Inside the Cotton Industry

Gr 9 Up—An absorbing, thorough look at the production of commonly used natural resources and their by-products. Economic, legislative, and environmental factors as well as new technologies and the future of each enterprise are also presented. World history plays a large albeit unexpected role, too, as each volume presents an intriguing look at significant historical events that have shaped each product. However, in Cotton, the text suffers from a few hiccups, for instance, conflating the word slave with worker ("bringing over workers from Africa was less expensive"). Visuals are relevant and well placed, consisting mainly of photos or archival drawings. A global production map in the back matter reinforces the international nature of these businesses. An essential facts section, which includes historical impact, statistics, and figures, also furthers the set's merit.