Current Events & Contemporary Issues

Gr 5-8 –The specifics of the war in Sudan are made all the more disturbing and undeniable through the observations and experiences of a young man, one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys,” who spent 14 years as a witness to the destruction. Color photos illustrate his account. B

ELLIS, Deborah. Our Stories, Our Songs. 104p. photos. bibliog. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2005. Tr $18.95. ISBN 1-55041-913-7. LC C2005-902890-4.

Gr 6 Up –Both heartrending and hopeful, these first-person accounts paint a picture of life for 11.5 million orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa. Interspersed among stories of loss, school, friends, and dreams for the future are portraits of children who are apprehensive but not defeated. B

ESHERICK, Joan. Women in the Arab World. 112p. (Women’s Issues, Global Trends Series). illus. maps. photos. charts. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Mason Crest. 2005. PLB $22.95. ISBN 1-59084-861-6. LC 2004012709.

Gr 6-9 –Emphasizing that individual experiences vary greatly, Esherick presents an overview of Arab women, discussing their treatment in the past, the role religion plays in their lives, how they function in the public world, family life, activists who are fighting for change, and contemporary issues and controversies. This balanced treatment is supported with plentiful statistics and revealing personal stories. B

Global Gang. www.globalgang.org.uk. Christian Aid. (Accessed 1/24/06).

Gr 3-8 –What better way to find out what’s important in the lives of children around the world than by listening to their voices? “Hot News” includes stories of current issues, a call for political action, and vignettes of children living in different circumstances, from an 11-year-old kidnap victim from India to a 13-year-old boy who survived war in Angola. “Global Gossip” asks children around the world to share their thoughts about their “best mate” and includes users’ jokes, personal views, and Web recommendations. W