Smoking

School Library Journal

Gr 9 UpStudents seeking information on the smoking controversy will find a gold mine in this compilation of articles by professors, government officials, professional writers, and researchers. The questions include, "Are the Health Risks of Smoking Exaggerated?"; "Is the Tobacco Industry to Blame for Leading People to Smoke?"; "How Can Smoking Be Reduced?"; "Are Increased Measures Needed to Combat Teen Smoking?"; and "Should Government Regulation of Smoking Be Increased?" The pros and cons of each issue are considered in three to five articles for each side, considering different and specific slants and subtopics. The result is a fascinating and authoritative debate on many aspects of a complicated subject. The table of contents includes a brief synopsis of each article. Karin L. Swisher's Smoking (Greenhaven, 1995) takes a similar, albeit less in-depth approach and would be useful for a younger audience.Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS