Reviews

These books examine the technical aspects of each career rather than focusing on how young people can pursue opportunities in the field. The texts are approachable, and the authors make the most of the subject matter in terms of writing style. A major drawback, though, is that each volume devotes a great deal of attention to the specifics of select movies to describe just how a scene is shot or a script is crafted. Not until the final chapter do readers get an idea of what might be involved in getting started on a career path. Animation has only a sidebar on anime, a subject of growing interest over the last several years. The books also skimp on film stills and illustrations, a curiosity given the topics. These titles should appeal to movie and animation enthusiasts, but only as background information and not career guidance. Marlys H. Johnson's Careers in the Movies (Rosen, 2001) is a better choice for the latter., School Library Journal August 2007