Watkins, Steve. Sink or Swim.

Watkins, Steve. Sink or Swim. Scholastic Press     2017         247p.       $16.99  ISBN 978-1-338-05790-4  ms/jr  Historical Fiction E-BN

Sometimes the writing style combines with the voice of a protagonist and the action in a novel to produce a book that the reader just can’t put down.  Watkins has achieved just such a combination in this treatment of a World War II patrol craft in the Atlantic.  In this case, he adds just enough historical reality to make the novel come alive.  Danny is supposed to ship out, but he is injured when a German U-boat surfaces beneath him while he is fishing.  His brother Colton, full of hatred for the Germans and a desire for revenge, takes Danny's place, assuming the age required to enlist.  His commanding officers know that he is underage, but they keep their suspicions quiet, especially when Colton turns out to be quite an addition to the navy.  Colton’s expertise on the water combined with a loyalty to his shipmates and an unquestionably brave spirit pits him against the cold, the danger and the losses he suffers. There is a sense of realism that will put you back in time and right there in each battle as the patrol craft tries to protect cargo ships making their way to help the cause.  The writing style will lead the reader to emerge from the novel with a real idea of what was happening in the war.  Colton’s first-person narrative builds the drama perfectly.  The action is frightening, and Watkins allows the reader to breathe just before smacking him/her in the face with the authentic details that demonstrate his careful research into this period of American history.  The camaraderie of men who needed it to survive the war is poignant, especially when Colton experiences loss after loss on the high seas.  The glossary at the end of the book helps young readers without prior knowledge of naval terms, and the Author’s Note clarifies any questions the reader might have about the authenticity of the events.                      

Summary: When Colton’s brother Danny is about to enter World War II as a sailor, he is injured by a German U-boat while fishing off the coast of North Carolina.  Enraged, Colton takes Danny's place, pretending to be him, and makes a place for himself on a patrol craft in the Atlantic, fighting the Germans.

World War, 1939-1945-Fiction          --Martha Squaresky

Watkins, Steve Sink or Swim

Watkins, Steve           Sink or Swim  Scholastic Press         2017   247p   16.99  978-1-338-05790-4            ms/jr  Historical        E-BN   

When Colton’s brother Danny is about to enter World War II as a sailor, he is injured by a German U-boat while fishing off the coast of North Carolina.  Enraged, Colton takes his place, pretending to be Danny, and makes a place for himself on a patrol craft in the Atlantic, fighting the Germans.            Sometimes the writing style combines with the voice of a protagonist and the action in a novel to produce a book that the reader just can’t put down.  Watkins has achieved just such a combination in this treatment of a World War II patrol craft in the Atlantic.  In this case, he adds just enough historical reality to make this book come alive.  Colton’s brother is supposed to ship out but he is injured when a German U-boat surfaces beneath him while he is fishing.  His brother Colton, full of hatred for the Germans and a desire for revenge, takes his place, assuming the age required to enlist.  His commanding officers know that he is underage, but they keep their suspicions quiet, especially when Colton turns out to be quite an addition to the navy.  Colton’s expertise on the water combined with a loyalty to his shipmates and an unquestionable brave spirit pits him against the cold, the danger and the losses he suffers with a reality that will put you back in time, right there in each battle as the patrol craft tries to protect cargo ships making their way to help the cause.  The writing style is friendly for the user who will come out of this reading with a real idea of what was happening in the war.  Colton’s first person narrative builds the drama perfectly.  The action is frightening, and Watkins allows the reader to breathe just before smacking him/her in the face with what authentic detail that shows his careful research of this period of American history.  The camaraderie of men who needed it to survive the war is poignant especially when Colton experiences loss after loss on the high seas.  The glossary at the end of the book helps young readers without prior knowledge of naval terms navigate this book, and the Author’s Note clarifies any questions the reader might have about the authenticity of the events.                               Squaresky, Martha            12-year old experiences WWII action on patrol craft

Watkins, Steve. Great Falls.

Watkins, Steve. Great Falls. Candlewick Press   2016  245p. $17.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-7155-6  hs  Realistic fiction  VG-BN     

Shane’s big brother Jeremy comes back from fighting in the war in Afghanistan as a very different big brother than the one Shane loved and idolized before he left. When the two go on a camping trip, Shane realizes that what he had hoped for on the trip, some healing for his brother who suffers from PTSD, will not happen and that he is in way over his head in trying to help Jeremy.      The subject of PTSD and the devastating impact it has on families is the focus of this coming-of-age novel. Jeremy’s desperation to become “normal” again so he can move forward with his life and his family is painful to read. Shane’s inability to cope with the changes that Jeremy’s return has created, and his own personal problems, ring very true to this reader. YA readers will no doubt enjoy diving into this realistic tale of a family in crisis.

Summary: Shane’s big brother Jeremy comes back from fighting in the war in Afghanistan as a very different big brother than the one Shane loved and idolized before he left.

PTSD-Fiction, War in Afghanistan-Fiction        --Lynn Fisher

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

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

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