From School Library Journal
Grade 6-10?Falke explains the circumstances under which children may be taken from their parents; presents brief case histories of abuse, neglect, and abandonment; and describes the criteria that foster parents and their homes must meet. Issues such as the development of trust and communication and conflicting loyalties receive attention. The last chapter is a cliched pep talk that detracts from an otherwise excellent presentation. Geraldine Blomquist's Coping As a Foster Child (Rosen, 1992) is less focused, and Kathlyn Gay's Adoption and Foster Care (Enslow, 1990) is mainly concerned with adoption. Nash discusses practical issues of day-to-day life for biracial/biethnic teens, stressing the need for family communication and the support of peer groups and relevant organizations. Although the tone is upbeat and optimistic, her assessment of today's problems is frank. Janet Bode's Different Worlds (Watts, 1989) is about interracial dating; Paul Almonte and Theresa Desmond's Interracial Marriage (Crestwood, 1992) is less comprehensive; and Kathlyn Gay's The Rainbow Effect (Watts, 1987; o.p.) has an interview format. Rue refutes myths and tells readers what to expect and when. She offers common sense advice about easing discomfort and maintaining personal hygiene, good health habits, and a positive self-image. This is a comprehensive treatment; the author's style is clear and direct, and the tone is warm and personal. A less lively, but adequate, title is Alan Nourse's Menstruation (Watts, 1987; o.p.). Black-and-white and full-color photographs appear throughout each title.?Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 6^-8. A popular subject this publishing season is presented in a vastly trimmed down fashion characteristic of the Need to Know Library series for reluctant readers. Nash is encouraging without being chirpy as she identifies a few common problems experienced by biracial individuals (her discussion of biethnicity is almost nonexistent) and the stages that biracial children go through as they seek to cement their identity. She also speaks to the parents' role in helping biracial offspring and to the dearth of appropriate role models for biracial children. It's all pretty slight, and the photos are amateurish at best, but Nash's attempt to get readers to communicate their concerns to their parents and her conclusion that identity is the sum of many parts will start at least some teens on the road to feeling better about themselves. Stephanie Zvirin
