The Hunger Road

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10 A short survey of hunger spots, in places such as Ethiopia, the Congo, Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Lebanon, Latin Americaand of course, the United States. Although Fine mentions climate and overpopulation as causes of world hunger, he emphasizes the political manipulation of food as a weapon to buttress power in the third world and the widespread mismanagement of the environment and food resources in particular. Occasionally Fine oversimplifies history and politics in order to focus on the consequences of catastrophic regional and national hunger, but he doesn't oversimplify the complexity of the hunger problem. He cautions against merely giving food to countries suffering from massive hunger and starvation because long-term solutions require indigenous solutions rather than paternalistic charity. Fine urges private groups and UN agencies to channel their resources and energy towards helping others to help themselves. To the youth of America who want to help, he offers suggestions of groups to join, and he encourages young people to ``use their own eyes to identify problems and people in need and follow the dictates of their heart to help them.'' A healthy combination of succinct fact and practical advice, highlighting a major world problem for young readers. Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego