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Book Review of Relieve the Squeeze: How to Take Control of Your Asthma

Relieve the Squeeze: How to Take Control of Your Asthma
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Grade 3-6-Beginning with the "Asthma Rap," about a young man having an attack during a basketball game, Strauss introduces readers to the causes, symptoms, and treatment of asthma. Most of the writing is factual, and presented in graffiti-style or bold layouts in dramatic fonts and colors. Although it appears on first glance to be a superficial look at the disease, the book covers a lot of ground and consistently encourages young people to be aware of triggers and to seek help at the first sign of trouble. The color photos of kids on a playground (with Danny DeVito as coach) are attractive and serve to make the subject matter more approachable. An on-target, cleverly designed overview that can also serve as reinforcement for those suffering from acute or chronic asthma.
Taj is cool. He plays basketball, has lots of friends--and he has asthma. His life is going just right until he collapses on the court. If Taj and his coach had been more aware of the warning signs of asthma, Taj could have saved himself a trip to the hospital.

Illustrated with photographs from the filming of a video starring Danny Devito and Nia Long, Relieve the Squeeze demonstrates the danger of ignoring symptoms. Using a strong, teen-friendly voice, Peggy Guthart Strauss gives tons of important information--including a description of an asthma attack; a list of resources for asthma sufferers; suggestions for tracking medication schedules; and ideas for "asthma-proofing" the house--right alongside an asthma rap!

The number of asthma sufferers in the U.S. has increased 75% in the last ten years. The Draw-A-Breath Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing everyone's awareness of asthma, was created in response to shocking statistics like these.