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UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING AIDS: A Guide for Young People by Warren Colman

UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING AIDS: A Guide for Young People

By

Pub Date: March 31st, 1988
Publisher: Childrens Press

An AV specialist who has prepared other materials on the subject defines the present status of the battle against AIDS. First, history--the African connection, the initial appearance in the gay population here, rumors: ""Perhaps no one will ever know for certain how AIDS got started""--and it may not matter, Colman concludes. His presentation is scientific, statistically thorough, and up-to-date. Individual stories and question-answer chapters convey invaluable information that teens may not be aware of: you can't tell by looking; the virus inactive in a partner can become active in you; don't share razor blades. This is a caring, daring treatment that discourages sexual involvement (""most experts believe that teens really aren't emotionally ready for a deep, committed relationship--the kind [that] should accompany sex"") yet gives instructions on using condoms. The color medical photos are sometimes grisly--a closeup of Karposi's sarcoma, a sad portrait of a hospital boarder baby, a microscopic view of AIDS. Unique feature: accounts of plagues in other eras. A mature, technically informative yet compassionate overview, taking account of rapid change in its subject. List of organizations and hotlines; bibliography. First-class.