From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-These series entries deal with disparate diagnoses that carry a death sentence on the one hand and a controversy on the other. ALS is a heartbreaker, whether it's affecting scientist Stephen Hawking, gymnast Marcie Gibson, or Uncle Joe. Treatments are palliative, research trials less than successful; neurons that carry messages to muscles shrivel and die, deterioration and death are inevitable, and the mind remains alert and observant throughout. A-D/HD describes a disorder defined by behaviors (inattention and impulsiveness), cause unknown, and its reported incidence is limited almost entirely to the United States, where it is estimated that as many as 10 percent of children are afflicted. Each book has a two-page question-and-answer synopsis, chapters that include profiles of people with the condition, a look at its history, a detailed description of the disease itself, how it is diagnosed and treated, research being conducted, coping strategies, social ramifications, and the outlook. Black-and-white illustrations and photos are used to advantage, and layout and white space are very effective. ALS will leave readers moved yet heartened by the heroism demonstrated by so many of those affected. A-D/HD will attract more readers due to its more mainstream subject matter. Eileen Beal's Everything You Need to Know about ADD/ADHD (Rosen, 1998), written as a self-help book more than an objective informational one, might find a different audience.
Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Reviewed with Julie Williams'
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Gr. 6-12. Two titles in the Diseases and People series tackle difficult topics successfully. In ALS, Wade recaps the tragic story of Lou Gehrig, then addresses the historical, scientific, and medical information about ALS. Scientific explanations are generously supported with simple diagrams, and special terms are boxed and clearly explained. Throughout the text are names of other ALS sufferers, among them Nobel Prize-winner Stephen Hawking, who has survived for an unprecedented 40-plus years. In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Williams points out the current controversies surrounding diagnosis and treatment, especially of children. Disagreements among professionals notwithstanding, she summarizes usually accepted signs of ADHD and the various treatments. Some surprising facts (ADHD was first recognized as a distinctive disorder in 1902, and the FDA approved Ritalin for treatment back in 1961) give concrete information on a topic still shrouded in argument and speculation: that Edison and Einstein had ADHD remains merely assertion. Both books conclude with a question-and-answer section, notes, a glossary, and further resources. Roger Leslie
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