Great Reading: Bookmark It!

Volume 31, Number 5, June 2004

Sara Catherine Howard

Teen Travel & History

Book of rock stars: 24 musical icons that shine through history. Kathleen Krull.
Hyperion, 2003. $16.99. 0-7868-1950-2. Grades 6-8. For the young adult who wants to know about rock-n-roll stars from Elvis to Morrison to Cobain, Krull satisfies some of that curiosity with 24 mini-biographies.

Charleston: Crossroads of history. Isabella Leland and Robert Rosen.
American Historical, 2003. $32.95. 1-892724-37-5. Grades 9-12. This coffee-table type book filled with photographs offers a look at Charleston for the traveler and the history buff. Includes a timeline and bibliography.

Cherokee (North American Indians today). Philip Stewart.
Mason Crest, 2004. $22.95. 1-59084-633-X. Grades 6-12. With an introduction that explains using the word “Indian”, this title presents the Cherokee nation (and other tribal nations in the series) as contemporary “members of North American society,” not merely from an historical viewpoint.

Great world writers: Twentieth century (13 vols.).
Ed. Patrick O’Neil. $459.95. Marshall Cavendish, 2004. 0-7614-7468-4. Grades 9-12. College prep students will welcome this encyclopedia set profiling 93 important world writers. One unique component is the artwork that relates to the theme of the author’s writing; i.e. Mark Tansey’s Continental divide is shown to depict Chinua Achebe’s writing about the effects of colonialism.

Words west: Voices of young pioneers. Ginger Wadsworth.
Clarion, 2003. $18. 0-618-23475-6. Grades 6-12. Experience the ultimate “family trip” as described by young pioneers’ writings and journals as they make their way west. An extensive epilogue and source notes give follow-up information about the travelers. Well-documented and fascinating reading.

Sara Catherine Howard: Adjunct instructor, Department of Library Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX.
E-mail Sara.