SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Quick Guide to Evaluating Information Online
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Poway
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 396
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born February 10, 1955, in Waterloo, IA; son of Henry Wallace (a machinist) and Marcella Rose (a switchboard operator) Steffens; married Bonnie Rose Szumski (an editor), July 5, 1980 (marriage ended); children: Ezekiel, Tessa Rose.
EDUCATION:Attended Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), 1973-74.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Copywriter and writer. Deluxe Check Printers, Inc., St. Paul, MN, copywriter, 1982-87; Gelbach Lee, St. Paul, copywriter, 1987-88; Mitchell International, San Diego, CA, copywriter, 1989-94. San Diego Book Awards Association, member of board and chairperson, 2000, president, 2004—.
AVOCATIONS:Racquetball, golf, aerobics.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS:Contemporary Writers Series awards, Depot Arts Center (Duluth, MN), 1985, 1987; winner of Emerging Voices competition, The Loft (Minneapolis, MN), 1987; poetry prizes from Artemis, New Worlds Unlimited, St. Paul Chapter of American Association of University Women, and White Bears Arts Council.
RELIGION: Lutheran.WRITINGS
Contributor of poetry to periodicals, including Bellingham Review, Bellowing Ark, Crosscurrents, Loonfeather, and Stone Country. Contributor of commentaries and opinion pieces to periodicals, including Discovery Channel Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Minnesota Literature, QScience Review, and San Diego Writer’s Monthly.
SIDELIGHTS
A former copywriter who also authored plays early in his career, Bradley Steffens has penned scores of nonfiction titles for young readers. His books range from an analysis of John Steinbeck’s well-known novel Of Mice and Men and biographies of Emily Dickinson and Jesse Jackson to discussions of important contemporary issues. He examines weighty topics including addiction, suicide, torture, genocide, nuclear arms, and gun control; cultural phenomena like social media and e-sports; and essential sociological and political issues like privacy, policing, and freedom of speech.
Cartoonists, which Steffens coauthored with Robyn M. Weaver, is part of Lucent’s “History Makers” series. The book begins by providing readers with an in-depth history of cartoon art that includes discussions of the work of six high-profile artists: Charles Schulz, Chuck Jones, Garry Trudeau, Cathy Guisewite, Matt Groening, and Scott Adams. “The writing is clear, unbiased, and interesting,” commented Linda Wadleigh in School Library Journal, adding that Cartoonists will likely inspire young readers to search out the works of “some of their favorite cartoonists.”
Steffens also wrote Cyclops and The Loch Ness Monster, which are designed to appeal particularly to middle-grade reluctant readers. The books seek to educate readers on the mythology and history surrounding the origins of legendary creatures and their impact on human society. Ginny Gustin praised the books as “clearly written and contain[ing] fascinating information that will satisfy both casual browsers and serious report writers.” A monster of a different sort is the focus of The Trial of Charles Manson: California Cult Murders, which Steffens coauthored with Craig L. Staples. This examination of one of the most high-profile murder cases of the twentieth century—the Tate/LaBianca murders of 1969—includes trial excerpts, photographs, and a backdrop to the crime, victims, and murderers in a volume that School Library Journal reviewer Tracy Ansley cited as “useful to students writing reports as well as those interested in famous cases.”
Steffens contributed Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Terror to the “Real-World STEM” series. Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Terror covers the immediate danger that nuclear weapons pose to the planet and humanity. It also places nuclear weapons in a historical context. Steffens shares how this threat can be removed by focusing on general plans and also country-specific approaches among nuclear powers. Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Katherine Noone pointed out that the “series provides clear, useful analyses of world problems confronting today’s engineers and offers possible solutions. Although slim, the attractively designed volumes are comprehensive and well researched.” Booklist contributor Sharon Rawlins insisted that “this accessible book will be highly useful for reports.”
In Gun Violence and Mass Shootings, Steffens examines the history of mass shootings and gun violence in the United States in reverse chronological order. Starting with the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, he shows how teens have lent a collective voice to the importance of legislating gun controls in the country by focusing more on the weapons available rather than the perpetrators. The book also wades into the national firearms debate and its origins as rooted in the nation’s founding. Steffens illustrates the role that individuals, organizations, and institutions have played in shaping this debate. Writing in School Library Journal, Alicia Abdul found it to be “a timely introduction to the epidemic of gun violence.”
Steffens published Policing as part of the “Threats to Civil Liberties” series. The book focuses on several specific police procedures and the court proceedings directed in response to them that changed the legal boundaries of policing in the United States. Steffens then turns his attention to the imbalance in police targeting racial and other minorities. Booklist contributor Jessica Anne Bratt assessed the book to be “a solid look into the complicated workings of policing and court rulings.”
In The Suicide Epidemic, Steffens highlights the severity of increasing numbers of suicides across all demographics in the United States. The account covers the range of causes and the resulting impacts. Personal anecdotes are employed to offer a human perspective to the statistics. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that the insertion “of affecting personal stories and tangential boxed inserts does help break the numbing effect of the constant barrage of dire statistics.”
Thinking Critically: Genetic Testing and Research considers the ethics of genetic engineering, looking at the medical benefits weighed against the potential risk to privacy. Booklist contributor Angela Leeper labeled Thinking Critically: Genetic Testing and Research “a solid choice for analyzing today’s society.” In a review in Voice of Youth Advocates, Courtney M. Munday observed that “the text depicts current and reliable research using visually appealing pictographs.”
In J. Cole, Steffens presents a biography of rapper J. Cole in the “Giants of Rap and Hiphop” series. The book begins with his childhood and explores how his biracial heritage impacted his career. Booklist contributor Ronny Khuri called J. Cole “an inspiring account for young artists, especially of hip-hop.”
With Esports and the New Gaming Culture, Steffens chronicles professional video gaming and the competitive nature of contemporary gaming at a higher level. The book covers gaming genres, gaming lifestyles through individual gamer profiles, the act of creating e-sporting teams, and the practical benefits of video gaming. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that the book offers “a jumping-off point for interested readers.”
Steffens stayed on top of the trends in the 2020s when he wrote several books on the dangers of devices and social media, including Social Media Deception, The Dark Side of Social Media, Screen Addiction: A Teen Epidemic, and Thinking Critically: Social Media. In The Dark Side of Social Media, he covers how social media is addictive and how it easily propagates disinformation, hate speech, and cyberbullying. Praising the book as “brief yet richly informative” and “engaging to read,” a Kirkus Reviews contributor declared that it “addresses critical issues concisely and thoroughly.” In Screen Addiction, Steffens writes about the dangers of teenagers spending hours every day on their devices. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, the book describes six signs of behavioral addiction and how those apply to teenagers using their phones and computers, then offers some advice on overcoming that addiction. In Kirkus Reviews, the reviewer called it “a concise and reader-friendly guide” that “explains how to recognize (and avoid) the pitfalls of the online world.”
[open new]Steffens returns to a favored topic for a fresh look in Free Speech: Should There Be Limits? Starting with discussion of a 2017 court case about a school’s right to expel students for off-campus, online hate speech, the volume takes readers through a series of topics concerning rightful limitations on free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. An overview of various doctrines leads into questions about schools’ jurisdiction, false information, hate speech, and government leaks, with court cases setting precedents and facing challenges. Appreciating how “each scenario leads readers to a deeper understanding” of realities as well as uncertainties surrounding the topic, a Kirkus Reviews writer hailed Free Speech as a “balanced, practical introduction to constitutional law and the thorny subject of free speech.”
With The Rise of Anime and Manga: From Japanese Art Form to Global Phenomenon, Steffen provides a comprehensive treatment of one of the most popular aesthetic movements of the twenty-first century. Originating in traditional Buddhist scrolls, taking inspiration from distinctly stylized Noh theater, and reflecting Japanese values and history, manga comics and anime films have captured the imaginations of youths and storytelling aficionados around the world. Steffens details the forms’ history, offers interesting facts about creators and pivotal moments, and celebrates the fan alliances that attest to the forms’ power to foster community. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that “this fun read features concise chapters that contribute to a quick pace as it moves seamlessly from one major topic” to another and proves “informative and entertaining.”
Helping teens navigate the digital world with caution is Steffens’s Quick Guide to Evaluating Information Online. Given the ways that lies, libel, and disinformation can be harmful to individuals, societies, and governments alike, Steffens sets about explaining the sorts of falsehoods that can be spread online, including through bots, whether owing to ill will, desire for power, or the profit motive. AI itself might help combat deepfakes and other AI creations that cause instability and insecurity, but meanwhile Steffens offers helpful tips about financial scams, romance scams, catfishing, and sextortion, with side discussions on cognitive bias, echo chambers, and media watchdogs. A Kirkus Reviews writer hailed the guide as “concise but thorough,” as “specific advice and meaningful context make this a strong introduction to online safety.”[close new]
Steffens once told SATA: “I first thought about being a writer in eleventh grade. My creative writing teacher, James Malone, told our class to write something about the automobile culture of Los Angeles, where we lived. It could be anything, Malone said—an essay, a poem, a short story, the first chapter of a novel. Wanting to avoid homework, I dashed off a twenty-line poem in class and turned it in. The next day, Malone sat on the corner of his desk with a piece of paper in his hand. ‘Someone has turned in the first assignment,’ he said, ‘and I want to share it with you.’ He began to read my poem aloud. A trained actor, he read with sensitivity and passion. When he finished, the room was silent. He looked up from the page. ‘That, boys and girls, is poetry,’ he said. He walked over to my desk and laid the paper in front of me. ‘Publish it this semester, and I’ll give you an “A” in the course,’ he promised. ‘You won’t have to do another thing.’
“That morning changed my life. I changed my high school major. I changed the college I planned to attend. I began to write in earnest. I sent the poem out, and kept sending it out after it was rejected. Two years later, that poem, ‘Automobile,’ was accepted by the editor of River Bottom, a small literary journal published in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After that, I never considered doing anything but writing.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 15, 1995, Merri Monks, review of The Loch Ness Monster, p. 1074; February 15, 1996, Hazel Rochman, review of Censorship, p. 1004; October 1, 2017, Sharon Rawlins, review of Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Terror, p. 46; October 1, 2018, Jessica Anne Bratt, review of Threats to Civil Liberties: Policing, p. 46; August 1, 2019, Angela Leeper, review of Thinking Critically: Fossil Fuels and Thinking Critically: Genetic Testing and Research, p. 58; April 1, 2020, Ronny Khuri, review of J. Cole, p. 56.
Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2019, review of The Suicide Epidemic; September 1, 2020, review of Esports and the New Gaming Culture; July 1, 2023, review of The Rise of Anime and Manga: From Japanese Art Form to Global Phenomenon; August 15, 2023, review of Freedom of Speech: Should There Be Limits?; August 1, 2024, review of Quick Guide to Evaluating Information Online.
School Library Journal, May 1, 1992, p. 128; May 1, 1993, p. 135; February 1, 1995, Elaine E. Knight, review of The Loch Ness Monster, p. 102; June 1, 1998, Kate Foldy, review of Emily Dickinson, p. 170; August 1, 2000, Linda Wadleigh, review of Cartoonists, p. 208; September 1, 2002, Tracy Ansley, review of The Trial of Charles Manson: California Cult Murders, p. 252; October 1, 2002, Kathleen Simonetta, review of J.K. Rowling, p. 194; February 1, 2005, Carol Fazioli, review of The Free Speech Movement, p. 153; April 1, 2005, Ginny Gustin, review of Cyclops, p. 144; October 1, 2018, Alicia Abdul, review of Gun Violence and Mass Shootings, p. 90.
Voice of Youth Advocates, June 1, 2018, review of Thinking Critically: Cell Phones, p. 82; February 1, 2018, review of Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Terror, p. 77; June 1, 2019, review of Thinking Critically: Fossil Fuels and Thinking Critically: Genetic Testing and Research, p. 76.
ONLINE
First Scientist, https://www.firstscientist.net (March 9, 2023), author profile.
LocalAuthors.com, http://www.localauthors.com/ (November 6, 2005), “Bradley Steffens.”
Muslim Heritage, https://muslimheritage.com/ (January 8, 2020), Nadeem Haque, “Author Bradley Steffens on ‘First Scientist’, Ibn al-Haytham.”*
Bradley Steffens
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bradley Steffens (born February 10, 1955) is an American poet, playwright, novelist, and author of more than seventy nonfiction books for children and young adults.[1]
Early professional work
In the mid-1970s Steffens self-published two chapbooks of his poetry,[2] which he sold on the streets of Southern California. In 1976, the City of Laguna Beach, California, denied Steffens a permit to sell his works within the city limits, touching off brouhaha in the local press.[3] Steffens went to court, seeking relief under the First Amendment, but the court ruled in favor of the city. Steffens turned to writing a series of one-act plays-in-verse, which were professionally produced as “Herod the Great: A Sequence of Pageants” by the Olympia Arts Ensemble in Minneapolis in 1981 with Michael Yonkers in the title role. Noel Bredahl of the St. Paul Post-Dispatch hailed the play as "an awesome creation on the part of the playwright.[4] David Hawley, also of the St. Paul Post Dispatch, wrote, “Steffens is a powerful, talented artist."[5]
Writing career
Steffens has published more than fifty poems over the last forty years. His poems have appeared widely in literary journals, including Crosscurrents, Loonfeather, Stone Country, Sidewalks, The Bellingham Review, River Bottom, The Worcester Review, The Birmingham Review, Black Buzzard Review, The Lake Street Review, Plains Poetry Journal, The White Rock Review, The Ball State University Forum, San Diego Writers’ Monthly, Encore, and Farmer’s Market. He has received many awards for his poetry, including the Emerging Voices Award presented by The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and the Lake Superior Writing Competition Award sponsored by the Duluth Public Library. While working as a freelance proofreader for Lucent Books in 1989, Steffens wrote his first nonfiction book for children, Animal Rights. Over the next thirty-four years, he wrote sixty-three more books for children and young adults, coauthored seven, and edited the 2004 anthology The Free Speech Movement. His works have been praised by Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Children’s Literature. The Fountain called his Ibn al-Haytham: First Scientist a “beautiful work about Ibn al-Haytham and his advancement of experimental science.”[6] In December 2021, Kirkus Reviews named his The Dark Side of Social Media one of the Best YA Nonfiction Books of 2021.[7]
Steffens is a two-time recipient of the San Diego Book Award for Best Young Adult & Children's Nonfiction. His Giants won the 2005 award[8] and his J.K. Rowling received the 2007 prize.[9] J.K. Rowling also earned Steffens the Theodor S. Geisel Award for the best published book by a San Diego County author in 2007.[10] His Ibn al-Haytham: First Scientist was excerpted in Discovery Channel Magazine[11] in March 2010. He was the keynote speaker at the Southeast Regional Conference of The Islamic Medical Association of North America, the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York,[12] the Pacifica Institute,[13] and Women in Dialogue.[14]
Selected works
Steffens is best known for his 2017 historical novel The Prisoner of Al Hakim, which tells the story of the eleventh-century Islamic mathematician Alhasan Ibn al-Haytham. The Fountain commented, "From the very first page Steffens brilliantly brings Alhasan’s internal character to life on the page, sketching a conflicted, fascinating portrait of a reluctant hero. It’s not easy to dramatize the acts of thinking and creating—and harder still to do so in a subtle, elegant style—yet Steffens manages the trick."[15] Blue Minaret praised the book, stating: “The story of Ibn al-Haytham has now been fictionalized masterfully by Bradley Steffens. Each character is well-crafted and in-depth. Each chapter is action-packed. Fans of history will appreciate the descriptions of Cairo and Basra, the esteemed House of Wisdom, even the deserts forming the backdrop of the book. There are plenty of women with strong, independent spirits, and many men in whose hearts burns the love of both God and science.”[16] Wardah Books observed: "This period novel dating back to the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphate brings to the fore an oft-forgotten side of polymaths such as Alhasan Ibn al-Haytham, as a person who, like all of us, experiences doubt, fear and love.”[17]
Author
Quick Guide to Evaluating Information Online. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2024. ISBN 9781678208141
Hi-Tech Jobs in Social Media (Exploring Hi-Tech Jobs). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2024. ISBN 9781678207106
Freedom of Speech: Should There Be Limits? San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2023. ISBN 9781678205768
The Rise of Anime and Manga: From Japanese Art Form to Global Phenomenon. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2023. ISBN 9781678205867
Social Media (Thinking Critically). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678204648
Screen Addiction: A Teen Epidemic. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678203528
Teen Suicide on the Rise (Mental Health Crisis). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678202804
The Art and Artists of Anime (All About Anime and Manga). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678202187
The Science of Infectious Diseases. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678201609
The Dark Side of Social Media. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2022. ISBN 9781678200787
First Scientist: Ibn Al-Haytham. Clifton, NJ: Blue Dome Press, 2021. ISBN 9781682060292
Health, Illness, and Death in the Time of COVID-19 (Understanding the COVID-19 Pandemic). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2021. ISBN 9781678200343
Esports and the New Gaming Culture. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682829257
Medical Drones (World of Drones). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682828311
Social Media Deception (Risks of Social Media). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682828533
Social Media Addiction (Risks of Social Media). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682828519
Marijuana Risks (Drug Risks). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682829073
J. Cole (Giants of Rap and Hip-Hop). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682827772*J. Cole (Giants of Rap and Hip-Hop). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682827772
Drake (Giants of Rap and Hip-Hop). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682827710
Addicted to Video Games (Addicted). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682825754
The Suicide Epidemic. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682827413
The Science and Technology of Basketball (The Science and Technology of Sports). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682826492
Gun Violence (Emerging Issues in Public Health). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682826690
Cell Phone Addiction (Emerging Issues in Public Health). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2020. ISBN 9781682826652
Fossil Fuels (Thinking Critically). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682825334
Genetic Testing and Research (Thinking Critically). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682825358
Gun Violence and Mass Shootings. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682825150
Policing (Threats to Civil Liberties). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682824498
Privacy (Threats to Civil Liberties). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682824511
How the Internet Is Changing the World. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682824153
Teen Suicide (Thinking Critically). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2019. ISBN 9781682824474
Cell Phones (Thinking Critically). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2018. ISBN 9781682823354
Genocide (Human Rights in Focus). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682822258
Torture (Human Rights in Focus). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682822357
The Prisoner of Al-Hakim. Clifton, NJ: Blue Dome Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682060162
Securing Cyberspace (Real-World STEM). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682822494
Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Terror (Real-World STEM). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682822418
Big Data Analyst (Cutting Edge Careers). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682821763
Biomedical Engineer (Cutting Edge Careers). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682821787
Careers in Medical Technology (High-Tech Careers). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682821169
Careers in Internet Technology (High-Tech Careers). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2017. ISBN 9781682821145
Is Marijuana Harmful? (Issues in Society). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2016. ISBN 9781682820971
Cutting Edge Internet Technology (Cutting Edge Technology). San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2016. ISBN 9781682820902
Free Speech (Ripped from the Headlines). Yankton, SD: Erickson Press, 2007. ISBN 9781602170155
Ibn al-Haytham: First Scientist (Profiles in Science). Greensboro, NC: Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2007. ISBN 9781599350240
J.K. Rowling (People in the News). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2007. ISBN 9781590189634
Giants (Monsters). San Diego: Kidhaven Press, 2006. ISBN 0737731656
Censorship (Overview Series). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2004. ISBN 1590181875
J.K. Rowling (People in the News). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. ISBN 1560067764
Understanding Of Mice and Men (Understanding Great Literature). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. ISBN 156006644X
Furman v. Georgia (Famous Trials). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560064706
Censorship (Opposing Viewpoints Digests). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 1565103904
Emily Dickinson (The Importance Of). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560060891
Censorship (Overview Series). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1995. ISBN 1560061669
Loch Ness Monster (Exploring the Unknown). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1995. ISBN 1560061596
Addiction (Opposing Viewpoints Juniors). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1994. ISBN 1565100948
The Fall of the Roman Empire (Great Mysteries). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1994. ISBN 1565100980
Free Speech (Opposing Viewpoints Juniors). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1992. ISBN 0899080987
Phonograph (Encyclopedia of Discovery and Invention). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1992. ISBN 1560062223
Photography (Encyclopedia of Discovery and Invention). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560062126
The Children’s Crusade (World Disasters). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560060190
Printing Press (Encyclopedia of Discovery and Invention). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1990. ISBN 1560062053
Working Mothers (Opposing Viewpoints Juniors). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1989. ISBN 0899084974
Animal Rights (Opposing Viewpoints Juniors). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1989. ISBN 0899084710
From the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters: An Anonymous Romance of Theatric Space... and Six Anonymous Songs. San Rafael: Sack Back Publications, 1976.
From an Eighteenth Century Painted Tile and Other Poems. San Francisco: Sack Back Publications, 1975.
Coauthor
With Don Nardo, Cyclops (Monsters). San Diego: Kidhaven Press, 2005. ISBN 0737726156
With Don Nardo, Medusa (Monsters). San Diego: Kidhaven Press, 2005. ISBN 0737726172
With Craig Staples, The Trial of Charles Manson (Famous Trials). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. ISBN 1560067330
With Diana Saenger, Life as a Vietnam POW (American War Library). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560067160
With Robyn M. Weaver, Cartoonists (History Makers). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2000. ISBN 1560066687
With Dan Woog, Jesse Jackson (People in the News). San Diego: Lucent Books, 2000. ISBN 1560066318
With James House, The San Francisco Earthquake (World Disasters). San Diego: Lucent Books, 1989. ISBN 1560060034
Editor
Free Speech Movement (American Social Movements). San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. ISBN 0737711566
Steffens, Bradley QUICK GUIDE TO EVALUATING INFORMATION ONLINE ReferencePoint Press (Teen None) $33.95 9, 1 ISBN: 9781678208141
An accessibly written guide that helps readers confront the epidemic of online falsehoods with tips on information literacy.
This compact volume covers a number of critical topics. Teens learn that while software filters are designed to screen for hate speech, violence, and pornography, when it comes to bald lies, they are largely on their own. Steffens proffers helpful advice, explaining how bots often spread false information that proliferates due to malice, attention seeking, or commercial interests. He explains ways in which disinformation threatens democracy, individual well-being, and social cohesion and notes that advances in AI might help combat the flood of deepfakes and other AI creations that could potentially have a huge impact on commerce, politics, and security. An entire chapter is devoted to avoiding financial scams and phishing. In the chapter entitled "Recognizing Bias," Steffens includes important information about cognitive biases and how they interact with algorithms to lead us into dangerous echo chambers; he points readers to media watchdog sites and explains lateral reading strategies to bolster awareness. Another chapter warns against hazards such as catfishing, romance scams, and sextortion. Up-to-date sources and brief summaries of memorable cases bolster this concise but thorough overview.
Specific advice and meaningful context make this a strong introduction to online safety. (sources, further research, websites, index, picture credits)(Nonfiction. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Steffens, Bradley: QUICK GUIDE TO EVALUATING INFORMATION ONLINE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A802865309/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b5633b19. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Steffens, Bradley FREEDOM OF SPEECH ReferencePoint Press (Teen None) $32.95 8, 1 ISBN: 9781678205768
A concise examination of freedom of speech as interpreted by the courts, offering readers insights into debates surrounding this issue in today's world.
The introduction highlights the complexities of this topic by offering an overview of a recent case involving the Albany Unified School District in California and the expulsion of students who posted racist content on Instagram. The first chapter, "The Doctrine of Free Speech," delves into the counterspeech doctrine and the marketplace of ideas by examining the beliefs of people including John Milton, Elon Musk, and various Supreme Court justices. The remaining chapters--"Free Speech on Campus," "False and Misleading Information," "Regulating Hate Speech," and "The War on Government Leaks"--include coverage of specific incidents that led to (or tested) precedent-setting cases as well as explanations of majority and dissenting opinions. Sidebars highlight important quotes from notable figures involved in First Amendment debates. The chapter on hate speech provides sobering statistics on the correlation between the rise in online hate speech and real-world hate crimes and the complications in relation to the standard for incitement set by the Supreme Court. Each scenario leads readers to a deeper understanding that laws surrounding free speech are far from definitively settled. The clean design and accessible text make this a valuable resource for report writers and others interested in this subject.
A balanced, practical introduction to constitutional law and the thorny subject of free speech. (picture credits, source notes, organizations and websites, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Steffens, Bradley: FREEDOM OF SPEECH." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A760508342/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=785ef21d. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Steffens, Bradley THE RISE OF ANIME AND MANGA ReferencePoint Press (Teen None) $32.95 8, 1 ISBN: 9781678205867
A quick overview of manga and anime history and their impact.
Divided into five chapters, this appealing read is ideal for anyone who identifies as an otaku, or fan of Japanese culture, especially anime and manga, as well as those interested in Japanese art and culture more generally. The book covers manga's earliest origins in traditional scrolls created by Buddhist monks; the hallmarks of its distinctive style, which is influenced by Noh theater; the postwar rise of anime and manga in Japan; their growth in popularity in the U.S.; and the explosion of fandom communities. Along the way, readers learn about the ways these art forms depict Japanese values, how they are intrinsically connected with history (even being used as anti-Western propaganda during World War II), how anime differs from Western animation, and more. The exploration of the intense, tightknit communities that engage in cosplay and write fan fiction shows how anime and manga are more than fads and are based on "something enduring" and possess "deep roots in Japanese culture, universal characters and themes, and stories of human love, strength, and survival." This fun read features concise chapters that contribute to a quick pace as it moves seamlessly from one major topic or event to the next. Stock photos and movie stills break up and enhance the text; sidebars include quotes from film critics, artists, and others.
Informative and entertaining. (source notes, further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Steffens, Bradley: THE RISE OF ANIME AND MANGA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A754972155/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e4259ac6. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.