Fair Elections and Voting Rights: ISBN 978-1-6782-0692-5 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0693-2
Freedom of Speech and the Press: ISBN 978-1-6782-0694-9 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0695-6
Individual Rights and Liberties: ISBN 978-1-6782-0696-3 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0697-0
Rule by the People: ISBN 978-1-6782-0698-7 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0699-4
Separation of Government Powers: ISBN 978-1-6782-0700-7 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0701-4
School Library Journal, November 1, 2023
Gr 6-9–With a primary focus on the amendments to the United States Constitution, these five volumes explain the rights and freedoms of American citizens. An examination of two tenets of the First Amendment is provided in Freedom of Speech and the Press. Individual Rights and Liberties explains the meanings of the other amendments, such as the right to bear arms and the abolition of poll taxes. Rule by the People and Fair Elections and Voting Rights cover voting information and requirements for candidates. Separation of Government Powers discusses the three branches of government and the differing responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The narratives employ simple, straightforward sentences making these easy reads, and the accompanying photographs complement the texts. Additionally, these volumes have an advantage of currency as they include events of the past few years and one contains a photograph of the current United States Supreme Court.
VERDICT Informative if not exciting, these volumes will be suitable for reports and selectors should consider purchase where collections need refreshing.
Rule by the People: ISBN 978-1-6782-0698-7 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0699-4
Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG), March 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
Rule By The People, by Janie Havemeyer, is a neutral-toned nonfiction text that discusses the origins of democracy and the important role citizens have in such a system. Havemeyer uses At-A-Glance pages, tables of content, a glossary, and an index to support readers in this large concept. Special attention is paid to reaching out to Spanish-speaking immigrant populations and embracing them and everyone as power holders in a democratic system. Havemeyer efficiently conveys the importance of participation in the government by laying out the conflicts surrounding the Declaration of Independence and the creation of a Constitution and then moving through the fights for voting rights for the many groups that were left behind. The call to action quickly follows as the author asks the reader to participate when they are of age.
Recommended Audience: HS & MS
Reviewer: Sam Carterby
Individual Rights and Liberties: ISBN 978-1-6782-0696-3 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0697-0
Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG), March 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
Individual Rights and Liberties by Janie Havemeyer uses current events that will resonate with youth to detail the importance of rights in the United States. Havemeyer’s hook of the frustrated social media post by the 14-year-old cheerleader led to a Supreme Court case in which she was vindicated, which makes this book very personal for teens. The book then segues into the history of the Bill of Rights, beginning with the colonists and moving efficiently into modern times. While Havemeyer takes time to detail many of the Bill of Rights specifics, current examples are used. As the book details the fight for different demographic groups to secure rights, it also discusses times when the United States has removed rights from citizens, such as when they are incarcerated and the Internment Camps of WWII.
Recommended Audience: HS & MS
Reviewer: Sam Carterby
Freedom of Speech and the Press: ISBN 978-1-6782-0694-9 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0695-6
Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG), March 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
Freedom of Speech and the Press by Samantha Bell details the extent of freedom of speech in the United States and its limitations, including how this plays out in social media.
Additionally, this book discusses libel, slander, and the rights of a private company to ban people. The language is neutral, large, and easy to read. The focus on social media will help the book be relevant to today's youth.
Recommended Audience: HS & MS
Reviewer: Sam Carterby
Separation of Government Powers: ISBN 978-1-6782-0700-7 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0701-4
Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG), March 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
The Separation of Government Powers by Mihaly details the checks and balances of the three branches of government with clear-to-read graphics and text boxes, as well as double- spaced, easy-to-read fonts. It features very up-to-date images, cases, and events. Mihaly points out many instances where Congress has voted to change points not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. Librarians and teachers should be aware that this book uses neutral language but does include the events of January 6th as a current instance in which Congress is investigating and may choose to file charges.
Recommended Audience: HS & MS
Reviewer: Sam Carterby
Fair Elections and Voting Rights: ISBN 978-1-6782-0692-5 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0693-2
Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG), March 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
Fair Elections and Voting Rights, by Sheryl Normandeau, is part of the Understanding American Democracy series published in California. This book covers many facets of election and vote-counting issues in a neutral tone. The text is broken up into easy-to-read chapters with large double-spaced font, and photos feature non-majority citizens often portrayed in COVID masks. The explanations of the history of democracy in the United States do bring up slavery, the Civil War, the 15th Amendment, the Civil Rights Movement, the fight for the voting rights of women, the 19th Amendment, and the long-time efforts toward the voting rights of Native Americans. Additionally, the book draws attention to the difference between a popular vote, a caucus, and the electoral college. Additional time is given to “the concerns” of some, such as voter fraud and the use of mail-in ballots, mentioning a few notable elections in 2016 and 2020 by name. While the language is not inflammatory here, it is clear that the author does have confidence that these issues do not detract from the validity of elections.
Recommended Audience: HS & MS
Reviewer: Sam Carterby