LIND, Nancy S., Erik T. Rankin, & Gardenia Harris. Today’s Economic Issues: Democrats and Republicans. 387p. (Across the Aisle). bibliog. ebook available. index. glossary. websites. ABC-CLIO. Aug. 2016. Tr $97. ISBN 9781440839368.

Gr 9 Up –The second installment in a series that aims to help readers get a better sense of the political parties, this title focuses on economic issues. In a democracy, each party advocates for what it believes is best for the country and the people. However, the parties differ on the priorities and methods. The text broadly defines economic issues to include the traditional (taxes, social security) as well as areas that impact the economy but are not typically regarded as “economic” per se (such as research and green initiatives). Thirty-eight essays explore how Democrats and Republicans view the various economic topics. Each introduces the subject in a couple of paragraphs under “At a Glance,” followed by a bulleted list of where most Democrats and Republicans stand. The more in-depth “Overview” frames the issue within the current context and provides some relevant historical background. The book considers the stances of contemporary Democrats and Republicans, differences between the two, and fault lines within both parties. The volume is accessible, and readers will be able to quickly navigate to their area of interest, while the nonpartisan essays provide a fair and complete assessment of each issue discussed. VERDICT Highly recommended as a reference for high school government courses.–Muhammed Hassanali, Shaker Heights, OH

This review was published in the School Library Journal March 2017 issue.