Reference

Gr 8–10—Much broader in scope than the publisher's 2000 single-volume work of the same title, this resource divides recorded history into six unequal chronological slices. The focus is global, though inconsistently so; for instance, "Greek War of Independence" is longer than "Vietnam War," and George Washington gets considerably fewer column inches than Josef Stalin. The first six volumes open with a chronology and an overview essay that considers its period in light of six universal themes, such as "technological progress" and "warfare." The more than three hundred articles that follow range in length from approximately half of a two-column page to two or three pages, with larger topics subdivided to aid digestibility. Most articles end with a reading list and, where appropriate, cross-references—though only to entries within the same volume. Each volume also includes a fair number of murky black-and-white photos or period illustrations, a section of color maps, and an individual index. The last book contains the full texts of 110 primary-source documents, plus a "master" index that includes neither those documents nor, aside from the maps, any illustration entries. Though current enough to include the U.S. death toll in Iraq as of April 2008—in an article clumsily titled "Gulf War, Second (Iraq War)"—this set's arbitrary organization, unsystematic cross-referencing, and incomplete indexing mean that it is no substitute for the excellent Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History (Berkshire Pub., 2005) or even Facts On File's own online databases.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—Students in search of information about specific people, events, and places from the old or new West will appreciate this work for assignments and for individual interest. The first volume includes an 11-page time line of key events from 1784 to 2007. The straightforward, somewhat scholarly topical essays are individually authored and range in length from 28 to 46 pages. Each is subdivided by subject, accompanied by text boxes and pull quotes, and followed by further reading suggestions. Coverage ranges from "Buffalo Bill Cody," "Sacagawea," and "Bill Gates" to "Rifles and Revolvers," "Ronald Reagan," and "Indian Casinos." Each essay opens with a black-and-white image representing the topic–regrettably the only one in the chapter. A well-organized resource.—Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA

Gr 9 Up—These 663 entries cover a wide variety of topics about the United States and Canada, including economics, politics, arts and entertainment, popular culture, the environment, current events, minority groups, sports, health and medicine, and science and technology. Generally objective and well written, the cross-referenced articles are divided into user-friendly sections that provide details about a person, event, or topic; impact; and further reading. Essays focus on the 1980s, with minimal background or discussion about anything that occurred before or after that decade. Appendixes provide new words and slang from the era, and information about entertainment, literature, music, sports, and government. The index is extensive. Average-quality black-and-white photos and sidebars with lists (of, for example, period Supreme Court justices) and excerpts from primary sources supplement the text. With topics that range from Boy George and Pee-Wee Herman to nuclear winter, this is a solid choice.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 9 Up—Concise and authoritative analyses. User-friendly entries are accessed by locating author, then title, alphabetically. Each is followed by thoughtful discussion questions. Other aids include bibliographic references throughout and indexes of characters and of literary works in the last volume. While clearly written, the character examinations are often interwoven with other literary elements, and patrons should read with care to avoid accidental plot spoilers. There are no illustrations. Though coverage is similar, this work contains more in-depth character analysis than books in Frank N. Magill's "Masterplots" series (Salem) and warrants purchase for use in both ready reference and more detailed research.—Cara Moffett

Gr 9 Up—The 11-page introduction to this detailed work offers a succinct, U.S./European-centered overview of the decade that "seemed in many ways to represent the true beginnings of the 20th century." Each chapter represents a year and is divided into "Monthly Summary" and "Daily Chronologies," with the time period indicated at the top of the page. Information on each month and then on each day is subdivided according to 10 headings that include "World Affairs"; "Africa & The Middle East"; "The Americas"; "U.S. Politics & Social Issues"; "U.S. Foreign Policy & Affairs, Defense"; and "Culture, Leisure & Lifestyle," though the information focuses on Europe, the Americas, and the United States. These paragraphs include from one to several events per heading, separated by ellipses. While some events are notable, one wonders why others are included, such as, "A school teacher in Rome, Italy tries to rob a statue of St. Peter in the Vatican of its tiara, robes and ornaments." There are some typos. The extensive index lists all daily entries and refers to columns as well as page numbers. While this work has some flaws, it has use as a ready-reference tool.—Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC

Gr 10 Up—A fitting supplement to George Thomas Kurian's Timetables of World Literature (Facts On File, 2003), this collection of essays focuses on works in ancient Greek and Latin but also includes a fair representation of Chinese literature. The literature of other languages, including Japanese and Sanskrit, is explored as well (an opening listing shows "Writers Covered, by Language of Composition"). Entries include authors, titles, and themes and literary forms. Works such as Julius Caesar's The Civil Wars, Virgil's Aeneid, and Ovid's Metamorphoses are discussed book by book. Theological texts are well represented, with entries on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Hebrew Bible, and the teachings of Buddha, among others. Students will appreciate the accessible summaries as well as the bibliographies that are appended to most articles.—Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA

Gr 10 Up—Beginning with the Fall of Rome in 476 C.E., this set documents the era from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish perspectives. Volume one covers "History," "Society," "Economy and Trade," and "Warfare and Weapons"; the second offers sections on "Philosophy and Religion," "Mysticism and Magic," "Medicine, Science and Technology," and "Art and Architecture"; and the last volume focuses on "Literature," "Music and Dance," "Holidays and Festivals," and "Clothing, Costume, and Textiles." Each one includes an index to the set's black-and-white illustrations and maps, with the last volume including an extensive bibliography and index. Chapters are subdivided according to each religious view and then further broken down by topic. For example, the section on society presents an overview of the three religions' various hygiene practices. The organization of the index does a disservice to the excellent information. The poetry entry lists "literature, Islamic" and "literature, Jewish," yet there is no reference to "Christian literature" although "devotional" is included. Libraries that have Edward D. English's more in-depth Encyclopedia of the Medieval World (Facts On File, 2005) may want to forgo this purchase.—Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC

Gr 9 Up—The opinionated introduction to this update of the 2002 edition paves the way for the unstinting social commentary ("people situated near volcanoes ignore common sense and the warnings of experts") in these 500-plus articles. Chapters begin with thorough explanations of the phenomena and a chronological list of calamities, prehistory to 2007. They are arranged by disaster type and include "Avalanches and Landslides," "Earthquakes," "Famines and Droughts," "Plagues and Epidemics," "Hurricanes," "Icestorms and Snowstorms," and "Volcanic Eruptions and Natural Explosions." Within these divisions, arrangement is geographical and then chronological. Entries provide a synopsis of the disaster, and then proceed with a detailed history, including magnitude or strength (Richter scale measurements, etc.) death toll, property damage, and other effects, interspersed with numerous eyewitness accounts and quotes. New coverage includes entries on Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Midwestern floods of 2007, and SARS. There are no cross-references. Also, there is no chapter on tsunamis, so the book lacks a comprehensive explanation of their creation. Instead, descriptions of the genesis and destructiveness of individual tsunamis, including the massive 2004 disaster, are scattered throughout the flood and earthquake sections. Black-and-white photographs accompany many of the entries, and there is an eight-page section of color photos. Both types are grainy. Though it covers only through 2006, Marlene Bradford and Robert S. Carmichael's Notable Natural Disasters (Salem, 2007) is a better option. It covers more disaster types, gives the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami its own entry, and discusses prevention more thoroughly.—Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—Offering more than 1300 pages of day-by-day accounts of political decision making, troop deployments, and military operations, this is an incredibly ambitious work. Chronologically organized, starting in 1922 and ending on November 19, 1945, the two main subject headings are Atlantic and Pacific, which are subdivided by the subordinate theatres (e.g., European Theatre of Operations, or ETO) and then into specific geographic regions (e.g., North Africa). The entries prior to December 7, 1941, are less in-depth in terms of military operations, but offer key highlights of what was taking place in the war in which the United States was not yet formally involved. After that they are much more thorough and deal mostly with operations in which the United States participated. Following the chronology of events are several informative sections including a list of Americans awarded the Medal of Honor, biographies of major American military leaders, a glossary that includes weapons terminology, appendixes of relevant statistics (casualties, enemy aircraft destroyed, etc.), and a well-detailed map section. An extensive bibliography is also included. The comprehensiveness and thoroughness of research that have gone into this work are impressive. Even Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci's raid on the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp is described (although unfortunately, neither the man's name nor Cabanatuan is indexed). A solid addition.—Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

Gr 9 Up—Each book begins with the same preface, which includes a discussion of the United Nations codification of children's rights. The work goes on to examine the state of childhood globally, with each volume boasting an introduction by an expert on children in the relevant part of the world. An impressive array of authorities in the fields of education, psychology, social work, and history provide a wealth of knowledge about critical issues related to the growth and development of young people. Profiles and maps of each country create a context for understanding the issues. Famine, warfare, child labor, gang violence, and other issues that impact childhood are explored with current data and extensive references and resources. The writing and style are straightforward enough for high school research.—Ernie Bond, Salisbury University, MD

Gr 9 Up—The 11 chapters in Government cover the period between the 15th century and today. Chapters detail "How They Were Governed," discussing such entries as Jamestown and Ellis Island; biographies of key political figures; political parties and key issues; events and social movements that influenced American politics; and legislation and court cases that had a role in the formation of the government. War examines the country's military history, beginning with the conflicts with Native Americans in the 1600s and ending with today's war in Iraq. Each chapter provides a brief overview of one major conflict, its causes, biographies of major figures, key battles, impact on the home front and nonmilitary events at home, the war in an international context, and its aftermath. The 16 chapters range from 20 to 80 pages in length. Authors discuss both positive and negative aspects of history. For example, the chapter on the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq provides not only political rationales, but also information about the protests and the antiwar movement. Each set is enhanced by black-and-white photos and illustrations. Both have a clear, concise, and logical format and will be useful for classroom assignments or informative reading.—Geneva Reeder, Lower Dauphin Middle School, Hummelstown, PA

Gr 6 Up—Over the last 69 years, Batman has experienced countless incarnations. For years, he seemed ageless and unchanging, but recently editors and writers have found many creative ways to explore the superhero's mythos. Expanding upon Michael Fleisher's The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes: Batman (DC Comics, 2007), this volume attempts to clarify how Batman fits into these story arcs, and to catalog nearly every villain and close ally he encountered between 1939 and September 2007. Entries are limited to characters and information within the Batman universe. This focus on characters and internal plot may be fascinating to fans, but will limit the book's usefulness as a research tool. Fewer than one-third of the entries are accompanied by black-and-white illustrations. Two sets of color plates add much to the flavor of the work, though they impart little information. Overall, the book is extremely thorough within its scope and is well researched.—Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Gr 10 Up—Rich in descriptions, detail, and bibliographic information, this is a noteworthy study. The 10 essays introduce a range of topics including Native American history, indentured servitude, slavery, urban life, religion, land ownership, the role of women in all aspects of life, and westward expansion during the era. The articles include in-text citations and quotes from primary sources, such as letters, diaries, and land records, as well as from distinguished historians-all outstanding features. Sidebars and black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout, and each entry is followed by a bibliography and further reading suggestions. The work closes with a collection of primary-source documents and a bibliographic essay. The reading level and complex ideas presented make it best suited to advanced-placement students.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 10 Up—AP students will relish this detailed account. It follows the American military in all theaters of the war and documents the movements and actions of the Continental Navy, the Continental Marines, and the Colonial militia and regulars in their fight for independence. It also chronicles the Continental Congress throughout the war and helps readers understand the difficulty of directing such a campaign, by a committee, often using out-of-date information. Highlights are given for the years 1763 through 1774, and then there are almost daily entries for the war years 1775 through 1781, including in-depth discussions of battle strategies and the impact of key encounters. There is coverage of both famous and lesser-known events, though only prominent events are listed for the period from 1782 through George Washington's death in 1799. The book's font is small, but readable. Dates and locations are in larger, bold font, and typically the day of the week is mentioned within the first line of text. Black-and-white illustrations with citations are found on almost every spread. Serious students of American history will appreciate the chronological perspective, and the detailed index helps to make this an immensely useful resource.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA

Gr 5–10—This volume covers 41 distinguished African-American actors, artists, authors, dancers, musicians, and entrepreneurs. (Volume 1 [2007] profiled individuals prominent in the areas of civil rights, politics, and social leadership; and scientists, inventors, and athletes). Each entry opens with an average-quality black-and-white photograph of the subject, and is followed by birth and (where applicable) death dates and information on early life, education, career, challenges, family, and legacy. Articles conclude with a listing of three to four relevant Web sites. The men and women cover a wide temporal range—from Phillis Wheatley, born around 1753, to Savion Glover, born in 1973. A good deal of information is presented over the course of five to nine pages, yet the profiles are easy to read and comprehend, due to simple, lively language, large font size, and generous line spacing and white space. An added bonus is the inclusion of 12 "Brief Biographies"—short entries on important people in African-American history who do not receive a full article. A subject index includes names, occupations, and other keywords. While most of the individuals in this volume are also profiled in African American Biographies (Grolier, 2006), this would make a good general purchase for libraries needing information on the topic.—Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Gr 10 Up—These approximately 600 entries paraphrase the subjects in an accessible way and provide biographical information about the relevant scientists. The preface and introduction outline the differences among scientific laws, principles, theories, hypotheses, and concepts, and also include a short discussion of what science is and what it is not. While the entries, arranged under each scientist's name, are complete for reports or basic knowledge, some are accompanied by figures and tables, or by sidebars that contain a variety of stories, background, and other explanations that make the books suitable for browsing. Appendixes include a list of scientists by discipline and lists of Nobel Prize winners in physics, chemistry, and medicine. This encyclopedia will interest motivated students who are curious about why the Earth and universe work as they do.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University

Gr 5 Up—From the familiar names of Elizabeth I and George Washington to lesser-known individuals such as jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden and designer Coco Chanel, this set presents biographies of a wide range of historical figures. Women and minorities are fairly well represented, as are many nationalities, though North American and European subjects feature heavily. Most articles range from 6 to 10 pages, allowing room for some depth. "Alexander the Great," for instance, includes a quite detailed look at the siege of Tyre. The clear and accessible writing includes sufficient historical context without straying too far from the subject. Quotes appear within the articles only occasionally, but a notable statement by the subject is highlighted at the head of one of the pages. Brief sections of text stand out in larger, bold font. These selected passages are not always significant: some serve as captions to illustrations, while others seem to be chosen randomly. Plentiful black-and-white illustrations, including many graphic-novel-style renderings as well as photographs and maps, and an attractive layout make this set less intimidating than some reference works. Each article starts with a large-print overview opposite a full-page photograph or other illustration and includes a time line. Indexes by field of endeavor and era offer useful access points. With its variety of subjects and a generally attractive look and style, this set will serve well for assignments.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Gr 10 Up—A useful reader's guide and a colorful 16-page introduction precede this encyclopedia's 750 articles. Volume 1 also offers a chronology that covers the subject from 4.5 billion years ago to 2007 and notes contributors and their affiliations. However, many of them are listed as "independent scholars" and their affiliation or expertise is unclear. An alphabetical list of the set's entries appears in each volume. The articles cover a variety of topics relating to global warming and climate change such as social effects and scientific causes. Entries on individual countries and key figures are also included. While the articles are full of useful information, the writing is not always clear and there are grammar issues throughout that make for choppy reading. In addition, some of the content is most appropriate for AP students. The layout is basic, featuring double columns of text on each page, with a few black-and-white stock photographs scattered throughout. Entries conclude with "see also" references, which are not always thorough, and a bibliography. The appendix presents charts and tables of relevant data ("Ice Age Temperature Changes," "Recent Sea Level Rise"), and each volume concludes with a comprehensive index. Additional.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 9 Up—Covering a volatile period, this volume provides a thorough overview of the African-American, Latino-American, American-Indian, and Asian-American civil rights movements. Unsurprisingly, a large section of the book is devoted to the struggle of African Americans in the face of often violent opposition, chronicling the campaigns of Martin Luther King, Jr., the freedom rides, and the sit-ins, and discussing the 1963 March on Washington. The volume also provides an account of the many protesters, black and white, murdered because they sought to improve African Americans' lives. Additionally, Upchurch discusses César Chávez's efforts to empower migrant farm workers; the movement led by Russell Means and other American Indians to regain Native lands; and individuals such as Bruce Lee, Freddie Prinze, Flip Wilson, and Jimi Hendrix, and their collective impact on the culture. It should be noted, however, that Upchurch is best at simply retelling the story and at relaying facts. He tends to lose his objectivity when discussing Black Power. He states, for example, that Newark, New Jersey's CORE had "fallen victim to the Black Power heresy." Moreover, careful reading shows Upchurch taking a few pot shots at Martin Luther King, Jr., whom he labels a "star," a "media darling," and a "likeable fellow." He implies that King lived, at least in one situation, hypocritically, removing himself and his wife from substandard housing during a Chicago demonstration. Still, the overall story of these various movements is told well.—Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ