Abortion: Facing the Issues

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up A comprehensive analysis of the issuespersonal, political, legal, and medicalsurrounding one of our most controversial individual and national dilemmas. Inevitably concluding with no resolution, Terkel includes extended information on how abortions are performed, the abortion ``industry,'' numerous anecdotal illustrations for both sides of the question, and some profound and far-reaching ethical discussions. Abundant and sometimes surprising statistics buttress an already fact-filled analysis. Although Carol Emmens' The Abortion Controversy (Messner, 1987) includes some additional information on the issue's international status, it is by comparison better suited for a less sophisticated readership, late middle graders through high school. Terkel's examination of the persona and national ethics of the problem, broader consideration of medical and physiological data, and relentless pursuit of the ambivalent sides to the issue make it an excellent choice for high-school and even adult collections; it is recommended over Emmens' book, but not necessarily in addition to it. Catherine vanSonnenberg, LaJolla Country Day School, Calif.