Ages 10-14.

The “Places in Peril” issues takes readers to fascinating sites from glaciers and coral reefs to the Taj Mahal and Timbuktu. The articles help readers to understand the various mechanisms at play in threatening the sites, such as pollution, tourism, global warming, development, and wars.

The articles encourage readers to consider multiple points of views. Some people want to industrialize areas near these sites to create jobs; others worry about the effect pollution and development will have people’s health, and the loss of a spiritually significant landmarks. The articles evaluate the effectiveness of current and proposed conservation efforts. The accompanying photographs are captivating, whether they are of expansive landscapes or closeups of turtles and tourists.

The magazine provides several opportunities, with parental permission, for readers to actively engage with the content. A content challenges readers to create a poster that inspires action on conservation. The guidelines encourage critical thinking by asking readers to consider purpose, audience, and visual composition. Other features include captioning contests, book reviews by youth readers, and excerpts from pen pal correspondents.

Many middle schoolers will want to take action after learning about the potentially dire fates of these amazing sites around the globe. Recommended. ( )