Growing Up in Mexico

November 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Teens will find relatable information about the lives of their global peers in this set. Each book opens with an "At a Glance" overview of the nation, followed by chapters that discuss the roles of young people with regard to family, school, work, social scenes, and religion. The authors openly discuss both the prospects and the challenges that adolescents face. Thought-provoking quotes from teens who live in and/or visit each country may help U.S. readers gain some perspective in their own lives. Topics include school pressure, family and societal responsibilities, sexuality, and gender roles, including political and cultural attitudes toward LGBTQ youth. While much of the series is refreshing, there are a few instances of questionable source material (quotes from the Daily Mail in Mexico), and in Canada there are just a handful of mentions of the First Nations, the largest being in reference to suicide. VERDICT This series will draw an audience beyond report writers and bears consideration.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2018
Grades 7-12 Students will be well served by this informative entry in the Growing Up around the World series, particularly if a research project is on the syllabus. Over the course of five chapters, readers will be briefly introduced to Mexico's history and geography, its people's values and culture, and contemporary life, including school, work, and socializing. An opening Mexico at a Glance spread features a map, flag, and basic statistics chart (e.g., youth population, religion, language) to help readers orient themselves before diving into more detailed information. Readers will be struck by how young Mexico's population is: roughly half of its people are under 20, which leads to problems like overcrowded classrooms and job scarcity. They will also appreciate the strong importance family has in all aspects of Mexican life. Numerous inset text boxes draw attention to important topics, such as the drug trade and Mexico's indigenous people, but Sheen is careful to include the underlying issues in play. The up-to-date statistics, quotes from citizens, balanced writing, and thorough citations make this a solid addition to library collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)