These "unauthorized rockographies" are good starting points for rock-and-roll researchers (though they should take the super-stoked narration with a grain of salt). Each volume provides detailed descriptions of the title band's members, history, and career highs and lows. Clean design, including many photographs, makes the information easy to follow; photo captions tend to repeat rather than extend the texts. Discographies are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

BOWE, Brian J. The Ramones: American Punk Rock Band . 128p. ISBN 978-0-7660-3233-0 ; ISBN 978-1-59845-213-6 . LC 2008040362. BURLINGAME, Jeff . Aerosmith: Hard Rock Superstars . 112p. ISBN 978-0-7660-3236-1 ; ISBN 978-1-59845-210-5 . LC 2009006469. ea vol: (Rebels of Rock Series). photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. discography. Web sites. CIP. Enslow . 2010. PLB $31.93; pap. $9.95. Gr 7 Up Avid fans of rock music will find these titles appealing, entertaining, and enlightening. Each book begins with a brief introduction to the band through an account of a major musical event. Subsequent chapters include short biographies of the various band members. Black Sabbath musicians grew up in Birmingham, England, and came from poor working-class families. The Ramones were not related, although they all lived in the same apartment complex in Queens, New York. Aerosmith formed more by chance and the group members always seemed at odds with one another. Direct quotes add life to the well-written and lively narratives, communicating dramatic highs and lows, tensions, disagreements, and personnel changes, as well as drug use, alcohol, and personal relationships. Descriptions and analyses of the music and albums offer insight into the impact each band had on today's rock music. These volumes are attractively formatted with black and gray silhouettes of concertgoers running along the bottom edges of the pages and have copious color photos of the performers in action. Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE