The large-format books in the “Turning Points” series offer introductions to a variety of subjects regarded by the publisher as “watershed events.” Writing in a polished, journalistic style, the authors organize information logically and present viewpoints effectively. Paragraph-long sidebars highlight facts, issues, and related topics. More than half the space in each volume is devoted to the large, glossy photos, which illustrate the text effectively. The Extreme Climate discusses the history of meteorology and the more recent study of climatology, notes evidence leading to the scientific community’s consensus on climate change, and provides advice on disaster-survival planning. The Human Genome traces the history of related research and discovery, from Mendel’s experiments to Crick and Watson (with a nod to Rosalind Franklin) through the Human Genome Project and its continuing impact on the field of medicine. The Hunt for Osama bin Laden provides information about bin Laden’s life before the 9/11 attacks as well as the search for the al Qaeda leader, which ended with his death in Pakistan nearly a decade later. In addition to giving a broad, historical perspective, The Refugee Crisis introduces many individuals who have fled from life-threatening situations in their homelands and sought asylum elsewhere. Recommended for libraries seeking visually attractive books providing competent overviews of pivotal events in history and today’s world.
–Carolyn Phelan, Booklist , 10/15/2019
The weighty topics presented in this series are tied together by the idea that the advances, achievements, and ideas explored represent significant turning points in history. The accounts look at events leading up to these moments, the people involved, the intricacies of the issues, as well as the impact, aftermath, and continued challenges. Densely packed and filled with names, dates, places, and brief overviews of very large issues and ideas, these volumes are almost too much to digest for anyone other than the serious researcher. Sidebars look at specific events and ideas (America’s deadliest hurricane, Saddam Hussein’s rise to power, and Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian refugees). Full-color photographs at times enhance the text but at other times feel like filler. The standout title is the timely and comprehensive look at the refugee crisis. A supplemental choice for larger nonfiction collections.
–Amanda MacGregor, School Library Journal , 11/1/2019
