Named one of Booklist's 10 best series for 2004
This series delivers information in an unusual way, using the results of Gallup
polls as a springboard to exploring teen attitudes and behaviors. Topics such
as race, sex, values, and religion are explored in the context of statistical
evidence.
--Booklist, on the Gallup Youth Survey series
These titles are based on the findings of the Gallup Youth Survey (a 20-year
ongoing survey of teens) and disseminate what today's young people think about
themselves, their peers, and the world around them. These books present compelling
data. Each volume opens with an introduction by George Gallup, who addresses
the fact that there will be more than 30 million teenagers in 2006, the largest
number since 1975.
The format is visually appealing with a large font size
and color pictures and tables and graphs illustrating key points and reflecting
the data gathered by the poll on what teens think about each issue. Hernández
discusses attitudes toward parents, how divorce changes family relationships,
dating the opposite sex (with a separate chapter on interracial and 
interfaith
relationships), and friendship. . . . Marcovitz addresses the challenges affecting
gay teens (like the decision to come out and homophobia in schools), as well
as larger gay issues like the nature vs. nurture debate regarding whether sexual
orientation is by choice or genetically assigned and recent controversies over
gay marriage and adoption of children by gay and lesbian couples.
Volunteerism covers the gamut of issues surrounding the topic, focusing on mandatory vs.
optional community service in high school and college, military service, political
community service, and activism. All of the books are well documented. This
attention to detail makes them solid additions to libraries, particularly those
with active debate or speech units in their curriculum.
--Courtney Lewis, Wyoming
Seminary College Preparatory School, Kingston, PA, for School Library Journal
on Teens and Relationships, Teens and Gay Issues and Teens and Volunteerism