Basic Level NorthStar is an innovative five-level, integrated-skills series for learners of English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language. The series is divided into two strands: listening/speaking and reading/writing. There are four books in each strand, taking students from Basic to Advanced. The two books at each level explore different aspects of the same contemporary themes such as the effect of food on mood, experimental punishments for juvenile offenders, the role of cars in modern life, privacy in the workplace, and alternative medicine. The parallel books in each strand are linked by grammar and vocabulary as well, providing the opportunity to recycle and reinforce the language while the content remains fresh and exciting.