AIDS

This thorough work focuses on the history of HIV; its transmission, diagnosis and treatment; and the cultural impact of the disease. Detailed, technical language (mostly, though not always, included in the glossary) is used to explain the virus, the workings of the human immune system, and epidemiology as related to AIDS. Bell (Harvard Medical Sch.) and resident physicians Courtney L. McMickens and Kevin Selby begin each of the ten chapters (e.g., "HIV Around the World," "How Does HIV Affect the Body?") with five to ten questions that will focus readers' attention on the information presented within that section. "My Story" offers the perspectives of three patients, effectively humanizing the impact of the condition, and the final chapter briefly discusses what readers can do to help. Informative, black-and-white graphs, charts, and diagrams explicate the text, which is also complemented by a few black-and-white photos. An index and an extensive list of recommended readings are also included. BOTTOM LINE This work, with its textbooklike feel, is best suited for an audience with a somewhat sophisticated scientific background.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley H.S., Lancaster, PA