Diseases and Disorders Set

Grade 5–9—Covering more than 300 conditions, the alphabetically arranged articles in this survey were all written by medical professionals with younger readers in mind. The articles include both overviews ("Dental and oral cavity disorders," for instance) and entries on specific illnesses identified as infectious, noninfectious, or mental. Each one opens with a simple definition, closes with cross-references, and in between offers basic information about causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and (where relevant) prevention—along with boxed "key facts" and, usually, at least one informative color photograph or graphic. Each volume ends with its own index; volume three includes not only a comprehensive index but also several subject ones, including one of treatments and procedures, plus selective lists of hotlines and print and Web resources. Specific terminology is used where appropriate but usually defined in context, and in general the language is light on medical jargon. Falling in scope and level of detail somewhere between David E. Newton's Sick! (Gale, 2000) and Jacqueline L. Longe's comprehensive The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2006), this work will be useful for assignments and for general background reading.— John Peters, New York Public Library
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