Books/review of high school math for former math major, current tutor

I would actually try something like the Art of Problem Solving series (http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/store), in addition to something like Khan Academy. KA for basic practice, AoPS for more tougher problems and better critical thinking skills. You should actually want more than the basics kids are struggling with, so that you understand the material way better and can give them tips and vision they're not getting in class. (I mean, don't be tempted to bombard them with extra material if they are floundering, but it's good to have in the back of your brain.) I get where your idea about having example textbooks is coming from, but honestly it wouldn't necessarily be helpful. Instead, be so comfortable with the topics that when a student shows up with their book, you can switch into their book notation on the fly and really get across the idea of things without introducing extra notation that will just be confusing. Plenty of the textbook series just plain suck, and plenty of teachers jump around and skip topics and supplement others, so a mere textbook will not actually give you a sensible idea of pacing. (Don't worry, you'll get that with experience.) If you can turn yourself into an advanced algebra II and precalc wizard who can connect with people, you should be in high demand.

For at least your own review: https://www.khanacademy.org/math, as long as you can learn from videos. They're really quite good.

I think http://www.chegg.com/ is a good place to start.

Where are you? NYC? Between the library and used bookstores, you really shouldn't be striking out. Try library used bookstores as well. They inevitably seem to have a high school textbook or two. As a TA, I'd point my students to http://mathcentre.ac.uk/ for review. If you're in the US, there are a handful of hiccups language-wise in some of the high school level material (ever heard of a surd? me neither), but, given that you're basically trying to jog your memory, that shouldn't derail you and you can use the rest for tutoring.

If you're dealing with Common Core, most of it, including answers, is https://www.engageny.org/resource/algebra-ii-module-1 That link should take you to the start of Algebra II and beyond! And the teacher's versions have answers.

Seconding Schaum's. They're perfect for "I knew this subject but have forgotten it".

@hoyland, yeah, i am NYC. One of the problems i have run into vis-a-vis used math textbooks is that stores (thrift stores, bookstores) can't really make money on them and do not accept them/throw them out since they become 'outdated' too quickly and are therefore unsellable. Libraries (at least the nyc library system) doesn't have them for the same reason (i talked to a librarian about it). It does seem like i always saw used math textbooks up until i actually needed them, then they disappeared from stores. I forgot about the existence of library used bookstores so i will look into that option. :) I will check out mathcentre, thank you. Thank you for everyone else for suggestions! Please keep them coming. I will check out sites with video explanations, but offhand it seems like a slow way to re-learn so i have been reticent to get too far into them. Am i wrong about this?

Schaumms are definitely good and thanks for the heads up re: College Algebra. I feel like i looked into getting Schaumms, but they seem to be targeted to upper level classes, not high school (and i couldnt find the right levels in bookstores to put eyeballs on the pages to verify).

also, sorry if i dont thank you individually; i do still appreciate your help. If anyone else has suggestions, i am still looking for them (incl/esp about levels other than algebra ii), thank you! :)