The Force of Law

November 1, 2010

Gr 10 Up-These books have a Canadian focus. Steven makes a strong case for the power of the news media to shape our thinking about national and world events. What is presented and how it is described is often influenced by the corporations that own the media, the advertisers, or, in some countries, the government. The author encourages readers to be alert to these allegiances and come to their own conclusions based on the facts given. He stresses the need for ethical journalists to question their choice of stories and how to write them and explains that citizen "journalists" now add to the information pool by posting on blogs, Wikinews, YouTube, and Twitter. Valverde challenges our assumptions about the rule of law and the reality of what police really spend their time doing. According to her, they maintain order and use violence when deemed necessary. It is important that the rule of law is based on accountability. Citizen oversight should be utilized to ensure that law-enforcement practices promote democracy. The history of British law is described in greater detail than U.S. law. Both titles have a sociological approach, but no charts or illustrations, and readers are left wanting more examples regarding complaints about the limitation of the news and the need to improve local police protection.-Peggy Fleming, formerly at Churchville-Chili High School, Churchville, NY

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