Substance Abuse

November 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Readers looking to develop a basic understanding of these topics will be well served by these volumes, even though neither author goes into much depth on any specific area. The books consist of a combination of personal stories, statistics and recent studies, and a discussion of the cultural/societal perception and treatment of the topic. LGBTQ Families is written by a straight ally rather than an LGBTQ parent or the child of an LGBTQ parent, which may be a drawback for some readers looking for more of an "insider glimpse." However, excellent sections on becoming a straight ally and LGBTQ activist may not have been as strong without the benefit of that particular point of view. Some of the personal stories in Substance Abuse are extremely detailed, and while this can be a powerful mechanism for teaching about the seriousness of the issue, sensitive readers may find the content hard to accept. As research materials for students, these books provide clearly presented and easily digestible information useful for establishing a solid knowledge base.-Nora G. Murphy, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, LaCanada-Flintridge, CA

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