Human Rights.

Scherer, Lauri S.  Human Rights.  Gale/Greenhaven     2014  144p  $38.45  ISBN 978-0-7377-6924-1  ms/hs  series: Introducing Issues w/Opposing Viewpoints  Nonfiction  VG   

This concise book is well written and well organized, and it provides a lot of introductory information about both sides of a controversy, for which this series is traditionally known.  Accurate information is disseminated in a succinct manner that relates facts without opinion or bias on the debate of issues regarding human rights.  Different from its parent series, Opposing Viewpoints, books in this series provide introductions to debatable issues that will not intimidate or overwhelm young and struggling readers.  They also whet the appetites of young readers, leading to further research and reading.

In addition to the informative text, there is the considerable visual appeal.  Full-color illustrations, photographs, graphs, and text boxes enhance the well-written text and will engage the reader.  The page layout also provides consistency with the other titles in this series, and provides students with a familiarity of flow in this book.

Human Rights lives up to the remarkable reputation of the other titles in this popular series.  It is a very good resource for young readers and researchers, and information is validated through additional sources.  The detailed table of contents, information pages, lists of organizations to contact, bibliography and comprehensive index make this a very good resource.
     

This is one book in the Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints series, which provides factual information regarding debates over controversial issues.  Consistency of format throughout the series makes it valuable for middle- and high-school libraries.  There are currently 109 volumes in this series.     

Summary: This book introduces the topic of human rights through a debate of issues on what constitutes a human right, what constitutes a violation of human rights, and how the United States should protect human rights.

Human rights                                          --Virginia McGarvey

Scherer, Lauri S. The Taliban.

Scherer, Lauri S.  The Taliban.  Gale/Greenhaven      2013  132p  ISBN 978-0-7377-6283-9  series: Introducing Issues With Opposing Viewpoints  ms/hs  VG-BN        

This series is very similar to the Opposing Viewpoints series with more colorful charts, diagrams and photos and simplified text.  There is an effort to encourage readers to think more deeply about the articles by reading questions that appear before the text and at the end of each article, questions that require the reader to consider the qualifications of the author and how two authors may differ in their viewpoints.  The articles are all from the last five years, with polls and statistics from the same time period.  The writers represent an international community, with western authors as well as authors who either are Middle Eastern by birth or have spent a great deal of time in Afghanistan and surrounding countries.  The book is perfect for report writing. The introductory segments at the beginning of each unit of articles give background for the novice researcher.  Quick fact boxes, polls, statistics, charts, an annotated list of organizations to contact, lists for further reading and an index complete the book.  

Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints provides multiple viewpoints by  international writers with colorful charts, photos and quick fact boxes.  It is a more lively, easier-to-understand version of the traditional series, Opposing Viewpoints. Gr 8+      

Summary: This book presents articles written in the last five years to support and refute basic ideas about the power of the Taliban, their influence in the drug trade in Afghanistan, and how the international community should negotiate with them. Grades 8-12.     

Taliban                                                           --Lois McNicol