Be Aware of Danger

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Two series titles that address personal health and safety. Be Aware focuses on outside forces that produce anxiety and potential jeopardy. The text discusses realistic fears and how to develop street smarts. Practical suggestions for staying safe on public transportation, at school, and at home are presented in a calm and reassuring manner; the information includes when, where, and how to obtain help. Kathy S. Kyte's Play It Safe (Knopf, 1983; o.p.) covers much of the same ground, but Gutman is especially good at giving readers techniques to gain control of their fears and lessen danger. Harmful discusses smoking, drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, AIDS, and abusive situations. The text presents the problems, gives a few examples, and provides some techniques for avoidance and/or getting help. Elizabeth Ryan's Straight Talk about Drugs and Alcohol (Facts on File, 1995) and Mavis Jukes's It's a Girl Thing (Knopf, 1996) are narrower in focus, but Gutman covers the multiple topics fairly well. In both books, the texts are concise and easy to understand. The accompanying full-color photographs are above average in quality and show teens in typical activities.-Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library, NY