Gr 7–12 Fortified with contemporary individual case studies of both teens and adults, each title in the Compact Research: Diseases and Disorders series discusses variations of each disease, as well as the prevalence, symptoms, causes, effects, diagnoses, and treatment, drawing upon media interviews and commentary as well as clinical reports and research studies. Anxiety Disorders will have wide YA readership, especially because it is the most common form of mental illness in the U. S. —from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks to claustrophobia. The discussion is jargon free, honest about trauma's agonizing toll, and includes info on therapy and medications. Up to date, accurate, and clearly written, Brain Tumors focuses on the pathology of how tumors form, as well as the symptoms and treatment. Very clear about how little is known about causes, this title raises an important teen issue: can heavy cell-phone use increase brain tumors? Personality Disorders is not as accessible, with some heavy jargon, but it is up to date enough to include information on dialectic behavior therapy. Schizophrenia does an excellent job of demystifying the disorder, including the multiple-personality diagnosis, and discusses whether particular treatments can help. The clear design includes recent graphs and tables, color photos and diagrams, and lots of carefully documented primary-source quotes from patients, researchers, and scientists.
Personality Disorders: ISBN 978-1-60152-139-2 / eBook: 978-1-60152-348-8Gr 6-10 These titles provide a systematic and focused look at their respective subjects. Each title begins with an overview and then provides an explanation of the disorder. Personality Disorders covers 10 types, including paranoid and schizoid disorders. Subsequent chapters explore causes and the ways these conditions impact patients' lives and ultimately address whether sufferers can overcome them. Short sections containing primary-source quotes and bulleted facts and charts that highlight important information are appended to each chapter. Anxiety Disorders covers six main types, including panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It strikes an off-note with the inclusion of a graph showing that women who have had abortions have an increased likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. Since this is the only study cited that links a particular action with an increased rate of anxiety, it adds an unfortunate and unnecessary political agenda to the topic. With the exception of the aforementioned problem, these titles are useful for reports as well as general interest; the inclusion of information on key people and advocacy groups as well as a chronology of events that highlights the historical background and important milestones adds value.
—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY