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Title: Sanitized
Review: This non-fiction title will be useful to middle school and high school students seeking a quick homework reference for direct plagiarsm. It briefly reviews the lives of six famous American gangsters, and includes a general, sanitized history of gangs in America. For example, the mafia's cooperation with the FBI during World War II is described, but no detail is given regarding what price the American government paid in trade for that assistance and cooperation. Vocabulary is relatively sophisticated for young adult readers, and there is no glossary in the back of the book. The author does cite sources, many of which come from another title, called BLOODLETTERS AND BAD MEN, a much more graphic book with a lot more information that would actually appeal more to the same readers. However, GANGSTERS will pass the public school review boards and BLOODLETTERS probably would not. Woog's book does include an index and bibliography.
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