From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-These glossily attractive, generously illustrated titles are readable, frank, and informative. Connolly follows the same organizational pattern in each volume, offering definitions, history, the culture surrounding the drug, symptoms of abuse, bad effects of the drug, and recovery issues. A section of advice is included, but some obviously helpful phone numbers and organizations are not included and no Web sites are listed. Amphetamines has some repetition, particularly in discussing users' tolerance for drugs and their psychological dependence. A helpful chart compares the use of various drugs, including amphetamines, by 8th and 12th graders in 1991 and 1999. Similar ground is covered in Jay Schleifer's Methamphetamine (Rosen, 1999). Cocaine describes the history of its use by musicians in the '20s, then again in the '50s, and by rock musicians in the '70s. The difference between crack and cocaine is clearly explained. Linda Bayer's Crack & Cocaine (Chelsea, 1999) goes into more detail about how cocaine affects the brain and body. In Steroids, there is some repetition when discussing related health risks. Scott E. Lukas's Steroids (Enslow, 1994) features more in-depth information and an interview with a former steroid abuser. Many books address the same subjects in more depth and almost as attractively. Purchase Connolly's books only if you need more titles about the topics for general use and report writing.
Debbie Stewart, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Debbie Stewart, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
