This collection of 69 thought-provoking short essays and stories engages students in active reading, thinking, discussion, and writing. As its title implies, the text' s eight thematic units present diverse viewpoints on timely issues such as "trauma" TV, homelessness, and the V-chip. Two chapters on reading and writing, extensive pedagogy throughout, plus paired selections in each chapter provide further direction for reading, analyzing, thinking, and writing activities. In addition, "On the ' Net activities promote use of the Internet for research and writing, and student essays act as attainable models.