Conflict in the Middle East

Gr 9 Up Naff has tackled a complex and broad topic in a concise and accurate manner, providing an easy-to-grasp and evenhanded re-source on the subject. Although his outlook is grim, it is realistic and objective. The author provides a brief look at each topic, including the history, the current situation, and potential resolutions. The book covers many conflicts in the Middle East, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as the Iraq War, and looks at America’s involvement and the effects the fighting has and will continue to have on this country along with an overview of reactions from the global community. Each section includes several pages of direct quotes, statistics, and short summarizing statements. The layout is open, the illustrations (primarily graphs and maps) are colorful, and the back matter has plenty of suggestions for further research.

Gr 9 Up-Naff has tackled a complex and broad topic in a concise and accurate manner, providing an easy-to-grasp and evenhanded re-source on the subject. Although his outlook is grim, it is realistic and objective. The author provides a brief look at each topic, including the history, the current situation, and potential resolutions. The book covers many conflicts in the Middle East, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as the Iraq War, and looks at America’s involvement and the effects the fighting has and will continue to have on this country along with an overview of reactions from the global community. Each section includes several pages of direct quotes, statis-tics, and short summarizing statements. The layout is open, the illustrations (primarily graphs and maps) are colorful, and the back matter has plenty of suggestions for further research.-Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA

The strongest element of this series, which currently includes sixteen titles such as Genetic Engineering, Media Violence, Conflict in the Middle East, and Animal Experimentation, is the amount and quality of documentation and further resources provided. Source notes are provided for every quote and statistic within the narrative chapters. The back material includes a chronology, a list of key people and advocacy groups, a list of related organizations, and a bibliography of books, periodicals, and Internet sources, none of which are more than five years old. The obesity volume covers causes, prevention and treatment, as well as the question of whether obesity is a matter of personal responsibility. Genetic Engineering covers the safety of genetically engineered food, the safety of genetic engineering in humans (including the use of stem cells and genetic screening), and the issues surrounding cloning. This series is recommended for students not yet ready to tackle the Opposing Viewpoints or Current Controversies series, as well as those who respond to visual interpretations of the facts.