UXL Newsmakers (6 Volume Set)
Volumes 1-4
Board book: 896 pages
Publisher: U·X·L; 1 edition (November 12, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0787691895
ISBN-13: 978-0787691899
Volumes 5&6
Hardcover: 488 pages
Publisher: U·X·L; 1 edition (November 18, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414401558
ISBN-13: 978-1414401553
From Booklist
Who are the headliners who interest youth? Identifying them is the goal of this set from Gale’s middle-school line. One hundred biographies deal with newsworthy figures in art and design, business, entertainment, government, music, science, social issues, sports, and writing. However, the specific criteria for inclusion are not given (although they can be surmised).
Most figures are from the U.S. but other countries are represented (for example, there are entries for Saddam Hussein, Indra Nooyi, and Yao Ming). The broad professional categories overlap, so Beyonce, for example, is found under both entertainment and music; Arnold Schwarzenegger is listed under entertainment and government. Entertainers make up the largest percentage of biographies; only five people are listed under social issues, and eight are government related. Many of the entries cover young newsmakers (e.g., 50 Cent, Hilary Duff, Serena Williams), but older figures, such as Frank Gehry and Walter Dean Myers, are included for their current accomplishments. The ensemble cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy also has an entry.
Each volume begins with a complete list of biographies and a list by “field of endeavor” and concludes with a set index (with some errors). Articles range from six to eight pages and include personal and professional information and a short bibliography of print and Web sources. Most also have one or two black-and-white photos. Details are not exhaustive (no mention is made of Hugh Jackman’s stint in Oklahoma! for instance), but the benchmarks are noted, and interesting tidbits, such as Sofia Coppola’s venture into fashion designing, keep the reader’s attention. Sidebar information also accompanies about a third of the entries. Writing is clear and accessible; the general tone is very supportive.
Other biography resources exist for youth, such as Omnigraphics’ Biography Today series. However, this set includes an interesting variety of known faces, which should attract middle-schoolers in particular. Lesley Farmer
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“Newsmakers are defined as persons making headlines and the 100 persons in these four volumes represent art/design (6 entries), business (15), entertainment (33, including a composite of the five gay men on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”), government (8) and music (12). The discrepancy in the total is due to persons with entries in two categories, such as Eisner who is found in both business and entertainment, and two names together, such as Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The editors have been careful to include representation by gender and race. The text is easy to read and the names dropped in every entry will expand interest of middle and high school students. Entries include a black-and-white photo, birth date and place, and occupation. The four to seven pages of text include other photos, a quote, sidebars and insert boxes with additional information. Articles end with suggestions for more information.
This would be an interesting purchase because of its ability to widen student interest, e.g., a great language arts/social studies joint project might ask students to add 100 names to these categories, creating the articles, selecting photographs and suitable quotes.”
–Reviewed by Blanche Woolls,Oneota Reading Journal, October 2005 (Doody Enterprises)
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