School Library Journal

This series has a tried-and-true format for providing reliable and up-to-date information for students’ reports, debates, or other class projects. After an overview of the issue, chapters posed as questions (“How Can Teen Smoking Be Prevented?” or “How Should the United States Address the Issue of Illegal Immigration?”) get thorough and balanced answers incorporating viewpoints from both ends of the pro/con spectrum. The “Primary Source Quotes” and “Facts and Illustrations” sections allow readers to zero in on information that would be particularly helpful in supporting arguments. The attention to citing sources properly also teaches how to research, while the inclusion of “Key People and Advocacy Groups” and “Chronology” sections will point students to sources of further learning. While photo illustrations are sparse, the straightforward presentation of serious subject matter, graphics, and easy access to facts make the books excellent choices for reports and debates.