At Issue Series - Single Parent Families (hardcover edition) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1565105443 ISBN 13: 9781565105447

Publisher: Greenhaven Press, 1996

Synopsis

The number of single-parent families -- mostly headed by women -- has risen rapidly. Some studies indicate that fatherless children are particularly susceptible to problems such as drug abuse, crime and teenage pregnancy.

About this title

Review:

"The topic is intriguing, and the generally vehement tome of the selections provides much for students to ponder and debate."
-- Booklist (Febraury 2003) (Booklist 20030201)

"This book is great for debate material or as a writing prompt for persuasive essays. This collection is for mature readers with the critical-thinking skills needed to understand and evaluate the materials."
-- School Library Journal (August 2002) (School Library Journal 20020801)

"The book should prove useful for research papers or debates. This is a reasoned and relatively neutral treatment."
-- School Library Journal (July 2002) (School Library Journal 20020701)

"Contributors include doctors, psychiatrists, and members of activist groups...Arguments, which are accompanied by references are well presented and occasionally quite riveting. Lots of opinion and information worth further examination."
-- Booklist (June 2002) (Booklist 20020615)

"A wealth of diagrams and illustrations helps clarify the procedures and principles essential to understanding the discussions."
-- School Library Journal (June 2002) (School Library Journal 20020601)

"Throughout this text keeps arguments even-tempered, information straightforward, and details unsensationalized."
-- Booklist (May 2002) (Booklist 20020515)

"Greenhaven's anthologies provide pertinent, original source material for researchers who are interested in varied perpectives on controversial topics. Most middle and high school libraries have books in their collections that deal with these issues, but few do so in such a clearly differentiatied, balanced manner. These slim volumes...complement and balance books that purport to deal with the topics in general or that present only one viewpoint. Recommended."
-- The Book Report (March-April 2002) (Book Report 20020401)

"Among the books many strengths is its inclusion of diverse, opinionated essayists who come from many professions and have varying expertise."
-- Booklist (April 2001) (Booklist 20010401)

"For readers who prefer to know both sides of a perspective, Greenhaven Press presents a new series - At Issue. Experts offer their opinions on controversial subjects facing our society today. The At Issue series is for the discerning reader. If you want to be well versed and understanding on a specific topic, this series will open your mind on the many sides of an issue."
-- Eclectic Book Reviews (January-April 2001) (UNKNOWN 20010401)

"Collection of starkly personal essays...First person accounts then take readers on some startling and intimate journeys. A few essays are more analytical...Some are impassioned views...In all cases, the writers include vivid details and some eye-opening viewpoints."
-- Booklist (March 2001) (Booklist 20010315)

From School Library Journal:

Gr 9 Up--Adolescents exploring the pros and cons of single-parent families will find this book helpful in many respects. The articles on both sides of the issue are convincing and contain informative statistics and other relevant data. Most of the selections are current and make their points concisely. A list of organizations to contact and a bibliography can take students well beyond the opinions and factual information stated in the articles. However, the book also has some problems that detract from its usefulness. Although the number of articles on both sides of the issue are equal, nearly two-thirds of the book's pages are devoted to the arguments against single-parent families. In addition, the articles selected to support single-parent families do so by refuting the anti-single-family arguments. None of the articles is devoted solely to the positive aspects of single-parent families. Finally, most of the articles focus on unwed mothers, poverty, illegitimacy, and crime. Adults who remain single by choice are given only scant consideration, and nowhere is there a mention of single-parent families headed by men. Although this book is an acceptable and helpful place to start research on the subject, its coverage of the issue is not entirely balanced or inclusive.

Marilyn (Makowski) Heath, Greenwood High School, SC

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenhaven Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1565105443
• ISBN 13: 9781565105447
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 110
• Editor: Swisher Karin L., Leone Bruno, Barbour Scott