Pro-Life/Choice Debate

While the disagreements on abortion date to the beginning of our country, most of its public debate has taken place during the 20th century. Herring examines the issue from the debate's origin to its current state and expected future. Narrative chapters include discussions of the pro and con arguments associated with abortion, featuring quotes from doctors, politicians, religious figures, and ordinary people.

First in the new Historical Guides to Controversial Issues in America series, this volume studies the major events and periods in the development of the abortion debate throughout its history. Students will find a nonpartisan approach to landmark cases, acts and amendments, and Pro-Life and Pro-Choice advocates. A list of Pro-Life/Choice Web sites and other electronic resources for further research is included.

Narrative chapters include discussions of the pro and con arguments associated with abortion, featuring quotes from doctors, politicians, religious figures, and ordinary people.

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Herring takes a narrative approach to the history of abortion from biblical times through to the present day. His discussion of the moral, medical, and legal developments leading up to the modern feminist movement is particularly informative in framing the historical context of current debate. The author looks at Roe v. Wade and the response of the Catholic Church, the rise of the Moral Majority and the New Right, and the role of Operation Rescue. He continues with an examination of court battles between groups seeking to limit and protect abortion rights, concluding with the current partial-birth abortion fight and the effect of pre- and neonatal medical advances. Herring writes clearly and presents each side of the debate objectively. A few photos with minimal captioning are included. Reproductive Issues tackles a broader topic. The authors address their subject in terms of rights. Constraints on state intervention are examined. Abortion, fertility control and sterilization, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, prenatal diagnosis, sex preselection, fetal surgery, genetic screening, and more are considered. A well-developed chronology and biographical sketches are included. "Facts and Statistics" attempts to give readers a sample of data, but it is not well organized. Reproductive Issues is not easy reading and lacks the narrative and human interest of Pro-Life. However, as an overview of the subject with pointers to further information, it serves its purpose, and the books complement one another nicely.-Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

MARK Y. HERRING is Dean of Library Services, Dacus Library at Winthrop University in South Carolina.