Parental Divorce

School Library Journal

Gr 8 UpTwo user-friendly series entries that address social and psychological issues surrounding problematic situations and encourage readers to accept responsibility for their own lives, happiness, and well-being. Common features include fictionalized interviews set apart via insets offering personal experiences, as well as a ``Bulletin Board'' providing statistical information. Selected questions and answers preface each chapter, opening dialogues that develop into readable overviews that spark critical thought. In Violence, discussions focus on the types of abuse and its cycle; causes; strategies for self-protection and telling others; and what happens when abuse is reported. The conclusion focuses on the effects of abuse and how counseling in its various forms can guide readers toward a healthy emotional outlook. Divorce encourages teens to talk about their fears and concerns with parents. Reasons for divorce, various reactions to it, and the stages of adjustment are discussed. The legal process is presented clearly and concisely, along with financial determinations, custodial arrangements, and visitation rights. Changes in relationships with parents, parental dating, and stepfamilies are addressed as well. Staged black-and-white photographs and various charts and graphs support and enhance both texts, which conclude with brief bibliographies and ``Where to Go for Help'' sections. With their creative and varied approach, these are good companions to the vast number of quality titles currently available on the topics for the same audience.Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland