The History of Gospel Music.

Woog, Adam.  The History of Gospel Music.  Gale/Lucent      2014  136p  $35.95  ISBN 978-1-4205-0945-8  ms/hs     series: Music Library  Nonfiction  E-BNS   

Gospel music is at the center of African-American religious worship, from its history in slave songs to pop and current artists.  This volume, The History of Gospel Music, is part of the History of Music series.  Featuring the music and musicians who have innovated, fostered and developed gospel music, this title provides a very complete look at the full range of gospel music from slave songs to today’s artists like Lecrae.  The information is presented through text, photographs with detailed captions, and sidebars.  The text is very readable, yet it includes great detail in telling the story of gospel music.

Additional material includes detailed notes for each chapter, an annotated listening list of recommended CD’s, a glossary, a four-page annotated bibliography for further information, an extensive index and a list of picture credits.  This title is a complete research tool for students.  The level of detail and length of the text make this title perfect for older middle-school students and high-school students.

The Music Library includes 13 titles discussing the innovators who have shaped each style of music from jazz to classical to rock and roll.  The series is excellent for research.

Summary: This book focuses on the music, musicians, instruments and cultural significance of gospel music.  High school, maybe middle.    

Gospel music                                                --Joan Theal

Kelly, Shannon. Reality TV.

Kelly, Shannon.  Reality TV.  Gale/Lucent  2013  120p  $33.95     ISBN 978-1-4205-0905-2  series: Hot Topics  jr/sr     Nonfiction  VG-BN

Absolutely relevant, this book provides clear, balanced, and thoughtful examination of the controversy surrounding reality television through carefully crafted narrative, primary and secondary source quotations, informative sidebars, and study questions enhanced by full-color photographs, maps, and charts.  Readers in the target age range will appreciate the fact that the television shows mentioned are current and recognizable and the text is careful not to come down too strongly for or against reality television.  The various issues brought up in debates on the topic are covered and often addressed with quotations or examples from relevant figures in the industry.  There is a typo on page 39 that reads "social contract" rather than "social contact."

Summary: This book provides clear, balanced, and thoughtful examination of the controversy surrounding reality television through crafted narrative, primary and secondary source quotations, informative sidebars, and study questions enhanced by full-color photographs.      

Reality television                                          --Bethany Geleskie

Allman, Toney. Radiation Sickness.

Allman, Toney.  Radiation Sickness.  Gale/Lucent      2013  104p  ISBN 978-1-4205-0900-7  ms/jr  VG-BNS  Nonfiction          

Allman offers clear, careful descriptions of radiation sickness.  He explains what radiation sickness is, under what conditions radiation sickness occurs, and how people cope with it.  Treatment and prevention are discussed, as well as examples of notable cases of radiation sickness, including that of scientist Marie Curie.  However, the author fails to include Japan’s disastrous 2011 nuclear breach in Fukishima. 

Informative and factual, this book will be a helpful volume for young researchers and debaters.  It includes quotation sources, an annotated bibliography, and a list of organizations to contact for additional exploration.  The information is well-organized and intuitive.  This is a solid addition to middle-school collections.

Summary: This book explores radiation sickness in detail, covering causes and effects, treatments, and medical advancements.                      

Radiation sickness                                     --Hillary Welliver

Kallen, Stuart A. The History of Latin Music.

Kallen, Stuart A.  The History of Latin Music.  Gale/Lucent  2013  126p  ISBN 978-1-4205-0947-2   series: Music Library  ms/hs VG-BN Nonfiction

This book presents a historical view of Latin American music through time and its influence on American culture.  From the beginning of time, music has always had a place in history.  The music from Latin America is a combination of many sounds that date back centuries.  Many of the strongest features of Latin music are the tango from Argentina and the Afro-Cuban sound, whose influence can be found in many American songs such as “Twist and Shout” and Buddy Holly’s song “Not Fade Away”, to name a few.  New Orleans pianist Fats Domino found his inspiration in the Afro-Cuban sound. This book describes how the Latin beat from many Latin countries influenced all kinds of songs and music of today.  You will recognize many names of artists, musicians and singers.  This historical walk through Latin American music would be a welcome addition to your library.

The book includes a recommended listening library, fact boxes, notes, an index, and lists of books, pictures and websites for further information.

Summary: This book presents a historical view of Latin American music through time and its influence on American culture.                      

Music-Latin America-History and Criticism                   --Magna Diaz

Krohn, Katherine. Adele.

Krohn, Katherine.  Adele.  Gale/Lucent    2013  104p  ISBN 978-1-4205-0882-6  series: People In the News  ms/hs    E-BNS  Biography        

With six chapters of well-researched information, author Katherine Krohn shows the life and musical career of a stellar performer, Adele.  As one who has won more Grammy awards than the Beatles, she has certainly paid her dues on the way up.  Battling serious throat and vocal-cord problems, break-ups that devastated her and performance anxiety, she has rebounded each time to be all she can be, a singer who is world-renowned for her sultry voice, her emotional lyrics and her natural connections with audience members.  The chapters include a look at a gifted child, an examination of her success at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in London ending with her composition of “Hometown Glory” and “Daydreamer,” her rise to fame, the romantic break-up that nearly destroyed her emotionally, her fight with a vocal-cord polyp, and, finally, an examination of her life style, loves and interests.  Besides adding photographs that portray Adele in a variety of poses and settings, Krohn includes quotations that are validated in her extensive bibliographical listing of notes at the end of the book.  Other extras include a listing of important dates, a two-page list of resources to consult, and a four-page index. 

People in the News is well known for its accuracy and high-quality writing.  This book about Adele keeps the tradition going as much for its excellent organization as for its fine biographical writing style.  People in the News offers books about both famous and infamous characters, such as Maya Angelou and Fidel Castro.  Writing is comprehensive, data is well researched and validated, and quotations and photographs offer an interest level that will keep young adults reading.

Summary: Adele’s rise to stardom, her struggles and successes along the way, and her sources of inspiration are highlighted in this biography.

Adele-Biography                                                                                           --Martha Squaresky  

Marcovitz, Hal. E-books.

Marcovitz, Hal.  E-books.  Gale/Lucent    2013  112p  ISBN 978-1-4205-0902-1  series: Technology 360  ms/hs  E-BN  Nonfiction       

The incredible advancement of computer and information technologies has led to a sea change in the publishing world.  Beginning with a timeline, this book takes the reader through the history of publishing, from Gutenberg’s first Bible printed with moveable type, through the evolution of the e-book beginning in 1971 with Project Gutenberg, to the development of OCR technology that allowed the scanning of materials into a computer, the production of e-books on floppy disks, and, eventually, the rise of numerous types of e-readers.  The author continues with a discussion of how e-books are changing the way people read, how the publishing industry has been transformed by the growth of these e-books, and what the future might hold for readers.  The book is well organized, clearly written, and enhanced by colorful photographs, fascinating sidebar information, and fact boxes that provide enlightening tidbits and career possibilities.  The use of primary source quotations from the biggest names in the computing world adds much to the narrative.  The book ends with chapter notes, a glossary, a bibliography of books, periodicals, and web sites, and an index.

Summary: The incredible advancement of computer and information technologies has led to a sea change in the publishing world. The  book takes the reader through the history of publishing from Gutenberg’s first Bible and continues with a discussion on how e-books are changing the way people read, how the publishing industry has been changed by the growth of these e-books, and what the future might hold for readers.                   

Electronic publishing                                     --Susan Ogintz

Nardo, Don. Egyptian Mythology.

Nardo, Don.  Egyptian Mythology.    Gale/Lucent 2013 104p ISBN 978-1-4205-0745-4 series: Mythology and Culture Worldwide  ms/hs  NR  Nonfiction        

First, let me note that the author listed for this book on the publisher’s website is Jennifer Guess Mckerley, and the ISBN number is different from the one listed above.  When I telephoned the company, nobody could help me with this discrepancy, so I am noting it here.  This is why I gave the book a “NR” (or “not recommended”) rating.  Otherwise I would have given it a very high rating.

This short book discusses the role of ancient Egyptian mythology in world culture, with an emphasis on the ways in which it has influenced religions, philosophies, and popular culture through the ages.  The book begins with a historical overview of the major divisions of ancient Egyptian history, a pre-historical map, a chart demonstrating the heliopolitan theogony, and an outline of the major characters in Egyptian mythology.  All of these additions are helpful to the reader making his or her way through the book.  The information given is fascinating, well written, and well organized.  There is a good glossary and a helpful list of references, both print and electronic.  The illustrations are good.  However, on page 84, the illustration does not match the text at all.  The text describes the visual depictions of Isis holding her baby Horus, and states that these depictions had a large influence on early representations of Mary with the baby Jesus.  An illustration of this influence would have been much more appropriate on this page.

One aspect of the book that will be sure to appeal to young readers focuses on the influence of Egyptian mythology on modern comic books and movies.  This section will pull in readers who didn’t realize they had an interest in Egyptian mythology previously!

This is part of the series Mythology and Culture Worldwide published by Gale Cengage and Lucent.     

Summary: This short book discusses the role of ancient Egyptian mythology in world culture, with an emphasis on the ways in which it has influenced religions, philosophies, and popular culture through the ages.

Egyptian mythology                                       --Carol Kennedy