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

Espejo, Roman. Smartphones.

Espejo, Roman.  Smartphones.  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven)      2013  204p  ISBN 978-0-7377-6343-0  series: Opposing Viewpoints  ms/hs  E-BNS  Nonfiction        

Smartphones, and the role they play in so many of our daily lives, is the subject of this volume in the Opposing Viewpoints series.  The editors of this title have compiled a selection of articles that address the huge issues that revolve around smartphones and their use.  Many of the articles address the usual topics of security, privacy, classroom use and ownership.  But the articles that struck me most were those that pointed out the equity issues of smartphones providing internet access for the underprivileged and Africans in rural areas.  Also of interest to this reader was the chapter addressing the future of smartphones and ramifications for personal computers, laptops and banking.  With consideration for addressing the Common Core, three or four questions precede each chapter that require higher-level thinking skills.  Very well referenced, with lists of both print and web resources, this volume is another excellent title in the Opposing Viewpoints series.  As always, the Opposing Viewpoint series is a must-have for any high school collection, and many of the titles are also appropriate and useful at the middle-school level.

Summary: Smartphones, and the role they play in so many of our daily lives, is the subject of this volume in the Opposing Viewpoints series.     

Mobile computing                                                  --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

Espejo, Roman, book editor. Celebrity Culture

Espejo, Roman, book editor.             Celebrity Culture     

Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage  2011          191p   26.75  978-0-7377-5214-4           

ms/hs             Opposing Viewpoints#4  (Gale/Cengage)  VG-BN

Celebrity Culture provides a collection of articles

published in the last five years on the effects of celebrity status on teens,

social activism and whether the focus on celebrities will continue. Perfect for

reports. Grades 6-12.            The articles collected in this Opposing Viewpoints book

show the fleeting nature of celebrity. The older articles mention celebrity

names that have faded from the public spotlight.  It is questionable whether the

Balloon Boy incident of 2009 or the Salahi gate crashers at Obama╒s state dinner

or Levi Johnston will be identifiable by upcoming high school students. 

Possibly the most intriguing article contrasts celebrity status with name

recognition. To be a celebrity is to have a ╥story line╙ that continues unabated

that involves a scandal or notoriety. Thus Queen Elizabeth has name recognition

but is not a celebrity whereas Lindsay Lohan is a celebrity because of her

ongoing public life improprieties. Each article starts with three questions to

focus student reading. Each chapter contains an introduction to set the stage

for the articles presented in the chapter. The background on each author

suggests whether the article will be liberal or conservative in orientation. In

depth coverage of celebrity media coverage include eating disorders, body image,

and reality television. There are articles that talk about religious beliefs and

resulting acceptance of celebrity culture. Further reading, organizations to

contact and extensive index complete this intriguing book.        Opposing

Viewpoints contains recent articles and speeches that provide both sides to a

controversial current hot topic. Introductions to the chapters provide an

overview of the chapter. Questions for each article guide readers. Grades 6-12

            McNicol,Lois