Police Brutality: Recognizing Stereotypes

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-This informative book examines both sides of various aspects of police brutality, including how pervasive it is and how it can be stopped. Each side is covered in two pages, with a relevant political cartoon or chart to illustrate the point. The text is clear, thought-provoking, and defines stereotypes as it gives information. No authors are cited, so it is assumed that the Bernards wrote both positions of each argument. Each topic ends with a critical-thinking skill check-up. The tight organization of the book contributes to the cogent presentation. Police Brutality (Greenhaven, 1991) covers all of the topics, plus others in more depth, at a higher reading level, with articles written by journalists and collected by the editors. This book is more visually appealing and less intimidating. Although it will be most effective in a classroom situation, it could be used for reports.- Sandra L. Doggett, Linganore High School, Frederick, MD