MG/YA – Understanding Disorders

Understanding Disorders. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $32.95 ea. $164.75 set of 5. 80 p. Grades 6-12. 

Edwards, Sue Bradford. What are Learning Disorders?. 978-1-678-20448-8.
Gagne, Tammy. What are Eating Disorders?  978-1-678-20446-4.
Phillips, Jennifer. What are Mood Disorders?  978-1-678-20450-1.
Phillips, Jennifer. What are Psychotic Disorders? 978-1-678-20452-5.
Sonneborn, Liz. What are Developmental Disorders?: 978-1-678-20444-0.

The focus of the 5-book nonfiction series is on mental health disorders and their symptoms. It contains the history of these disorders and how they affect everyday life. Each book has engaging images along with an informative text that will appeal to students. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance middle and high school school library collections seeking to update their mental health resources. It is labeled as Hi-lo YA nonfiction, so it would be a good addition to a high school library.

600s Mental Health, Psychiatry, and Clinical Psychology  

MG/YA – Our Solar System (Series NF)

Our Solar System. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $33.05 ea. $198.30 set of 6, 64 p. Grades 6-12. 

Fraiser, Carolyn Bennett. Moons. 978-1-678-20406-8.
LaPierre, Yvette. The Asteroid Belt. 978-1-678-20402-0.
Mitchell, KS. The Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 978-1-678-20404-4.
Terp, Gail. Pluto and the Dwarf Planets. 978-1-678-20408-2.
Thacher, Meg. The Terrestrial Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. 978-1-678-20412-9.
Wolny, Philip. The Sun. 978-1-678-20410-5.

This reviewer evaluated the titles The Sun and Moons. Each of the series titles is organized in a similar fashion, with a two-page ‘at a glance’ summary preceding the books’ longer introduction and chapters. An index, source notes, and a bibliography is included for students to use in further research of the topic. In The Sun, Wolny includes information about the Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018 to gather new information about Earth’s relationship with the Sun. The book also contains information about heliocentric and geocentric models, and it covers civilization’s historical understanding of the Sun. Moons contains a multitude of information about not just Earth’s moon but the many other moons present in the solar system. In each book, the authors take care to place vocabulary words in bold font, and they include clear text features with extra information on missions and locations. Pictures are varied and contain captions that do not distract from the chapters’ text.

THOUGHTS: These new hi-lo solar system nonfiction titles will be great primers in all things outer space for interested students in both middle and high school. The up-to-date information offered in this collection will be a welcome addition for libraries that may be living with an otherwise aged natural science nonfiction collection. One thing I particularly liked about this series is its inclusion of carefully curated source notes and bibliography. The authors include credible online sources (as well as books), so students easily can look up additional bits of information as needed. These series books are short but mighty at 64 pages each, and this series makes great resource material for young scientists!

500 Science

MG/YA – Dealing with Addiction (Series NF)

Dealing with Addiction. BrightPoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05 ea. $$165.25 Set of 5. Grades 6-12.

Kaiser, Emma. Smartphone Addiction. 978-1-678-20380-7.
Llanas, Sheila Griffin. Drug and Alcohol Addiction. 978-1-678-20374-0.
Miller, Marie-Therese. Social Media Addiction. 978-1-678-20378-8.
Roberts, Kizzi. Gaming Addiction. 978-1-678-20376-9.
Voss, Elizabeth Hobbs. Vaping Addiction. 978-1-678-20382-5.

This reviewer evaluated Gaming Addiction and Smartphone Addiction. Each title in this series begins with At a Glance which provides readers with a quick, bulleted overview of the topic addressed. Statistics like “Researchers think between 1 and 10 percent of gamers become addicted” (Roberts 4) easily could be incorporated into basic student research or utilized for a lesson on summarizing research. The introduction gives readers an anecdote regarding the topic. In Gaming Addiction, Ben loses interest in activities with his friends, instead opting to beat his high score. Ben’s friends confront changes they’ve noticed in him. In Smartphone Addiction Riley realizes she needs help after hardly hearing her friends while she checks social media notifications on her phone and earning a poor grade on an English essay. Four chapters include What is ___?, The science of ___, The effects of ___, and Treating the ___ (___ = addiction the title addresses). Frequent color photos, charts, text box highlights, and bold-faced vocabulary words make this series highly accessible to secondary researchers. Each book concludes with a glossary, source notes, for further research, and an index.

THOUGHTS: Marketed as hi-lo YA nonfiction, the titles in this series are best suited to middle and high school libraries and would be a great update to addiction collections or for use with health classes.

616.85 Mental Disorders 
616.86 Substance Abuse

Elem./MG/YA – Space Exploration (Series NF)

Space Exploration. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $32.95 ea. $164.75 set of 5. 64 p. Grades 5-12.

Gagne, Tammy. Colonizing Mars. 978-1-678-20426-6.
Layton, Christine Marie. Beyond the Solar System. 978-1-678-204242.
Wolny, Phillip. Living in Space. 978-1-678-20428-0.
Toth, Henrietta. Robotics in Space. 978-1-678-20430-3.
Moon, Walt K. Rockets and Space Travel. 978-1-678-20432-7

The focus of the 5-book nonfiction series is on the cutting-edge technology that is being used in space travel currently as well as looking to the future. Each book has engaging images along with an informative text that will appeal to students. The series contains topics that range from life on other planets to robotics in space. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance upper elementary and middle school library collections seeking to update their space and science section. It is labeled as Hi-lo YA nonfiction, so it also would be a good addition to a high school library.

600s Science and Space  

Elem. – The Case of the Eerie Heirloom

Cooper, Brigitte Henry. The Case of the Eerie Heirloom. Cecilia Messina. ABDO Books, 2023. 978-1-098-23322-8. 48 p. $22.95. Grades 1-3. 

The Case of the Eerie Heirloom follows Abby and Theo who are known as the Phantom Finders. They are enlisted to help Anya, a local resident, figure out why this older music box has begun playing music after being silent for many years. The clues lead them to the local theater, the Kirby Theater. Can they figure out the mystery behind this music box and help bring Anya peace?

THOUGHTS: This is a cute beginning to read type chapter book. There are words that are highlighted and are different sizes, colors, and fonts from the other words to help the reader as they move through the book. There is no need to read the books in order, so a reader can jump in at any time. Overall a great addition to any elementary collection.

Mystery

Elem. – College Football Teams (Series NF)

College Football Teams. The Child’s World, 2022. $21.95 ea. $ $263.40 set of 12. 24 p. Grades 3-5.

Kelley, K. C. Alabama Crimson Tide. 978-1-503-85031-6.
Kelley, K. C. Army and Navy Football. 978-1-503-85034-7.
Ellenport, Craig. Auburn Tigers. 978-1-503-85041-5.
Kelley, K. C. Clemson Tigers. 978-1-503-85032-3.
Kelley, K. C. LSU Tigers. 978-1-503-85033-0.
Kelley, K. C. Michigan Wolverines. 978-1-503-85035-4.
Gigliotti, Jim. Nebraska Cornhuskers. 978-1-503-85042-2.
Clendening, Cameron. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 978-1-503-85036-1.
Ellenport, Craig. Ohio State Buckeyes. 978-1-503-85037-8.
Gigliotti, Jim. Oklahoma Sooners. 978-1-503-85038-5.
Kelley, K. C. Texas Longhorns. 978-1-503-85040-8.
Clendening, Cameron. USC Trojans. 978-1-503-85039-2.

This reviewer had the opportunity to review Notre Dame Fighting Irish from this series. This volume combines colorful, often full-page photographs with simple text to support readers as they learn about a popular college football team. Captions that accompany the photos provide additional details and context to the content, and bolded terms can be found in a simple glossary to help readers with unfamiliar vocabulary. Occasional sidebars provide even more interesting details about individual players, coaches, and important games in Notre Dame football history.

THOUGHTS: These books provide a simple overview of each college football team in the series for readers who need reading support but still want interesting content about subjects they love. Clear text, colorful images and text features like sidebars and a glossary for bold-faced terms will help readers gain confidence. These would also be a good springboard for deeper research or a good introduction, but students who need more in-depth details will be left looking for additional information elsewhere; directing students to the “find out more” reading list and links on the Child’s World website may be necessary for those needing more details.

796.332 Football          Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD

MG/YA – Drugs and their Dangers (Series NF)

Erickson, Marty. Drugs and their Dangers. BrightPoint Press, 2020. $30.95 ea. $154.75 set of 5. 80 p. Grades 6-12.

E-cigarettes and their Dangers. 978-1-682-82705-5.
Heroin and Its Dangers. 1-682-82707-0.
Marijuana and Its Dangers. 978-1-682-82709-3.
Methamphetamine and Its Dangers. 978-1-682-82711-6.
Opioids and Their Dangers. 978-1-682-82713-0.

In four chapters each book in this series explores a type of drug, how the drug affects the body and society, and the treatment for drug abuse. A “Fact Sheet” introduces the reader to the topic while an introduction dives into a teenager’s personal account of being addicted to the drug, an explanation of how people can become addicted, or how the drug became popular in the United States. Each book also includes a Glossary, Source Notes, and pages with additional sources for students to research the topic further.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to a middle school or high school collection. The simple sentence structure and generous amount of white space between lines of text makes each book easy for older students who may struggle with reading but are interested in the topic.

362.29 Addiction          Jaynie Korzi, South Middleton SD

MG – Lux: The New Girl

Woodfolk, Ashley. Lux: The New Girl. Penguin Workshop. 2020. 978-0-593-09602-4. 139 pp. $15.99. Grades 6-9.

Lux Ruby Lawson has had a default setting – pissed – ever since her dad left. She was kicked out of her old school for fighting, and her mom has put her on notice: if she messes up again, she’ll have to go live with the father who walked out on her, the same father who just welcomed a new baby girl. Lux wants to stay out of trouble, but when a classmate pushes her too far the ensuing scuffle is captured on multiple cell phone cameras. Lux is expelled and relocated to her dad’s apartment. Through a connection and a strong interview, she’s accepted at Augusta Savage School of the Arts in Harlem, to pursue her interest in photography. She makes friends with the “Flyy Girls,” Noelle, Tobyn, and Micah (each of whom takes center stage in subsequent installments of the Flyy Girls series). But Lux worries about what will happen if the videos of the fight resurface and her new friends discover the past she’s kept hidden. Ashley Woodfolk packs a lot into just 141 pages: family dynamics, friend drama, mild romance, school pranks, and even a photography assignment for the school paper. Each character’s personality is vibrant and distinct, and Lux is believably flawed. Her evolution, from a girl who settles scores with a punch to a more mature friend and daughter, is the endearing core of the novel.

THOUGHTS: Lux: The New Girl is an excellent hi-lo series starter to add to school library collections, and more importantly to read and discuss with students. It would pair well with Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill for a professional book study.

Realistic Fiction          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD