely proficient in more than one

European language.  To successfully compete in a global economy and to

communicate with consumers at home and abroad, the need for new language skills

has sparked controversy over multilingualism. 

          Watkins gathered engaging essays from primary and secondary sources

representing a variety of perspectives to provide a springboard for research,

classroom discussions, and debate.  Included are bibliographies and annotated

lists of relevant organizations to round out future research.  Articles are

prefaced with succinct summaries, facilitating use by students gathering

background information. 

          Timely and topical, this collection of material addresses many

concerns. Is it time for the United States to officially become multilingual? 

What are the benefits/drawbacks of linguistic diversity? Will steps taken in

this direction divide communities or bring them closer together?

 Welliver, Hilary