The introduction explains Democracy and it’s various elements, with an well done chronology of the evolution of democracy. Readability is good and the book is divided into components explaining various aspects of democracy with solid examples provided. There are interesting historical references to the development of the Bill of Rights, Amendments, and the Athenian Model. The illustrations are good and various graphics provide additional information, as does the timeline and easy to use large print index.  One improvement would have been to include a glossary of terms. There is additional information provided in sections on the electoral college, poll tax and election spending.

Hook, line and sinker, this reader went for Monarchy because of the cover.  The young Elisabeth with her coronation garb made me want to read about her.  No wonder my double take after the 1st chapter when I realized that the rest of the book would be about the history of monarchies, as the title so simply states.  Silly me.  Rebecca Stefoff’s history lesson is a well-written account of the various types of monarchies around the world and the splinter off shoots, including king-priests, pharaohs, emperors, sultans, as well as the mix of religious leadership positions that play a role in control of a people.  Full color, glossy pages throughout, this is a great selection to see how monarchies are dependent on the area in which they “govern”.  The history lesson clips along — not too dry, but not necessarily pleasure reading.  VOYA said in 2009 that “Each of the series’ six volumes includes a helpful chart that compares the six forms of government, which also include dictatorship, theocracy, communism, and monarchy. This series for older teens is an excellent and well-researched collection addition.”

How brilliant to connect socially motivated young people with adult leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, who have actually achieved recognition for making change happen.  Peace Jam is an inspiring look at the work of the Nobel Laureates and how that work can also be accomplished by young people all over the world.  Motivated individuals can tackle the toughest issues facing our planet, regardless of their gender, color, social position or country of origin.  The stories are of individuals who have organized at the grass-roots level to address issues of gender inequality, climate change, health care reform, gun violence or water quality.  It is truly inspiring to learn what can be accomplished by people who  are dedicated, caring and know how to organize.  For young people or anyone, at any age, who wants to make their world a better place, this book is realistic and encouraging.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for your main event.”  So begins Patrick Jones’s 60 page chronological tour of the “sports entertainment” genre known as professional wrestling.  The first 16 pages offer up an interesting historical timeline of the key match ups over the 100+ years of “entertainment” wrestling.  The second chapter basically gives more detail about most of these bouts.  Overall the focus is on the evolution of the sport, though in 2011 Wrestling boss Vince McMahon even changed the name of his World Wresting Entertainment group to WWE because he “no longer wanted the word wrestling associated with his company, claiming there was no future for wrestling, only for “sports entertainment”. Readers will see that characters, personalities and back story play a lot into the full picture of professional wrestling.  As well as the action, of course.  No question, these men and women are athletes, but Jones freely admits that the bouts are scripted and staged.

What this is lacking is any critical commentary of the sport.  Nothing on in the way of early deaths of the wrestlers from drug use and physical abuse to the body.  Nothing about the violence and trash talk that goes on in the sport.  The future of wrestling is called into question, with more interest going to mixed martial arts fights that have back story and characters mixed with real competition.  One small error even the publisher let slide is the mention of the Kingdome, which would have been replaced with Century Link Field by the 2003 bout discussed.

Overall, the writing is fast paced and the voice is excited.  Every two-page spread has a picture to bring the entertainment value.  Definitely an additional purchase if for middle and high school audiences.

The last year of Rose Hathaway’s life wraps up her typical dramatic flare in Last Sacrifice, the final installment of the Vampire Academy novels.  Rose is on her way to becoming her best friend Lissa’s guardian when the unimaginable happens – she is accused of murdering the queen, which is also her boyfriend’s aunt.   Well connected, she manages to escape with others help and will be a fugitive, traveling up and down the east coast until she figures out who really killed Titania and why she was framed.  Of course, Rose’s romantic life cannot be left to dwindle while she’s gone.  Though her boyfriend is still back at the court, her true arua-ly connect soul mate Dimitri will put up his guard while traveling with her.  Both will come to conclusions that the physical fighting is easy, but it’s why they fight that matters.   Once again, Richelle Mead’s fast-paced narrative that includes Rose being able to connect to others with through dreams and channeling gives a reader 24 hours of vampire action per day.  The scene of passion between Rose and Dimitri is tame but true.  Rose will never give up and is heck of a role-model for vampire fans to unite around.

Shelley Coriell, noted romance writer, has entered new territory with Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, her debut novel. Strong in voice, characters, plot, topics, and emotion, Coriell takes readers into the engaging world of Chloe Camden, junior at Del Ray High School in Southern California, as major changes are shaking her life.  Chloe loves vintage shoes, her friends, her family of loving brothers, parents and aging grandmother, and her job at a popular Mexican restaurant. She’s not prepared when her best friends turn on her, her mother and grandmother implode into arguments, and the entire school seems intent upon shunning her. Forced to become part of the struggling high school radio station, KDSR 88.8 FM, in order to satisfy requirements for her Junior Project under the guidance of a new school counselor, she finds herself challenged to leave the past and her expectations behind. Using skills her job has helped her hone, she finds success, acceptance, and newfound talents doing a call-in radio show that blossoms into greater funding for the station, hard-won new friendships, and even love. The book has the reader rooting for Chloe all the way as she navigates quirky colleagues, broken friendships, new romance, and creative ways to be in the world – learning to listen, acting with heart, and stepping into the unknown bravely as she also speaks her mind.  Coriell’s book is a terrific read from start to finish, well written, perfect for teen audiences.

Curtis Jackson III, aka 50 cent, surprises music fans and readers alike with Playground, a one-of-a-kind story about fitting in and the paths people take.  In 13 year old “Butterball’s” world, every day is a new battle: dodging the glares of his classmates, eating lunch alone in the bathroom stall, wishing his weight would stop increasing, longing for the bustling streets of the city where his dad lives, wishing he didn’t have to talk to his therapist Liz, and most of all, wanting to forget what really happened that day on the playground. Butterball retells the events that landed him talking to a shrink, and by the end, tears will be shed, painful words spoken, and more than just Butterball will come away ready to start anew.  Topped off with detailed sketches, Playground is an inspirational book which many will enjoy.  Incorporating events from his own childhood, 50 Cent tells the mostly true story of how Butterball became a bully.

Thomas Fleming freely admits that there will be confusion as he tries to explain the philosophical shifts in the theory of socialism in his book of the same title from Marshall Cavendish’s Political Systems of the World series.  Classical definitions of socialism, communism and liberalism will are used, which means that a liberal believes that everything can and will be done to achieve liberty, or independence from the government.  What is currently described as being a “democrat” in the United States is really more of a socialist – society ensuring fairness among all people.  Fleming begins his history lesson with Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s dissection of Plato’s ideas as unmanageable, Christianity’s influence, and the rise of Utopias.  When the US colonists declared independence and the French Revolution put the world’s elite classes on notice, the hope for new mindsets by which to inspire rose again.  This ebb and flow continues through the historical timeline of this book reaching a crescendo of sorts in the late 19th and early 20th century.  The United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden are 3 focal countries for discussion purposes in the text. The constant question of political vs economic means justifying the ends is raised again and again.  The comparison table of socialism and other governments in the back is particularly helpful.  Students will need to ignore their “Americanized” concepts of liberal vs. conservative and instead go back to history to learn how these concepts came about.  Not many pictures or sidebars to glamorize the topic, this book is good for advanced students at the high school level and above.

The factual, informative style of “Inside the Industry:Entertainment” by Marcia Lusted is a useful resource to determine the practicality of a career in entertainment.  Many of the kinds of employment  available  in this industry are behind the scenes and are as creative and dynamic as the “star” roles.  By investigating  the  requirements of each job, the talents needed for that job are discussed. This industry is attractive to creative, expressive, musical types of individuals, as well as engineers, electricians, computer geeks and technicians.   Questions about how to get a job, which jobs are most in demand or what  are  the  educational  requirements are addressed.    Careers from music teacher, screen writer, film director, orchestra conductor or television actor are analyzed. This book could be very helpful in guiding  a student from the dreams of a career in the creative world of entertainment to the practical reality of actually working in that field.

Tyger, Tyger is the exciting first book in the Goblin War series by Kerstan Hamilton. High school teenage angst of the 21st century is entwined with primordial struggles between goblins and humankind  of Irish/Celtic mythology.   Danger and excitement build as Teagan learns about her mother’s true identity and the role she is thrown into in order to protect her younger brother and rescue her father.  The tension between Teagan and Finn, the handsome McCumhaill of the Irish Travellers, makes for page turning interest in this fast-moving, imaginative sprint through Mag Mell, the world between worlds. The fierce, dark power of unknown forces of evil and the persistence of ancient curses that survive through time make this life and death struggle more vital than which college Teagan may choose to attend or expectations of her employer. Fantasy readers will love it and those who normally don’t choose fantasy will be happily surprised with how the story carries you away.