Reference Review

Gr 10 Up–An encyclopedia and a volume of primary-source documents comprise this resource. The alphabetical encyclopedia contains a chronology and mostly substantial articles with further-reading lists. Entries on capitalism, women, secularism, music, and sexuality are in-depth and evenhanded, balancing Islamic ideals with actual practices. A two-page selected bibliography identifies recent key works. Despite some minor lapses, there is a wealth of information here, without obvious bias and including varying perspectives, conveniently assembled and clearly organized, and with appropriate historical background. Although cross-references are extensive, there are some gaps, such as the lack of a direct connection between the Salafism article and the entries on al-Qaeda or Bin Laden (Jihadist Salafiyya’s most prominent follower). Wahhabism, subsumed under Salafiyya, is underindexed. Neither the article on slavery (discussing links between Islam and enslaved African Americans) nor the index point to the actual brief discussion of Islamic law on slavery. The Druze and Sufism articles do not note wide Muslim persecution of such splinter groups (though information on Muslim-Muslim intolerance can be found elsewhere in the book). The black-and-white photographs and tables are few but informative. Primary documents are categorized under religion, 9/11, citizenship, gender, race, and the arts. Though two-thirds of the contributors are graduate students, these are advanced researchers, and the editor is a leading expert in the field. This set is reliable, up-to-date, wide-ranging, and accessible.–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George’s School, Newport, RI

Gr 7 Up–This latest edition of a source that has been in print for more than 30 years provides a comprehensive overview of a vast array of occupations. There is also information on preparing résumés, what to expect in an interview, salary negotiation, and employees’ rights. Coverage ranges from high-tech careers to the cosmetology and maintenance fields. Jobs that require advanced degrees or occupational certificates, and others that require no degree or prior training are included. Each entry has background information on the job; its structure, its outlook, and a directory of related organizations. For example, “Airlines” outlines the history of the field; the division of the industry into commercial, general, and military; and job prospects, and provides contact information for organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, each entry includes definitions of relevant terms. Black-and-white photographs throughout illustrate the nature of the work. Because its entries are quite general, this set is a great place to start a career search, and it will complement more detailed works such as those in the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” series (U.S. Department of Labor).–Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ

Gr 9 Up–Extensive in depth and breadth, this valuable work details the subjects’ impact from 1776 through the 2007 Democratic Congress. It is densely packed with 168 primary sources, including Senator Barack Obama’s speech “Teaching Our Kids in a 21st Century Economy” and Rep. William L. Dawson’s 1944 letter on desegregation of the armed forces, gleaned from speeches, letters, press releases, editorials, and court decisions. The chronological historical overview in the first seven chapters provides grounding in the important contributions African Americans have made to American democracy. The remaining chapters are arranged by subject, such as economics, international affairs, and social justice. Each chapter has detailed source notes. The 11-page index is augmented by 3 appendixes: “Chronology of Major Events,” “African American Members of the 110th United States Congress,” and “African American Members of Congress 1870-2007.” Type and page layout are easily legible with a few black-and-white images (mostly photographs, some documents) interspersed. For students of history, American studies, politics, and journalism, this volume is mandatory.–Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC

Gr 5 Up–Arranged alphabetically by inventor, the 172 entries in this set include information on Mary Anderson’s windshield wipers, George Eastman’s handheld camera, King C. Gillette’s safety razor, and Frank Whittle’s jet engine. Articles are usually 10 to 12 pages in length and contain brief biographical information. Each one describes the inventor’s work as well as the efforts of any predecessors or competitors integral to developing and refining it. Entries are accompanied by well-captioned vintage and color photographs, charts, drawings, and diagrams; a time line is included in each chapter. Lengthy essays interspersed throughout the set cover subjects such as “Accidents and Mistakes,” “Energy and Power,” and “Optics and Vision.” A simulated parchment page in many articles offers related information, for example, “The History of Packaged Frozen Food,” in the “Clarence Birdseye” entry. Sources for further information, including Web sites, conclude each entry, and are repeated in a comprehensive listing in volume five. The last volume boasts name, invention, and comprehensive indexes. Some accounts of these inventions can be found in other sources, but none are as inclusive and thorough as this one.–Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS

Gr 10 Up–Starting with ancient Greece, and including India and Russia, this set covers significant people, plays, and movements. Volume one examines eras and geographical regions, including subtopics such as “Classic Greek and Roman Drama,” “English Renaissance,” “Latin American Theater,” and “Modern Scandinavian Drama.” Volume two features specific movements (“Outdoor Drama”), issues (“Belief in Contemporary Drama”), genres (“Tragedy”), and styles (“Surrealism”), with a final section on “Theatrical Essentials” (“Acting Styles”). The entries, each 5 to 20 pages long, are thorough and well organized, with historical, cultural, and artistic contexts providing useful background. The several dozen scholarly contributors offer an interesting variety of approaches. Longer articles, such as “Dramatic Comedy,” provide full overviews, using notable plays and playwrights as examples. The much shorter “Tragedy” section, on the other hand, briefly examines the elements of the genre’s appeal over time, while “In Yer Face Theater” looks at a controversial movement mostly in the context of Sarah Kane’s Blasted. An index provides access to the many related elements common to different topics, though there are no cross-references within the articles. Lack of illustrations and a fairly sophisticated vocabulary make this work most accessible to older high school students. Many of the essays provide more in-depth coverage than similar resources such as Dennis Kennedy’s The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (2003), which covers a wider variety of topics.–Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Gr 10 Up–The bold cover of this book shouts out some of the famous dissenters quoted within: Martin Luther King, Jr.; Margaret Sanger; Pablo Picasso; Mohandas Gandhi; and even Ronald Reagan, whose radio address “The Modern Little Red Hen,” outlining the California governor’s vision for economic justice, made the cut. It is precisely the inclusion of such unexpected voices, manifested in song lyrics, speeches, essays, sermons, or images from around the globe and throughout time, that makes this comprehensive collection so fresh and groundbreaking. Materials are logically organized into three sections: “The Roots and Roles of Protest,” “Documents of Dissent,” and “The Future of Protest” (which focuses on the boundaries of dissent, asking what extreme protest looks like, and at what point it turns into terrorism). Short, clear introductions place documents in context. The scope and readability of the collection are incomparable, which is precisely why the flawed layout is so disappointing. Contrasting fonts are used to differentiate each entry’s title and introduction from its text, but the articles visually run together. There are no cross-references, and entries often lack vital bibliographic information, including only document title and author (though further source detail is included in the bibliography). Despite the somewhat problematic layout, though, the information included here is too important to pass up.–Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

Gr 9 Up–A grand introduction to a great company of writers, this update of the 1997 edition adds 44 new articles and covers writers from Giovanni Boccaccio and Geoffrey Chaucer to Anton Chekhov and Sandra Cisneros. Through attention to literary detail and flashes of luminous exegesis, this compendious overview brings readers face to face with some of the finest and most accessible literature in existence. Readers, whether in need of a brief critical overview or in search of what to read next, will find this set extremely useful. Each entry includes a brief biography, a list of principal works, a note on other literary forms the author explored, and a concise list of achievements as well as brief essays (approximately 100-250 words each) on particular stories. These essays are extremely well written, touching on characters, settings, and themes, and providing readers with lucid assessments of the works’ importance. This set would complement May’s Masterplots II: Short Story Series (Salem, 2004) and the “Short Stories for Students” series (Gale).–Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 10 Up–Exploring issues of church and state from Colonial times to the present, this set includes 250 alphabetically arranged entries preceded by 15 essays on basic topics such as “Freedom of Religion,” “The Supreme Court and the Establishment Clause,” and “Religion in Times of War.” Unfortunately, there are no cross-references between the essays and the alphabetical entries, and the essays lack bibliographical references. Merriman is thorough, but his book is flawed. He emphasizes court cases (they comprise nearly half of the articles), but they are only searchable by full title. He tends toward wordiness, and the essays are extremely repetitious and frequently assume prior knowledge on the part of readers. Entry titles are confusing or convoluted: “Avoidance of the issue of evolution in many teaching standards,” for instance, or “Addition of 'under God’ to Pledge of Allegiance.” The index is incomplete (omitting, for example, anti-Semitism, chaplains, and drugs, though they are mentioned in the text), and there are mistakes throughout the work (such as naming King James instead of King John as the issuer of the Magna Carta). Tom Head’s Freedom of Religion (Facts On File, 2005) is a much more reliable title for this audience. Though it lacks Merriman’s detail, it covers the essentials.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 7 Up–The introduction to this in-depth, alphabetically arranged work provides an overview of the science of chemical compounds and explains the format of the entries. Each one begins with a line drawing portraying the compound’s structure, followed by a heading listing its chemical name, Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) number, molecular formula, molar mass, composition, melting point, boiling point, and density. The densely laid out main text discusses the compound’s chemistry, history, manufacture, and societal impact. The author has included anecdotal information about people, places, and products pertaining to the compound, as well as useful historical information. For example, the entry on hydrogen peroxide discusses its use in propelling the space capsules of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. Tables, maps, and illustrations (a schematic of a nuclear power plant, archival cartoons) appear throughout. The clear writing makes this volume accessible to lay readers. Endnotes include a list of the “Common and Ancient Names of Substances.” A useful addition.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 4 Up–This update is ideal for tech-savvy students. Curious readers can use the related Web site to view photos and videos of animals in their natural habitats, hear audio clips, play games, print color maps, and send e-postcards. The lengthy introduction includes clear explanations of how to read the maps and use the Web site followed by information on the oceans, natural disasters, world population, religions, economies, food, water, and energy, with an emphasis on environmental concerns. Easy-to-read, full-color photos, maps, and graphs are included. The midsection of the book divides the world by continents. Each section opens with a crisp satellite image, and continues with an overview that includes a colorful photomontage of the continent’s animals, culture, and land, followed by physical, political, and thematic maps of regions and large countries. Sidebars provide area, population, major languages, religions, life expectancy, and literacy rates. Thought-provoking images include the tattooed face of a Maori warrior and a group of Afghan women in contrasting traditional and modern dress. The last section features flags and facts such as area and population for 193 countries and a section of records (the world’s hottest place, longest river). The main revisions are the relocation of country flags and statistics to the back of the book rather than the main body; the maps are smaller; there are more photographs and text; the satellite images are clearer; and the Web links bring the information to life in an exciting, new way.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 10 Up–A thorough look at terrorism, past and present. The first chapter discusses relevant people, groups, and events of the last century; different types of terrorism (cyber-, narco-); various legal definitions of the problem throughout the world; and the difference between antiterrorism and counterterrorism. The next two chapters focus on terrorist groups and activities in the United States and Europe. They are followed by primary sources (with Internet citations) from the United States (speeches, press briefings, presidential orders), international treaties and treaty excerpts, and documents relating to terrorism in specific countries. An entire chapter is devoted to how to research terrorism and global security. “Facts and Figures” contains black-and-white graphs showing statistics on various aspects of terrorism, and “Key Players” provides biographical sketches of prominent individuals and groups. Chapter nine is an annotated who’s who of organizations and agencies that deal with terrorism. The book closes with an annotated bibliography, a chronology dating from 1920 to the present, a lengthy glossary, and a comprehensive index. Patricia Netzley’s Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Terrorism (Gale, 2007) dwells more on the history and actions of specific individuals and groups, whereas this title focuses more on concepts. The two resources complement each other.–Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS

Gr 9 Up–This set analyzes more than 500 titles (fiction, drama, poetry, scripture, speeches, doctrinal discussions, autobiography, etc.). Each entry contains a three- to five-page summary and discussion of Christian themes and an annotated bibliography. A general bibliography, list of electronic resources, and indexes (chronological, genre, core issues, and geographical) appear in volume four. Women (Anne Lamott, Saint Catherine of Siena) and non-European males (Cornel West, Joseph Mitsuo Kitagawa) are well represented. Although the publisher’s note claims that the works discussed are those “most likely to be known, asked for, and studied by both general readers and…students,” many authors and titles will be unfamiliar and unlikely to appeal to teens (or to appear on their reading lists). Much of the information can be found online. In addition, there are flaws. There are no cross-references to related entries or alternative titles (New Testament, Old Testament, and most biblical books are nowhere to be found; included instead are Hebrew Bible, Books of the Prophets, New Testament Letters, etc.). Coverage is skewed with, for instance, an Emily Dickinson poem (“A Word made Flesh is seldom”) receiving almost the same space as J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” The material is written for individuals knowledgeable about Christianity and the poetry selections heavily use literary terminology, but there is no glossary of religious or poetic terms. Overall, this work isn’t accessible enough for brief book reports and it lacks the thoroughness for in-depth research.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 10 Up–This exhaustive work covers a wide range of relevant activity in the modern world. Volume one begins by tracing the history of organized crime from its roots in the Middle Ages to the present. It then expands the traditional definition of the problem, taking in any organized group specializing in illegal activities. Other sections focus on specific enterprises and their global impact, funding, and the various law-enforcement agencies battling these crimes. The sections are composed of a series of signed articles on the given topic (“Organized Crime in Asia,” “National Crime Authority”) and include occasional black-and-white photos and other images. Some entries are clearly and precisely written, while others are riddled with mistakes. The article on the history of organized crime in America contains many factual errors on leaders of the various families, and some information is out of date. For example, John Gotti, Sr. is named as head of the Gambino family; his death in 2002 isn’t mentioned except in a photo caption 30 pages later. The set also states that Lucky Luciano’s reign preceded that of the founder of the Genovese family, an impossibility. Still, the succeeding article is an articulate exploration of the involvement of some members of the Italian community in organized crime. Volume two consists of primary-source documents highlighting national and international laws and treaties that attempt to curtail racketeering and corruption. In general, this sophisticated and specialized work is appropriate for AP students, but not for general researchers.–Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN

Gr 9 Up–With 2500 more entries than in the 2002 edition, this expansive resource incorporates new terms and slang from the fields of technology, computing, communications, and science. In addition, the illustrative quotes in the entries have been updated to incorporate recent material, and the language in the definitions has been changed to reflect modern sensibilities about ethnicity, sexuality, and disabilities. A new essay, “A Brief History of English,” leads the volume, and it is a stalwart reminder of the Dictionary’s purpose: to provide historical context to our language. As in previous editions, each entry includes pronunciation, part of speech, variant spellings, a quote, and information about the field and origin of the word. This set is so comprehensive for its size that it’s a natural and economical alternative to the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary (2002) for smaller libraries.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 9 Up–This revision of Sova’s Edgar Allan Poe A to Z (Facts On File, 2001) has been considerably improved by superior organization and enhanced information. Biographical, historical, and critical material on Poe’s life and work is presented in alphabetical order in three sections. The entries on Poe’s works each provide a synopsis, a publication history, and character descriptions, while major works such as “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Purloined Letter” have an added commentary and new further-reading suggestions. These changes have added immeasurably to the usefulness of the book. Appendixes provide a time line of Poe’s life, a chronology of his publications, and a selective bibliography. The writing is objective and clear, but scholarly. Black-and-white reproductions of paintings, maps, documents, etc., are included. A comprehensive index and the selected bibliography will be helpful to report writers, though the bibliography includes mainly articles from scholarly sources to which high school students may have limited access. Still, libraries serving students who do assignments on Poe, or that have a teen readership for the old master of horror, will want to add this volume to their collections, and those that have the previous edition will want to replace it.–Ellen Loughran, Pratt School of Information and Library Science, Brooklyn, NY

Gr 7 Up–The alphabetical entries in this version of Tucker’s The Encyclopedia of the Cold War (ABC-CLIO, 2007) focus on the years 1945 through 1995 and will help students understand the conflicts, the arms race, and the tense climate between the superpowers and their allies. This work has 200 fewer entries than The Encyclopedia, but it boasts over 220 more images than that work, including more charts and graphs. It also includes less detail and does not assume that readers have access to an academic library. The wars in Korea and Vietnam and the Arab-Israeli wars are covered extensively. Readers will be intrigued by the discussions of fallout shelters, McCarthyism, film, espionage, the space race, and “duck and cover” drills. Volume five contains 171 primary-source documents, each preceded by an introduction to help readers grasp the situation surrounding the document’s creation. Back matter includes the rank structure for selected Cold War militaries, brief country profiles, and essays on how to read primary sources, maps, charts, tables, and graphs. The comprehensiveness and clarity of this work make it a useful resource.–Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH

Gr 4-7–This resource opens with a 15,000-word dictionary followed by a 4000-entry thesaurus that includes many common phrases, then a color section of world maps and flags, a historical atlas (with time lines covering major world events from prehistory through 2005), and almanac-style profiles of each U.S. state and Canadian province or territory. The U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, lists of U.S. presidents and Canadian prime ministers, and tables of weights and measures are appended. The dictionary is light on current slang, rough language, and trendy coinages. Its definitions are clear, concise, and generally followed by an example of usage. In the thesaurus, phrases and idioms are printed in shaded boxes to distinguish them from single words. Except for the U.S. and Canadian portion, the sections are not clearly divided–nor are there thumb tabs or color keys to aid access, but that’s a minor quibble. More problematic is the effort to express pronunciations through plain-language transcriptions; all too often the results are artificial (“jolt/joalt”), inconsistent (“joiner/joy-ner” but “join/join”) or strange (“protection/pru-tec-shun”). The array of comparable (and similarly titled) reference tools is downright bewildering. For collections with truly minuscule budgets, the Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus for Students with Full-Color World Atlas (Federal Street, 2006) makes an even more economical alternative to this–though it is still no substitute for a separate but more current and comprehensive dictionary, thesaurus, and almanac.-John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 2-6–This edition boasts 30 percent new content, including biographical articles on figures such as Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Lemony Snicket, as well as updated state and country information and many new maps. Happily, it retains the sharp visual style and easy-to-read text that distinguished earlier editions. It mirrors the organization and content of the World Book Encyclopedia (2005), but presents the information in a more accessible form for younger readers. Best of all, the appealing style makes this set perfect for older students at a lower reading level. All of the elements of a great encyclopedia are here: effective cross-references; pronunciation guides; clear and concise articles; and thousands of illustrations, diagrams, photos, and maps, all with informative captions. The content is well chosen to match both the interests of elementary school students and their curriculum. If you serve beginning readers or older students with reading difficulties, this set belongs on your shelves.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD