Working Together Against Gun Violence (The Library of Social Activism)

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7?Because these books combine advocacy with analysis, they depart from the usual format of books on social issues for young readers. Their focus is on getting young people involved in working against hate groups and gun violence, in addition to presenting the various sides of the issues. To show how teens can become easy targets for those who blame a minority group for society's problems, Blue uses fictionalized scenarios depicting disgruntled YAs looking for scapegoats to blame for their own school or personal problems. Historical references to what the Nazis did in Europe are mixed with descriptions of some of the more heinous hate crimes committed by Americans in the past decade. The activities of watchdog organizations like the ADL and Klanwatch are also described, and advice on fighting hate group influence is given at the end of the book. Gun Violence is problematic because it purports to study a subject by presenting arguments on many sides of the issue, but ends by counseling students how to organize in favor of gun control. Both titles are written on a fifth grade reading level, and look like juvenile books. However, the accompanying photos emphasize teenagers and the advocacy suggestions appear to be directed at older students, who will be turned off by the books' juvenile format and simplistic prose.?Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San DiegoCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


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Gr 5-7Because these books combine advocacy with analysis, they depart from the usual format of books on social issues for young readers. Their focus is on getting young people involved in working against hate groups and gun violence, in addition to presenting the various sides of the issues. To show how teens can become easy targets for those who blame a minority group for society's problems, Blue uses fictionalized scenarios depicting disgruntled YAs looking for scapegoats to blame for their own school or personal problems. Historical references to what the Nazis did in Europe are mixed with descriptions of some of the more heinous hate crimes committed by Americans in the past decade. The activities of watchdog organizations like the ADL and Klanwatch are also described, and advice on fighting hate group influence is given at the end of the book. Gun Violence is problematic because it purports to study a subject by presenting arguments on many sides of the issue, but ends by counseling students how to organize in favor of gun control. Both titles are written on a fifth grade reading level, and look like juvenile books. However, the accompanying photos emphasize teenagers and the advocacy suggestions appear to be directed at older students, who will be turned off by the books' juvenile format and simplistic prose.Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego


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