Single-Parent Families

School Library Journal

Gr 9 UpAdolescents exploring the pros and cons of single-parent families will find this book helpful in many respects. The articles on both sides of the issue are convincing and contain informative statistics and other relevant data. Most of the selections are current and make their points concisely. A list of organizations to contact and a bibliography can take students well beyond the opinions and factual information stated in the articles. However, the book also has some problems that detract from its usefulness. Although the number of articles on both sides of the issue are equal, nearly two-thirds of the book's pages are devoted to the arguments against single-parent families. In addition, the articles selected to support single-parent families do so by refuting the anti-single-family arguments. None of the articles is devoted solely to the positive aspects of single-parent families. Finally, most of the articles focus on unwed mothers, poverty, illegitimacy, and crime. Adults who remain single by choice are given only scant consideration, and nowhere is there a mention of single-parent families headed by men. Although this book is an acceptable and helpful place to start research on the subject, its coverage of the issue is not entirely balanced or inclusive.Marilyn (Makowski) Heath, Greenwood High School, SC