Gambling Addiction

April 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-This well-organized, informative textbooklike set presents information about five common types of addiction and asks readers to examine sources, analyze data, and come to conclusions about the seriousness of the addictions discussed and how they impact peoples' lives and relationships. Well-chosen quotes from primary sources are presented, as well as cited research, graphs, tables, and data charts. This particular series will be valuable to students doing research, though the tone is on the dry side. VERDICT Purchase as needed.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 6-9 Until recently gambling was seen as a moral failure rather than an addiction. This informative (if sometimes repetitive) title in the Compact Research: Addictions series explains the evolution in thinking about gambling, as well its hallmark signs. An overview, which hits many of the key points, is followed by chapters that look at why people become addicted, the costs involved, and how to overcome gambling addiction (with resources provided for those who need help). The book dispels the commonly held notion that gamblers are interested in a big payout; mostly they are looking to get in the zone and experience the high that comes with playing these games. The book is peppered with charts, graphs, and primary-source quotations, and will strike a chord with kids who have gambling issues in their familyor may be gambling themselves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)