This entry in the middle-grade, research-friendly Advances in Medicine series offers students and report writers some very helpful insights on how pain happens anatomically and on pain medications and treatments, including both Western and alternative medicines, such as acupuncture. The engaging conversational tone is sensitive to its intended audience, and crisp, clear color images break up the potentially dense text. But not a word is wasted, and Colligan makes great use of tables, such as a thorough comparison of pain drugs; sidebars, which explore such unusual facts as high pain tolerance in redheads; and accessible case studies. The information is up-to-date enough to discuss such contemporary issues as the use of video-game technology in pain relief and inclusive enough to regularly warn readers to seek adult help before undertaking self-medication for pain. In addition to being a helpful homework volume, this might be offered to youth with friends or siblings who suffer from such painful conditions as scoliosis or cancer.

COLLIGAN, L. H. Pain Treatments . ISBN 978-1-60870-468-2 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-596-2 . LC 2010042492. ELLIS, Carol . Vaccines . ISBN 978-1-60870-470-5 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-597-9 . LC 2010044011. LEW, Kristi . Antibiotics . ISBN 978-1-60870-465-1 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-593-1 . LC 2010044009. WOUK, Henry . Organ Transplants . ISBN 978-1-60870-467-5 ; ISBN 978-1-60870-595-5 . LC 2010042491. ea vol: 64p. (Advances in Medicine Series). chart. diag. further reading. glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. Cavendish Square . 2013. lib. ed. $34.21; ebk. $34.21. Gr 6-9 These utilitarian surveys offer relatively extended but nontechnical accounts of our developing understanding of various physical maladies and the most effective ways to treat them. The focus throughout is on "mainstream" medicine; acupuncture and other alternative strategies are mentioned-particularly in Pain Treatments -but generally in ambivalent or dismissive ways. Each volume includes discussions of current issues (e.g., the ominous rise of drug-resistant bacteria) and ends with general but tantalizing looks at future innovations, such as the possibility of a vaccine to prevent cocaine addiction. On the other hand, many of the books cited in the closing resource lists are several years old, and the photos are, by and large, sparse space fillers.