Focus on Medicines

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-- There is a wealth of good information offered here, nicely packaged, but with a few flaws in the presentation. Medicines discusses how various medications work with the body to help heal. Much of Opiates is devoted to an examination of the function of the brain and nervous system and how drugs affect them. The Drug Alert Dictionary and Resource Guide is an extended glossary of drug terminology, plus listings of hotlines and agencies that provide services and information. Hallucinogens is the weakest title. The writing is often condescending, repetitive (the fact that hallucinogen use can be a walking nightmare is repeated endlessly), and preachy. This is the exception, however, as the other titles are written in a clear, reader-friendly yet factual style. Steroids may generate the most interest and is the best of the bunch; it solidly presents the drugs and how they work while giving an accurate picture of the pressure athletes feel to excel, sometimes at any cost. The books' illustrations are nondescript, flat, and one-dimensional pastel drawings that neither detract from nor add to visual appeal. These titles complete the series and offer students a full range of material on a level not available elsewhere. --Denise L. Moll, Lone Pine Elementary School, West Bloomfield, MI