Editorial Review
SLJ Review of Who We Are
This series shatters stereotypes about minority groups in America. The writers trace the historical roots of each community to their contemporary unique group identity. But no community is treated as homogenous. Readers will learn about the many Native American tribes and the different traditions and customs that developed over their histories. They will learn about the many ethnic groups lumped together under the umbrella term ‘Asian American.’ This series challenges the textbook history students are taught by removing the European focus of the story. Unfortunately, many pages are walls of text spaced very close together. While some are broken up with large photos, text boxes, and colored circles containing quotes, it still puts a lot of strain on the eye and will turn off some readers. Each book includes statistics about the population, extensive source notes, recommended websites, and an index. VERDICT This series provides excellent research material and can serve as a companion text to traditional textbooks, but the format needs work.