Rights and Responsibilities

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Four series entries designed to give readers the information they need in order to participate in the American political process. Bratman looks at the requirements for citizenship, waves of immigration, unwilling immigrants (the slave trade), visas, refugees, and illegal aliens. Paananen discusses the role of the military in our history, and how it functions in both peace and in war. She presents a balanced account, including the failures of the Vietnam War and the mixed opinions about U.S. involvement in the Persian Gulf War. The experiences of minorities and women in the armed services are addressed, but there is no mention of the controversy concerning homosexuals. Shuker-Haines covers such topics as free speech, freedom of the press, civic activism, voting, the juvenile-justice system, taxes, jury duty, and running for public office. She takes a proactive stance, urging readers to become informed and involved through personal participation. Stern presents a clear overview of the origins of Congress and its composition and workings, and explains several notable debates and actions. The full-color photos and reproductions, informative sidebars, and charts all add to the books' appeal. These readable and attractive titles will be useful for U.S. history and government classes.-Eunice Weech, M.L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL