Gerdes, Louise, editor Gun Violence

Gerdes, Louise, editor           Gun Violence 

Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage         2011   257p              978-0-7377-4967-0           

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

New edition, updating, and with new material, the

2002 edition of the Opposing Viewpoints offering,  Presents articles pro and con

concerning important topics dealing with the issue of gun violence.     Update of

the 2002 editon of this popular Opposing Viewpoints title.  As with other titles

in the series, this volume presents essays for and against, pro and con, aspects

of gun violence.  This edition explores the topics:  How Serious is the problem

of gun violence?  What factors contribute to gun violence?  Do private gun

ownership policies reduce gun violence? and What laws and regulations should

govern guns?  

Supplemental material includes a list of organizations to contact, an extensive

print bibliography and an excellent index.  A must have for high school social

issues collections, yet accessible enough for middle school readers.      This book

is part of the Opposing Viewpoints series.  The series consists of 259 books at

this time.  The focus of the series is to provide opinions and essays, pro and

con, on hot social topics.       Naismith, Pat

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

Watkins, Heidi. Consumer Culture.

Watkins, Heidi.           Consumer Culture.   

Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage         2011   104p29.49     978-0-7377-5206-9

hs                    Issues That Concern You(Gale)       VG       ╥Contains ten essays

that provide varying perspectives on consumer culture, discussing whether

consumer culture is harmful to society, teen spending habits, how high

socioeconomic status can cause depression, overconsumption, and related topics,

and including essays by Howard Bloom, Peter Dodson, Jean Kilbourne, and others.╙

            Geared toward high school students, this title on consumer culture will

help students begin to understand why learning about this topic is complicated. 

Ten articles are presented with multiple viewpoints and each references a

particular article featured in a printed, respected journal.   To introduce

students to the topic of consumer culture, the author explains the term

╥freegan╙, where people who practice this lifestyle choose do so for reasons

such as being consumer conscious and that they do not want to waste, while

others need to do so for financial reasons.  The ten articles feature topics

such as: how consumer culture harms society, children and teens and how it also

benefits society; teen spending habits; rejecting consumerism is beneficial and

also how it is not realistic; high socioeconomic status causes depression; how

both advertising and human instinct is to blame for overconsumption; and how

American consumers are becoming more careful spenders.  The author presents

interesting facts about consumer culture and what we should do about consumer

culture.  Various organizations can assist with consumer culture and the editors

have included a list and a description about the organization.

Includes color photographs, charts, and cartoons within the presented articles. 

A comprehensive bibliography and index are also included for readers to locate

information quickly.              Each title in this series offers a diversity of opinion

on the topic presented, including both conservative and liberal points of view

in an even balance. Articles contain color photos, charts, graphs, tables, and

"self-help.╙  Topics vary and the set has 69 different titles.   Forba-Mayer, Charleen

Miller, Debra, editor Iran

Miller, Debra, editor     Iran     

Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage         2011   224p   27.50   978-0-7377-5182-6           

hs                    Current Controversies#4 (Gale/Cengage)      E-BN

            In a series of reprinted articles from the last two years, the threat

posed by Iran is evaluated. Both sides of the argument are well represented.

Some of the reading is challenging due to high level vocabulary. Grades 9-12.

            Whether Iran is a regional or worldwide threat is explored in a series of

speeches and articles from leading think tanks and respected writers. Each

section starts with an overview of the issue presented to provide background to

student researchers.  Chapters include the threat Iran╒s nuclear program poses,

relationships between Iran and Iraq, the viability and purpose of Iran╒s Green

Movement political party, and what the United States should do to Iran within

the framework of foreign policy. Each chapter starts with an author╒s statement

giving pertinent information about their work related to Iran. A list of

organizations that focus on issues presented in the book, further reading, and

extensive index complete the book. Recommended for grades 9-12.    Current

Controversies contain titles reflecting current events in the news. A selection

of reprinted articles and speeches give students an overview of varying

viewpoints related to the issue. Extensive index, organizations to contact

further aid the student. Gr. 9-12.    McNicol,Lois

Miller, Debra A.,editor Nuclear Energy

Miller, Debra A.,editor Nuclear Energy
Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage 2010 237p 27.50
978-0-7377-4918-2 ms/hs Nuclear Energy E-BN
Current Controversies#4 (Gale/Cengage)


A compilation of articles, the majority written in the last two years, present the pros and cons of using nuclear energy as a power source. Excellent index, organizations to contact and author credentials make this a first source for reports and debates. Gr 6+.
The history of nuclear energy is presented to start the book. Chapter overviews concerning the benefits/risks of nuclear energy, the safety of nuclear energy for humans and environment, the effect of nuclear energy on climate change, and the future of nuclear energy preface at least three articles on each side of the issues. The author’s credentials appear at the beginning of each article as does the original location of the article. Facts are used by each author regardless of which side is being supported. Once again Current Controversies provides an excellent overview of a complex topic that includes information to support persuasive research papers as well as debate teams. The annotated table of contents provide a quick glimpse of what each article includes. An excellent index as well as list of organizations to contact help the student researcher find needed information. A solid addition to any library. Primarily for middle and high school students. McNicol,Lois

Durst, Claudia, book editor Social & Psychological Disorder in the Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Durst, Claudia, book editor Social & Psychological Disorder in the Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage 2010 163p 26.50
978-0-7377-5017-1 hs Poe, Edgar Allen - Criticism E-BN
Social Issues in Literature(Gale)


Comprised of eighteen articles that detail the life of Edgar Allan Poe and how his own mental illness and life events factored into his writing. An excellent addition to literary criticism especially the connection to social issues of the times. Grades 8-12. The editor pulls together eighteen articles from books and journals that tell the life of Edgar Allan Poe, his own struggles with forming close bonds to people, his mother and wife’s premature deaths and his struggle with mental illness and how those events were reflected in his writing. Each article is prefaced with a lengthy annotation, author’s credentials, and source of the writing. The only concern is that quotes within the articles are not sourced since the articles are lifted from a larger work. The student would have to go back to the original work to view the article’s bibliography. An annotated table of contents provides a quick reference point for the student researcher. The well indexed book leads students to critical analysis of many of Poe’s poems and short stories. Character names appear in the index as well as themes that span more than two of his writings. This is a first place to start research concerning Poe’s semi-autobiographical writings and his struggle to be accepted by the larger community. Once again the Social Issues in Literature series has done an outstanding job of relating pieces of writing to current social and psychological issues such as the insanity defense, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses. Grades 8-12. McNicol,Lois

Engdahl, Sylvia. War.

Engdahl, Sylvia. War.
Greenhaven Press see Gale/Cengage 2010 221p 39.70 978-0-7377-4949-6 hs Supreme Court cases dealing with war VG-BNS Issues on Trial (Gale/Cengage)


Twenty essays, including majority and dissenting opinions, providing information on four Supreme Court cases related to war and varying perspectives on the rulings.
From the Japanese American Relocation to the post-September 11th terrorists, this volume examines the Supreme Court cases dealing with aspects of war (relocation, spying, conscientious objectors and terrorist detainees). Each case is prefaced with an introduction, providing background information, majority and dissenting opinions from the Supreme Court Justices, and essays providing varying perspectives on the case or the principles discussed.

As with most ╥opposing viewpoints╙ types of books, this provides ample information for debate. All of the supporting essays and opinions are primary source material. A list of organizations to contact, bibliography and an extensive index complete the volume.

While this is an interesting topic, the cases selected have a more far-reaching scope than just the topic of war. Schools adding this book to their collections will want to modify the tracings to include the names of the cases to better utilize the contents. A change in call number from military to legal may also be useful. Naismith, Pat