Balaban, Mariah & Shields, Jennifer. Study away; the unauthorized guide to college abroad.

Random House, Anchor. 319p. illus. index. c2003. 1-4000-3189-3. $13.95. SA

The authors are young women who have had the experience of studying abroad. Balaban spent her senior year in Paris; Shields graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and has spent time in Russia in special summer programs. Here in New England it is relatively common for high school students to attend Canadian colleges and universities (Canadian schools count as "abroad" in this book), and families and students enjoy the bargain prices as well as the friendly (and usually safer) campus life there. But Canada is just the beginning: there are numerous schools teaching in the English language in Ireland and the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and elsewhere. Consider: the University of Hong Kong; The American University of Rome; United States International University, Nairobi Campus (Kenya); The American College of Greece and College Year in Athens; The American University of Beirut--and these are just a taste of the many choices available, either for the entire college experience, or for a year abroad, or a semester.

There are a few b/w illustrations of campuses, but perhaps most helpful are the suggestions themselves and the Web sites, so students can use their computers to "travel" the globe in search of educational possibilities. This is especially inspiring for students who are hungry to experience other cultures, other places. (How about The University of Costa Rica, Rain Forest Adventure for budding naturalists?) An interesting addition to the standard college search books. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.