Reference Review

Gr 10 Up—The first book is not only about the man but also about his work and its far-reaching effects. The almost 200 cross-referenced entries are arranged in alphabetical order from "Anemones, Sea" to "Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle." Front matter includes an alphabetical entry list, a thematic guide, and a Darwin family tree. Contextual entries offer information on contemporary events and the scientist's past and present counterparts such as Gregor Mendel and Richard Dawkins. Longer entries often include further-reading suggestions. Unfortunately, there is no glossary or pronunciation guide, and the entry headers' script is difficult to read. An appendix has excerpts from Darwin's works. The bibliography includes only print sources, although Armstrong reminds readers that many of the naturalist's works are available online. Brown describes the history of the field from ancient times to today and explains how the argument for evolution has developed over time. A stimulating introduction addresses related skepticism. The eight chapters include information on Darwin's life and work, and biochemistry and DNA. Both volumes include numerous black-and-white photographs throughout. Darwin also features simple black-and-white line drawings, and Evolution highlights specific topics in boxed areas. The writing and the concepts make these texts best suited for advanced students. They are useful additions for libraries building their science collections in anticipation of the 2009 bicentennial of Darwin's birth.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 7 Up—A user-friendly revision of the 2003 edition. The mostly one- to three-page entries are written in a lively style, and the many sidebars and illustrations (black-and-white period portraits, photographs, and political cartoons, all with helpful captions) give the volume a new dynamism. Articles, which cover events through early 2008, are arranged alphabetically from "Absentee Voting" to "ZZZ" (a lament on voter indifference), with longer essays such as "Congressional Elections" subdivided by location or theme. The table of contents is detailed, and the closing "Reference Material" includes charts and lists such as election-related Web sites; national party chairs, 1848–2007; Democratic conventions, 1832–2004; and blacks and Hispanics in Congress. This is a great book for an elections unit and a wonderful U.S. election-history resource.—Ivy Miller, Kirby Library, Kingston, PA

Gr 9 Up—This well-written title examines the impact of immigration on the broad path of history while also presenting its effect on families and individuals through firsthand accounts that convey experiences and varied degrees of success and failure. The opening chapter presents an overview of the era, introducing the "pushes" and "pulls" that affected immigration, supported by relevant statistics. It is followed by chapters such as "Leaving Home, 1820–1845" and "Changing Immigrant Cultures, 1820–1855" in which Bergquist discusses the economic, religious, and social factors that influenced emigration, highlighting differences in countries and conditions while also pointing out common themes. The tightly structured narrative moves deftly over time and across oceans, making it easy for students to keep track of the complex subject matter. Fairly extensive passages of historical background provide useful context. Practical details involving everything from lodging conditions to the relative sizes of ships also help make the historical experiences tangible. Occasional illustrations from the period, mostly from magazines, provide some visual context. There are no charts or tables, but a seven-page chronology shows some statistical trends effectively. This is a thorough, balanced, and well-organized presentation, offering useful specifics as well as broader, far-reaching concepts.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Gr 5–8—Though not for sale individually, the volumes in this unnumbered set are stand-alones that could also be at home in circulating collections. In each one, anonymous authors cover in the same number of pages an area of physical science, beginning (if taken in Dewey order) with "Universe," ending with "Space Exploration," and along the way surveying earth sciences, plants, animals, human biology (in two volumes), evolution and genetics, energy and movement, space, and technology. Arranged in single-topic spreads, the information is presented in a strongly visual way, with scattered blocks of text placed amid seamless blends of big, vivid photos and digitally created cutaways, exploded views, close-ups, and diagrams. That information, though current enough to include mention of the iPod iTouch, is often hard to find, however, as the volumes have individual indexes but no cross-references, and facts are not always given in a systematic way. In Energy and Movement, for instance, gravity is rightly described as "one of the four fundamental forces observed in nature," but readers will have to check Universe to find out what the other three are. Also lacking bibliographies or links to online resources, these titles score high marks for visual appeal, but qualify for, at best, only supporting roles for assignments or general inquiry.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive survey of slavery in the United States between 1619 and the Civil War is valuable because of its emphasis on the effects of the daily lives of slaves, slaveholders, poor whites, Native Americans, and free blacks. Chapters are organized into sections covering subjects such as the Middle Passage and Africa; work; family and community; culture and leisure; health; religion; the business of slavery; resistance and rebellion; and historical reactions for and against the institution. The signed articles—each followed by a short bibliography—are scholarly, but not dense, and generally quote other experts. Controversial topics are presented in a balanced way, discussing both sides of the theory that suggests slave quilts contained secret codes, for instance. This thought-provoking and thorough reference work will appeal to both general and scholarly audiences. American history students will find it useful for reports and background information. Browsers will appreciate the book's liberal use of sidebars and black-and-white reproductions of historical documents, photographs, drawings, and woodcuts. This will work well as a companion to Dorothy Schneider and Carl J. Schneider's Slavery in America (Facts On File, 2007), which is accessible to a younger audience and offers more primary sources.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA

Gr 9 Up—Chronicling approximately 200 of the nation's worst catastrophes, chosen for their "immense impact on American civilization," this useful volume ranges chronologically from Columbus's first voyage through Hurricane Katrina. In some cases, a symbolic date (a single year) is assigned to reference an event that took place over an extended period of time, such as Dutch elm disease, the polio epidemic, or the silicone breast implant crisis. The vast majority of the events took place on U.S. soil, though some, such as the Irish famine and the atomic bombing of Japan, occurred elsewhere but had a significant effect on this country. Each signed entry includes an engaging two- to three-page narrative relating the event; a "Factbox" providing the date, place, cause, impact, and a succinct description; and a pertinent further-reading list. Black-and-white photos, graphs, and other illustrations enhance many articles. Numerous events covered are familiar, for instance the 1871 Chicago fire, the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the 9/11 attacks. Others are less well known, such as 1816's "year without a summer," the 1920 Ponzi scheme, and the 1948 Donora, PA, smog tragedy. The articles are informative and clear.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA

Gr 10 Up—These 285 alphabetically arranged entries provide information about people, legal actions, laws, political and civil rights groups, and events that are related to King's life and work. The book opens with an introduction to and chronology of the leader's life, and continues with pieces that range from a few paragraphs to three pages in length, some of which are accompanied by average-quality black-and-white photos. These are not full treatments, but instead focus on how each topic relates to King. Each entry includes source notes, and most of the information is drawn from primary sources, most notably materials from the Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other archived collections as well as period newspapers and books. The cross-referenced, objective text is generally well written, and is followed by an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 5–9—Covering more than 300 conditions, the alphabetically arranged articles in this survey were all written by medical professionals with younger readers in mind. The articles include both overviews ("Dental and oral cavity disorders," for instance) and entries on specific illnesses identified as infectious, noninfectious, or mental. Each one opens with a simple definition, closes with cross-references, and in between offers basic information about causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and (where relevant) prevention—along with boxed "key facts" and, usually, at least one informative color photograph or graphic. Each volume ends with its own index; volume three includes not only a comprehensive index but also several subject ones, including one of treatments and procedures, plus selective lists of hotlines and print and Web resources. Specific terminology is used where appropriate but usually defined in context, and in general the language is light on medical jargon. Falling in scope and level of detail somewhere between David E. Newton's Sick! (Gale, 2000) and Jacqueline L. Longe's comprehensive The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2006), this work will be useful for assignments and for general background reading.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 10 Up—Whether they were originally public (the "League of Nations Mandate for Palestine") or secret (the "Protocol of Sévres," in which Britain, France, and Israel plotted to seize the Suez Canal from Egyptian control), these diplomatic and political documents made history, and some are still operative. The documents (and a 46-page chronology, unfortunately unindexed) cover the period from 1914 to 2007; most are unabridged. After a "foundations" chapter, almost half the book focuses on Israel's relationship with Palestinians and other Arabs; separate chapters consider Lebanon and Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey. (The index shows many, but not all, references to Jordan, too; however, not all references to Kurds or other topics are all indexed.) There are few in-text cross-references. Felton's commentaries, fully one-third of the text, form a lucid, integral, and objective history. They are interspersed between the opening chapter overviews and the substantive introductory contexts for each document. These short essays give uniformly clear, concise accounts of complex and contentious recent history. Unfortunately, there is no quick way to distinguish the commentary from the documents. The sole bibliography is mercifully select (at two-and-a-half pages) and includes only print citations, though a few of the journal articles cited are also available online. Despite the admirable clarity of the writing, the level of detail might challenge secondary readers. However, these small objections do not seriously qualify the excellence of this historical resource that promises to remain relevant for some time to come.—Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Gr 9 Up—This specialized resource is well organized and clear, and will help students comprehend the tough and often impossible position that American Indians have faced when dealing with the U.S. and Canadian governments. It presents an objective view of how those governments used unfair treaties and deceitful treaty-making procedures to their advantage. The one- to two-page entries, some accompanied by black-and-white photographs or drawings, also explain how current tribal governments use the agreements to require federal governments to honor Indian rights. Related court cases and legislative activity are included. Volume one includes a helpful comparison of how Native American views on treaty making differed from those of the U.S. government; other thematic essays deal with property, water, hunting, and fishing rights; and a chronological review of contracts. The second volume contains information on 413 accords, beginning with the 1684 Treaty of Albany with the Five Nations and ending with the 1999 Nisga'a Final Agreement with the government of Canada. The last volume offers biographies and entries on treaty-related issues such as sovereignty, Indian removal, the Indian New Deal, and nonrecognized tribes. Each volume provides a list of alternate tribal names and spellings, tribal name meanings, treaties by tribe, common treaty names, and a selected bibliography.—Madeleine G. Wright, Laconia High School, NH

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive, easy-to-use, and clearly written resource describes the extraordinary women who contributed mightily to the American political landscape. About half of the 450 entries cover women; others discuss acts, policies, court cases, events, or organizations. Most entries are from one to five paragraphs long; those detailing military service, the Equal Rights Amendment, suffrage, and other significant topics are longer. Black-and-white photographs appear in some of the entries. Two appendixes (75 pages between them) include lists of women who served in Congress, in statewide elective offices, or in other legislative capacities; and 21 primary-source resources. Some of the latter are documents relating to the women's rights movement, such as the text of the 19th amendment, and others are transcripts of significant speeches, including Geraldine Ferraro's 1984 vice presidential nomination acceptance speech, Shirley Chisholm's 1969 address to the House of Representatives, and Carrie Chapman Catt's 1917 "Crisis" speech. An excellent resource.—Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA

Gr 9 Up—These volumes begin with 14 essays ("Abolitionism and Northern Reformers," "Female Spies") that offer broad overviews of the subject; many of them often repeat basic facts. The more than 300 entries that follow present detailed information on well-known and not-so-well-known women (combatants and others), military events, education, courtship and marriage, urban and rural lifestyles, and the practice of keeping diaries and journals. Each signed entry is cross-referenced and has further-reading suggestions. The 24 primary sources include book excerpts (such as from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin), newspaper articles, diary excerpts, and military orders (for example, for the evacuation of Atlanta in 1864). The core component of each essay and entry is an explanation of how women experienced or reacted to the war, which varied depending upon race, economic status, location, or politics, and how, by war's end and the years following, they were afforded new opportunities in the American democracy. The vast offerings from women's journals and other writings, which make the work relevant for literature as well as history students, are an outstanding feature. Readers will be entranced by the vivid descriptions offered by women from all walks of life. Average-quality black-and-white photographs and illustrations are scattered throughout. A chronology integrates women's topics with traditionally discussed Civil War events, and there is an extensive bibliography. A first purchase.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 5–7—Seamlessly commingling luscious, color space photographs and dramatic, sharply detailed digital imagery, this tour of the universe earns high marks for visual impact. It's not too shabby in breadth of coverage either, opening with both single and group portraits of the solar system and its components, continuing on to do the same for stars and galaxies, adding star charts and other aids for amateur astronomers, and then closing with a history of space exploration. Placed on the art and so, usually, white on black, the text is about evenly split between specific captions and brief general comments, and backed up with summary "Fact File" spreads in each section. The many star charts are large and easy to read (though not outside at night, of course—a common failing of star charts). As there are no leads to print or online resources, or any special emphasis on recent discoveries, this won't replace the more comprehensive likes of Robert Dinwiddie, et al's Universe (DK, 2005) or Patrick Moore's Firefly Atlas of the Universe (Firefly, 2003)—but it will draw a younger audience, and be equally popular for reference and general enquiry.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—In order to give readers a broad foundation upon which to understand the social, historical, and psychological aspects of the trials, Goss provides a comprehensive examination of this intriguing subject, discussing the roots of the belief in witchcraft from the later Middle Ages through the 17th century, precedents in Britain and New England before 1692, and the Salem Witch trials from early 1692 through the end of May 1693 and beyond. In his well-balanced tome, the author includes interpretations of the trials from the earliest historians to late-20th-century analysis. An array of relevant and instructive black-and-white photos and illustrations enhances the text. Fifty court-related primary documents, selectively detailed biographies of key trial figures, an annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and an accurate chronology, glossary, and index are all appended. This meticulously researched book would work well as a supplement to Marilynne K. Roach's outstanding The Salem Witch Trials (Cooper Square, 2002). Through the use of diaries, journals, and letters, Roach reconstructs daily life during the trials and examines historical details such as conflicts between church congregations and ministers and the origins of the hysteria in conflicts of the day.—Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—This update of the 2001 edition adds 950 new entries. Societal changes are documented through commentary on gender issues, court and legal decisions, military history, and science. The approximately 30 entries per calendar day cover from 1621 through 2006. Despite a 71-page index with more than 1250 entries, readers will mostly need to search by proper name (rather than event, for example) in order to find a reference. Indexed information is located by date, rather than page number, the main entries are not highlighted, and only two-digit years are given for dates in the 1900s (so that the birth and death dates for John K. Galbraith, for example, are given as 10/15/08 and 4/29/2006). This can make searching tedious. The number of entries per individual ranges from large (63 entries for George W. Bush) to scant, with birth and death dates only. Gorton Carruth's The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates (HarperCollins, 1997) is easier to use as the information is searchable by topic. The Library of Congress's Today in History Web site (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html) is hard to compete with for currency and accuracy despite less-extensive entries. Students who have used the earlier edition will find this one comfortable; those seeking a new resource may be better served by other publications.—Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC

Gr 7 Up—In the preface to these volumes, Gulla opines that given the information available on the Web, he was surprised to find a relatively unexplored topic. And he is right; this work does fill a void. The introduction provides some historical context as well as justifications for which artists were included, followed by a time line. The 24 main entries are arranged chronologically. While the author was selective, all of the giants, from Ray Charles to Prince, are here. The limited scope is a virtue, as it gives the author space to consider the career of each artist in some detail. While some may quibble about the subjective method for selecting the "most significant contributors" to these musical genres, most who read these entries will come away with something new. Logical subheadings guide readers through the material, and the writing is consistently more compelling than most standard-issue reference prose. Gulla pushes these portraits beyond formulaic biographies by providing some real thought about the role of these artists and their music in a much larger social and historical context. Three of the articles are from guest contributors, and Jesse Jarnow's description of Prince performing at the Super Bowl is especially vivid. The bibliographies, discographies, filmographies, and lists of Web sites are extensive. This set will be useful for reports on these musical legends.—Tim Wadham, St. Louis Public Library, MO

Gr 9 Up—Gunn catalogs 184 natural and human-induced disasters chronologically, beginning with an Indonesian volcano in 74,000 BCE and ending with a 2007 tornado in Greensburg, KS. Articles, varying in length from two paragraphs to several pages, include some well-known and absorbing accounts. For instance, the one on the 1932 Soviet forced famine in Ukraine discusses Stalin's wife's connection. Other entries are more obscure, such as one on a hurricane that struck Georgia and South Carolina in 1881. Unfortunately, the depth and quality of the entries are mixed. Some articles discuss other events at length. Half of the entry on a 1960 mid-air collision over New York City, for example, digresses to Swissair's 1998 plane crash in Nova Scotia. The further-reading resources following articles are dated. Those listed for a 2005 earthquake are from 1950, 1974, and 1993. The writing style of the lengthy introduction is inconsistent and shifts between informal first person to more scholarly third person, and between passive and active voice. Questionable information is provided as fact with no documentation ("Our rate of consumption of almost all natural resources has dropped greatly…we consume less of irreplaceable oil and gas supplies."). Few of the mostly small black-and-white photographs provide any real impact or new information. The index (in volume two only) fails to list some of the principal figures mentioned in the articles. There are only a few cross-references and alternative spellings are disregarded.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA

Gr 8 Up—With revised and updated maps, this resource boasts the accuracy of its predecessor (2002). However, the volume's copious extras are what really stand out: "Thematic Sections" on topics ranging from global climate zones to the economics of tourism; a fascinating collection of satellite maps; and handy statistical summaries of all the countries of the world, listing population, national religion, capital, and other fast facts. Best of all are the "Continental Themes" that precede each regional grouping in the main map section, which offer contextual information relevant to each continent (for example, the European Union, or the impact of the December 2004 tsunami). The graphic design has been updated to a cleaner, more eye-catching style than that of the previous edition, with full-color photographs throughout. Pagination may prove an issue (numbers start over in each section, and there is no way to find the beginning of one except by browsing). Still, this is a valuable edition that thoroughly addresses current environmental concerns, with multiple maps and essays covering topics such as global warming and the future of energy sources.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 7 Up—This book explores the history, customs, food, and symbols of the national holiday. The first section contains two essays that examine the history (beginning with the early settlers to America and the European influences on these people and covering through 2005) and food of this American tradition. The second part provides more than 50 chronologically arranged primary sources, which include the often-overlooked Native American perspective on the event. Documents (which are referenced in the opening essays) range from the Mayflower Compact to presidential proclamations: Lincoln's naming Thanksgiving Day a national holiday and George W. Bush's November 16, 2001, speech that referenced the holiday and the September 11th attacks. Each document is introduced by a short paragraph placing it in historical context. The third section has recipes. Black-and-white photographs and archival drawings appear throughout. The bibliography is extensive. This title is more up-to-date than Diana Karter Appelbaum's Thanksgiving (Facts On File, 1985; o.p.).—Geneva Reeder, Lower Dauphin Middle School, Hummelstown, PA

Gr 9 Up—This set has grown since the 2002 edition from three to four volumes and has gained 1000 new entries spanning the years from 1607 to 2007. Volumes are divided chronologically (1607-1815; 1816–1895; 1896–1945; 1946 to the Present) and then alphabetically and mainly cover authors and works, but also discuss genres, movements, and events. Updates to existing entries reflect new scholarship. A particularly useful addition is the expansion of entries about major authors. The formerly short summary of a writer's contributions, canonical significance, and common themes has been augmented to include a list of principal works and a study guide that outlines existing scholarship, focusing heavily on entire volumes of criticism, but also periodically referencing important journals or Web sites. Additional black-and-white illustrations and photographs further enhance the text. Each volume includes an excellent individual index (the last volume also offers a cumulative index) and an alphabetical set entry list. The significant revisions and additions merit purchase of this useful work for any library in need of support for American literature courses.—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

Gr 7 Up—The more than 4500 words and expressions in this update of the 2002 edition are those that are used unchanged, or almost unchanged, from their source language. Notable among the 500 new entries are fresh adoptions such as sudoku and an increased number of prefixes and suffixes. Entries include idioms (the French homme moyen sensual, "the man in the street"); scientific terms (the Latin nucleus, "kernel"); gastronomic terminology (the Italian farfalle, "butterflies"); religious terms (swami, from the Sanskrit for "master" or "lord"); legal and political terms (apparatchik, from the Russian for "political machine"), and many other words and phrases. The short entries include an American-English pronunciation guide; the language of origin; the part of speech; a direct translation; the meaning as used in English; and, in many cases, an illustrative quote. Cross-references guide readers where a word may have alternate spellings. Some entries are obscure but many are words that are heavily used. Though a helpful listing by tongue shows that English has been influenced by many different languages, including some "smaller" ones (Narragansett, Basque), it also serves to illustrate bias, as it is obvious that Latin, French, German, and Italian dominate. Still, this is a captivating title to browse.—Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—An in-depth look at popular-culture phenomena relevant to girls. Fourteen topical essays discuss subjects from doll culture to girl gamers and include cross-references and further-reading lists. These are followed by shorter, alphabetically arranged entries. They end with at least one further-reading suggestion and include occasional, relevant black-and-white photographs. Without the index, certain topics might not be located. For example, while "Disordered Eating" is an entry, the term "eating disorders" can only be found in the index. The point of view of many of the essayists is clear through their writing, as is that of the editor, by virtue of what is included and how it is identified or characterized. (These articles range from a discussion of body modification to specific movies and characters, cell phone use, and Barbie.) The tone of most of the A-to-Z entries, which vary in length, is value neutral. There are questions about audience. The essays use sophisticated, college-level language, whereas that in the entries is appropriate for high school students. Girls who are immersed in teen culture are unlikely to be in need of such a reference unless it is to trace the origins of a particular trend; the teachers who work with them will probably be grateful to have it.—Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City

Gr 5–8—One of the few multivolume frogs left in the elementary school print-reference pond, this latest annual edition offers full measures of quantity—more than 9000 articles, 25,000 color illustrations, in excess of 1300 maps, nearly a million index entries, a full suite of cross-references and other access tools, plus special features such as passages from classic books or documents and an entire article of science experiments. The set also offers relevance, in that it pays close attention to curriculum needs. Though current enough to include mention of Benazir Bhutto's December 2007 assassination and the Newbery and Caldecott winners from that year, the overall pace of revision is rather slow; the most recent title mentioned in the "Contemporary Film" section of "Motion Pictures," for instance, is Disney's The Lion King (1994), and at least two of the five generic photos that open the "Baseball" article are more than 15 years old. Still, as the layout will be more inviting to less practiced readers than that of The World Book Encyclopedia (2007), and most of the illustrations are not available through the online version, this will be a good choice for smaller collections with an edition more than five years old, or for classrooms with limited Internet access.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—This set features an international scope of authors of modern and historical thrillers, horror, espionage, cozies, police procedurals, and metaphysical parodies. An entire volume is devoted to topical essays, awards, genre terms, a crime and detective fiction time line, a character index, and more (the other volumes are alphabetical by author). Expanded from its original edition (Salem, 1988), the set's more than 300 authors include J. K. Rowling along with her amateur sleuths Harry, Ron, and Hermione; and Susan Conant, whose dog-training sleuth, Holly Winter, solves crimes and promotes responsible dog ownership. Classic authors such as Raymond Chandler, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky join contemporaries such as Sue Grafton, Alexander McCall Smith, Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, Carl Hiaasen, Stephen King, and screenwriter Stephen J. Cannell (Rockford Files). Each signed entry includes a bibliography and list of major works. The topical essay volume will be indispensable for students researching mystery fiction around the world; genre trends, such as pulp fiction; subgenres (forensic mysteries; juvenile and young adult mystery fiction, such as Nancy Drew), and alternative representations of mystery fiction (graphic novels, television shows). A check of Rollyson's Critical Survey of Long Fiction (Salem, 2000) shows no duplication of authors. Black-and-white photos and illustrations are numerous, and readable chapters with subtitles make this set easily accessible.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 9 Up—This wide-ranging, clearly written work covers religion, sociology, sports, domestic life, language arts, technology, architecture, and history. Each thematic chapter is further divided into topical areas, many of a geographical nature (performing arts in the Northwest, for example). This subdivision, along with the comprehensive index, will assist researchers. The facts and context provided are illuminating. In "Cuisine and Fashion," for example, the amount of food Americans eat is explained in concrete terms (we eat roughly 100 acres of pizza daily). The growth of U.S. fashion is partially explained by the Nazi occupation of France during the years 1940–1944, when the New York industry was able to gain at the expense of Paris, and the American concept of ready-to-wear clothing is detailed. Black-and-white pictures accompany the text throughout. While most students will initially use this set strictly for reports, it is likely that they will be intrigued enough to continue reading.—Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA

Gr 9 Up—Shakespeare's eloquent and sometimes-difficult language has often been a major stumbling block for those attempting to understand his works. To this end, Shewmaker has produced this new glossary to clarify the meaning behind the "arcane references, unfamiliar expressions, and words of [Shakespeare's] own invention." This update to the 1996 edition is a comprehensive listing of approximately 17,000 words, which are defined and then contextualized in an accompanying quote. The new chapter "Introduction to Shakespeare and His Language" both explains how the manuscripts we have today came to be and highlights specific well-known passages, indicating how an understanding of the words increases one's enjoyment of their author's genius. A guide to Shewmaker's abbreviations and a list of Shakespeare's poems and plays indexed in the text have been updated to include three plays recently accepted into the canon: Two Noble Kinsmen, Edward III, and Sir Thomas More. Thus, the current edition features more than 2000 new references, as well as an extensive updated bibliography, in keeping with the most current scholarship. Some listings, such as "accomplements" (from Edward III) are completely unique to this update, while others, such as "addressed" vs. "addrest," reflect spelling changes used in various texts since 1996. Although the print is somewhat smaller, the book is more inviting overall. Shewmaker's scholarly work will be of use to students who are trying to clarify uncommon words and/or usages from the Bard's dramatic and poetic works.—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI

Gr 6 Up—Entries on people are listed in alphabetical order by individual or family, and include birth and death dates, if known. They describe the individuals' roles in the Underground Railroad, and their accomplishments, locations, and connections. A few of these biographies (Harriet Tubman, philanthropists Levi and Catherine White Coffin) and topics (Oberlin College, disguise) are slightly more than a page, though most articles range in length from less than one third of a column to a full column. Highlighted information (usually quotes, with annotations, related to the text) is placed in gray boxes. Every article concludes with at least one source, and some have a cross-reference. Both volumes include the same set of seven gray-toned maps that show routes to freedom, escape and arrival points, and settlements. The layout permits easy use with two columns of text per page surrounded by margins that help the page to appear spacious. Illustrations include reproductions of early black-and-white photos, political cartoons, newspaper articles, and posters. The second half of volume two is devoted to a chronology from 1746 to 1865; family trees; state-by-state listings of operatives and known passengers, including their dates of flight, places of escape, and destinations; primary- and secondary-source bibliographies; and an extensive index. This set adds names and faces to a long-neglected segment of U.S. history. A first choice.—Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS