School Library Journal

Series Review
Contemporary social issues are investigated by examining the surrounding laws, rights, debates, court cases, and backlash. The role of protest, social movements, changing behaviors and beliefs, and toxic traditions and choices are shown to play into the development of these matters. Though text-heavy, the layout is broken up with visuals including bar graphs, pie charts, infographics with statistics, maps, time lines, and photographs. Fact boxes and sidebars present additional information on specific topics, people, terms, and moments. Each edition concludes with offering ways to get involved, with information such as what to do if someone you know is assaulted, how to help combat gun violence, or what you can do to help with the problem of plastic pollution. The additional resources at the end include multipart critical thinking questions to show reading comprehension and tie these larger issues into students’ daily lives. Solid, up-to-date explorations of topical issues.