Think About Nuclear Arms Control: Understanding the Arms Race

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up Three excellent books on contemporary political and social issues. Each book follows a similar format: definition of the issue, historical perspective, a contemporary debate on its facets and dissenting advocates, and an analysis of the future outlook. Substantive appendixes contain primary sources seldom found in books for young peopleimmigration laws, Marshall and Truman doctrines, copies of U.S.-U.S.S.R nuclear weapons' treaties, etc. Annotated lists of associations and organizations active within those issues, extensive indexes, and 1987-inclusive bibliographies representing sources with varying political orientations are included. Each chapter is preceded by questions to keep in mind while reading that chapter, and review questions follow. In no cases are these ``learning aids'' conceived as spoon-fed tactics; the issues presented are too complex. The only salute the authors have given to the ages of their readers is an almost uniform effort at simple sentence structure. Yet the result is not patronizing or pedantic, and the complexity of the issues is never shielded, but skillfully dissected. The authors' biases are not evident. Collections supporting curriculum-based research in contemporary issues will find these books invaluable. Catherine vanSonnenberg, LaJolla Country Day School, Calif.