A revised and expanded guide on how to use young adult literature in the classroom to make classic literature more accessible for teenagers Many teachers and librarians are frustrated by teenagers' lack of interest in reading and their inability to appreciate classic literature. For these educators, young adult literature is the answer to this dilemma. Quality young adult literature, written specifically for a teenage audience, helps students relate and react to characters, plot, setting, and themes that reflect issues in their own lives. These novels then build a bridge to the adult classics that have similar plots and themes. Herz and Gallo present theories and techniques for using young adult literature in the classroom by presenting twelve Connections between a classic work such as Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and novels such as Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman and The True Confessions of Charioite Doyle by Avi. They also present other approaches such as Illegible] extensions, archetypes, the author paper, and young adult literature across the disciplines. author web sites, and professional Journals will help any educator incorporate young adult literature into their students' lives with ease. The twelve Connections presented here are prepared for busy teachers to adapt into the classroom with a minimum of time and effort. The following classic works are covered: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Grapes of Wrath; Great Expectations; The Great Gatsby; Hamlet; Jullus Caesar; Lord of the Files; The Odyssey; Of Mice and Men; Romeo and Juliet; The Scarlol Letter; To Kill a Mockingbird. UNK] Presents practical examples for busy teachers of 12 frequently-taught classics, and appropriate young adult novels UNK] Provides an extensive list of literature themes and the novels in which they occur UNK] Provides specific novels of use in other disciplines like art and science

One of the most revered authors of young adult books, Richard Peck has penned several critical and commercial successes including Dreamland Lake, The Ghost Belonged to Me, and the National Book Award finalist, A Long Way from Chicago. Peck's novels have also received prestigious awards including the Edgar for Are You in the House Alone? and the Newbery Medal for A Year Down Yonder. He is also the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the National Humanities Medal, the ALAN Award, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Medallion. In Richard Peck: The Past Is Paramount, authors Donald R. Gallo and Wendy J. Glenn recount the highlights of Peck's life, focusing on his world travels, his accomplishments as a teacher and his renowned writing career. Gallo and Glenn examine Peck's 30 novels, as well as his short stories and children's books, poems, essays and other nonfiction. An additional chapter analyzes themes, characters, and style in his writing. The appendixes list Peck's many honors and prizes, as well as film adaptations of his works. The extensive bibliography cites all of Peck's primary and secondary works, along with sources of interviews, speeches, prayers and credos, articles about him, and sources of reviews of each of his books. For fans and scholars alike, Richard Peck: The Past Is Paramount is the most authoritative resource about the life and work of this beloved author.

Lacey is afraid to death that standing up for the school "freak" will destroy her popularity. Gene, mocked one time too many, heads for class with a loaded rifle. High school can be a war zone of popularity and persecution, where no one really looks at the kids on the fringe. In this powerful and timely collection, some of today's most acclaimed authors bring to life eleven stories of outsiders facing the constant struggle of hate and acceptance. "Kids who are geeks, unathletic, poor, emotionally fragile, loners, or unattractive by current standards form the heart of this collection of exceptional stories by well-known YA authors such as Joan Bauer, Chris Crutcher, and M. E. Kerr. Inspired by the events at Columbine High School, the authors pondered what sorts of heartbreak could cause teens to react so powerfully and violently, and how being isolated and shut out of high school groups could tear down the fragile walls of self-esteem, making vulnerable individuals snap and cause massive destruction. The result is a compilation of short stories from the point of view of those tormented, and those who view others being bullied and how their perceptions change as they examine the situations. While all the stories are excellent, Jack Gantos's "Muzak for Prozac" is an exceptional example of the fragile balance that one teen struggles to maintain through the use of mood-stabilizing chemicals. A must-buy for all libraries."--SLJ

Imagine...

Nineteen superb stories by today's best-known authors of young adult novels, coming together to create a window of the mind, a vision illuminating the joys and sorrows of young people.

These nineteen splendid stories range from tales of tender romance and the delights of mystery and fantasy to the struggles of death, divorce, and growing up. Here are recollections from the past, stories of today, and visions of the future.

This anthology features stories about individuals who find themselves in situations that test their strength of character. They are called upon to make moral choices, face the consequences of their actions, and consider what it means to "do the right thing. " From computer blackmail, peer pressure, and gang violence to drug use, unwanted pregnancy, guilt and atonement, these characters face decisions that may affect the rest of their lives. There are many tough choices; there are no easy answers.


From the Hardcover edition.

The literary classics that are traditionally required in grades 7-12 are often too complex and removed from adolescent experience. This highly readable guide, from a classroom teacher and one of the nation's leading authorities on young adult literature, shows teachers and school librarians how to use young adult literature as a bridge to the classics to help students become more critical and enthusiastic readers. Innovative thematic connectors link quality young adult novels, many of them multicultural, to the 12 most frequently taught works of literature. Extensive annotated lists of additional works of young adult literature complement each of these 12 classics. Herz and Gallo also show how young adult books can be incorporated into other subject classes.