Professional Reading

This sequel to The Bully in the Book and the Classroom (Scarecrow, 2004) offers more than 350 annotated titles published since 2000 to create awareness of the many types of harassment and bullying. Topics include name calling, put-downs, and gossip; being new and different; body image; cliques, groups, and gangs; prejudice; homophobia; cyberbullying and cyberspace; and violence. Each chapter offers selected titles, black-and-white reproductions of book covers, bibliographic information, a brief synopsis, discussion topics, quotes to engage readers, and annotated bibliographies. The books are diverse in characters, content, and grade-level interest, and represent fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. Bott's Web site offers more information and recently published titles. Although the text is written for educators and librarians for use in classroom settings, the information is equally helpful for parents, caregivers, and public librarians.—Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA

Keane offers a way to enhance booktalks with technology and to invite students to explore new ways to talk about books using Web 2.0 tools. The volume is divided into 11 chapters from booktalking concepts to more advanced uses of technology including scanners, digital cameras, computer software, and audio recording. Also included are chapters on software programs such as PowerPoint and iMovie as well as Internet sites such as YouTube and Amazon. The sequence of chapters is designed to allow easy access to information for both novice and experienced computer users. Step-by-step illustrated instructions are given for each type of technology-based booktalk, and the many online resources related to the activity are listed at the end of each chapter. Lesson plans meeting specific educational standards and evaluation tools are provided. This excellent resource shows ways to use existing technology to augment booktalks and to expand the experience beyond the classroom.—Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

Saval notes that the conventional wisdom about American boys is, to put it mildly, that they are in trouble: emotionally, academically, spiritually, and socially. She notes William S. Pollack's Real Boys (Random, 2000) and Daniel J. Kindlon and Michael Thompson's Raising Cain (Ballantine, 1999) as examples of how the media sees boys in the U.S. On the other hand, she cites Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia (Putnam, 1994) and Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wannabes (Crown, 2002) as being more balanced views of adolescent girls. For her own book, she sought to find out if teen boys really were seriously at risk, and to offer, if possible, a more nuanced portrayal of young males. On both counts, she has succeeded. Through in-depth interviews and research, she portrays the lives of 10 young males. She asked each one to name his chapter, and the titles range from "The Mini-Adult" to "The Troublemaker," from "The Sheltered One" to "The Gay, Vegan, Hearing-Impaired Republican." As comprehensive as she tries to be, she is also clear-eyed and acknowledges that "Ultimately, this book can only be one version of the truth about boys today in America." Still, it is a fascinating take on the subject, written in a clear and lively style with a useful index and interesting endnotes that can lead to further exploration.—Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT

Essentially an update of the author's Booktalks and Beyond (Libraries Unlimited, 2007), this volume has a few improvements. Suggested gender appeal has been included, as has a new reading-level designation: children. The seven chapter themes are identical with both familiar and new subtopics. For each book, the author provides bibliographic information with suggested reading levels, "Themes/Topics," "Summary/Description," "Read Aloud/Reader Response," "Booktalks," "Get Involved" (formerly "Learning Opportunities"), and "Related Works." The selected historical titles tend to have more nonfiction. The books, published mainly between 2005 and 2008, are a nice mix, with some titles more familiar than others, including occasional series such as Christopher Paolini's "Inheritance Cycle" (Knopf). The quality of material varies, particularly in the "Get Involved" section, with some suggestions better than others. But overall this book is an accessible, well-formatted, useful guide for anyone (but especially newbies) working with teens and books.—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

This edition contains almost 2200 entries, about 700 more than the first edition. In identifying series to include, the authors used reviewing sources such as Booklist and School Library Journal, reference compilations, and Web sites. The series included are those with a continuing theme, setting, or characters, and having three or more books. There is an emphasis on new series, although perennially popular ones are also included, especially if at least some of the titles are still in print. Each entry includes series title; author(s); publisher(s); grade level; genres; Accelerated Reader notation; annotations about characters, plots, themes, etc.; and as complete a list as possible of the titles in the series. The body of the book is arranged alphabetically by series title. The "Appendixes and Indexes" section has an alphabetical list of "Books for Boys" as well as a similar list for girls' books, and a list devoted to reluctant readers and ESL students. The title index lists individual titles with the name of the series from which they come. The genre/subject index lists series titles under subject headings and under genres, such as adventure, animal fantasy, family life, etc. This reference source is very helpful for collection development, weeding, and reader's advisory.—Lynda Ritterman, formerly at Atco Elementary School, NJ