CHECKMARK BOOKS

The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy(Oct.; $24.95, cloth $82.50) by Rosemary Ellen Guiley boasts more than 500 entries in an A-to-Z format.

LANTERN BOOKS

Aftershock: Activism and Trauma(Nov., $15) by pattrice jones suggests ways for activists to cope with distressing events.

RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION

L.A. Story: Immigrant Workers and the Future of the U.S. Labor Movement(Sept., $27.50) by Ruth Milkman shatters myths surrounding modern labor issues.

STATE UNIV. OF NEW YORK PRESS

Girls in Power: Gender, Body, and Menstruation in Adolescence(Sept., $21.95) by Laura Fingerson considers menstruation's effects on both girls and boys.

TEMPLETON FOUNDATION PRESS

Passionaries: Turning Compassion into Action(Oct., $19.95) by Barbara R. Metzler profiles 35 leaders of volunteer organizations and describes how they have changed lives.

UNIV. OF NEVADA PRESS

Beyond the Mafia: Italian Americans and the Development of Las Vegas(Oct., $19.95) by Alan Balboni documents the history and significance of Italian-Americans since the city's founding in 1905.

VHICULE PRESS

Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story(Sept., $15.95) by Bill Brownstein tells the colorful story of the origins of the shop's smoked meat.