This book takes a largely nonjudgmental tone describing the reasons teens and adults permanently alter their bodies. It covers information that teens will want to repeat and share, crammed with facts, anecdotes, and research studies.

Gr 8 Up¿These books are well written, well researched, and engaging. Reluctant readers will be drawn in by the snappy, funny sidebars and clear photos, which are gorgeous and, at times, gory. Some students will be intrigued and others will be repulsed by images of flesh-eating diseases. The authors take a largely nonjudgmental tone as they describe the reasons teens and adults permanently alter their bodies. This series is nothing if not surprising and refreshing, with each page packed with information that teens will want to repeat and share. Crammed with facts, anecdotes, and research studies, all of which are referenced, this set explores the complexity of a topic that might seem narrow at first glance.

Piercing the body to wear jewelry is an ancient practice that has grown in popularity and acceptance in recent years. Today, people of all ages have embraced piercing, along with tattoos and other forms of body modification, as a way to express themselves. Piercing isn't just for ears anymore; noses, lips, eyebrows, navels, hands, tongues, and other body parts are all fair game. With captivating photographs, this dramatic book helps readers consider the cost and benefit of body piercing, as well as safety and health issues.

The series provides quality, balanced, and accessible information on a very high interest topic. Each title discusses the topic from an historical and/or cultural context as well as discussing the practices from psychological and personal health points of view. The books include photos as well as many personal stories which personalize the factual information. The books are not didactic which students will appreciate, but provide pros and cons. The writing is conversational though the content and vocabulary makes it a high school selection. Titles include a further reading section, making them good for research as well as interest reading. For schools with ¿i-search¿ projects, this will be a great addition.

Say "body modifications" and most people think of tattoos and piercings. They associate these mainly with the urban primitives of the 1980s to today and with primitive tribes. In fact, as this fascinating book shows, body mods have been on the scene since ancient times, traceable as far back as 1.5 million years, and they also encompass sacrification, branding, and implants. Professor John Rush outlines the processes and procedures of these radical physical alterations, showing their function as rites of passage, group identifiers, and mechanisms of social control. He explores the use of pain for spiritual purposes, such as purging sin and guilt, and examines the phenomenon of accidental cuts and punctures as individual events with sometimes profound implications for group survival. Spiritual Tattoo finds a remarkable consistency in body modifications from prehistory to the present, suggesting the importance of the body as a sacred geography from both social and psychological points of view.

Discusses the history of various forms of body marking, current popularity of body piercing and tattoos, how and why these are done, and some things to think about before choosing to be pierced or tattooed.