Eleven noted authors of nonfiction for young adults provide essays examining facets of life in the twentieth century, taking a look at science fiction predictionsin 1900, transportation, sports, women and civil rights.While chronological history provides a framework for looking at history, tthese essays add flesh and bon and a perspective.

If you are ever curious about how it feels to be a fat female in America then you must read this book. It is the fourth in a series of books which outline the trials and tribulations that an overweight teenage girl suffers, e.g. tauntings by her peers, feeling friendless and endlessly counting calories and dieting. In this book, Glenda, the overweight teenager, strikes up a friendship with another obese female and they decide to enlist Glenda in the wonderful world of plus size modeling. There are many humorous scenes involving Glenda's debut as a runway model(in one mishap she manages to bump into a skinny model and almost knock her into the front row of the audience) and the author inserts some incisive commentaries on how cruel and superficial many American teenagers and adults can be when the issue concerns someone's appearance and weight.