This collection of enlightening and stimulating articles, written by some of the most important figures in school librarianship, demonstrates how teacher-librarians, classroom teachers, and administrators can work together to create a 21st century school library media program. With topics that emphasize student success, leadership, partnerships, curriculum design, collaborative planning and teaching, literacy, 21st century skills, emerging technologies, and so much more, this compendium brings together the best of the best discussions. The practicing teacher-librarian, as well as the student seeking to expand his or her knowledge of the field, will find this compilation especially beneficial in providing an overview of the most critical issues related to the role the teacher-librarian plays in their school. The articles, previously published in the peer-reviewed Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals with several included from the magazine VOYA: Voice of Youth Advocates, reveal how school libraries and teacher-librarians are moving forward to meet the challenges of this new century.

Society does not make it easy for young people, regardless of their sexual orientation, to find accurate, nonjudgmental information about homosexuality. It makes it even more difficult for young homosexuals to find positive role models in fiction either written or published expressly for them or-if published for adults-relevant to them and their lives. The Heart Has Its Reasons examines these issues and critically evaluates the body of literature published for young adults that offers homosexual themes and characters. Cart and Jenkins chart the evolution of the field of YA literature having GLBTQ (gay/lesbian/bisexual, transgendered, and/or queer/questioning) content. They identify titles that are remarkable either for their excellence or failures, noting the stereotypic, wrongheaded, and outdated books as well as the accurate, thoughtful, and tactful titles. Useful criteria for evaluating books with GLBTQ content are provided. Books and resources of all types are reviewed based on a model that uses the category descriptors of Homosexual Visibility, Gay Assimilation, and Queer Consciousness/Community. An annotated bibliography and a number of author-title lists of books discussed in the text arranged by subject round out this valuable reference for teachers, librarians, parents, and young adults.

Discussions of gender and sexuality have become part of mainstream conversations and are being reflected in the work of more and more writers of fiction, particularly in literature aimed at young adult audiences. But young readers, regardless of their sexual orientation, don't always know what books offer well-rounded portrayals of queer characters and situations. Fortunately, finding positive role models in fiction that features LGBTQ+ themes has become less problematic, though not without its challenges. In Representing the Rainbow in Young Adult Literature: LGBTQ+ Content since 1969, Christine Jenkins and Michael Cart provide an overview of the literary landscape. An expanded version of The Heart Has Its Reasons, this volume charts the evolution of YA literature that features characters and themes which resonate not only with LGBTQ+ readers but with their allies as well. In this resource, Jenkins and Cart identify titles that are notable either for their excellence-accurate, thoughtful, and tactful depictions-or deficiencies-books that are wrongheaded, stereotypical, or outdated. Each chapter has been significantly updated, and this edition also includes new chapters on bisexual, transgender, and intersex issues and characters, as well as chapters on comics, graphic novels, and works of nonfiction. This book also features an annotated bibliography and a number of author-title lists of books discussed in the text that will aid teachers, librarians, parents, and teen readers. Encompassing a wider array of sexual identities, Representing the Rainbow in Young Adult Literature is an invaluable resource for young people eager to read about books relevant to them and their lives.

This book takes a hard, real-world look at what it takes to engage in ministry today. The book begins by uncovering the truth of what ministry actually is and by biblically establishing the authority and ability of all Christians to be ministers. We are then invited to explore five character qualities that are crucial to the development of a dynamic personal ministry in today's socially complex environment. Ultimately, through scripturally based exhortation, we are encouraged to accept the purpose for which we were created; to serve our fellow human beings.

A girl is terrified of her older sister's dual personality. A boy adjusts to his life with two mothers. A father visits his son on death row. These are stories of today's families as they really are.

Noted anthologist Michael Cart has asked celebrated young adult authors the question "What does 'family' mean today?" The ten resulting stories provide illuminating -- and surprising -- answers. Here family is defined by the connections between all kinds of people -- and the necessary noise they make.

In one outstanding volume, ten of today's finest authors of adult and young-adult literature lend teir talent and their vioces to take a hard, clear look at love and sexuality. From balancing abstinence and desire, to learning the difference between love and lust, to fulfilling a childhood obsession, each of these stories depicts characters exploring a world of new feelings and sensations that is opening up before them. At times magical, funny, sad, and angry -- but always heartbraakingly honest -- these stories reveal the pressures and complications -- and sometimes joy -- of love and sex.

Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, a series editor reads pieces from hundreds of periodicals, then selects between fifty and a hundred outstanding works. That selection is pared down to the twenty or so very best pieces by a guest editor who is widely recognized as a leading writer in his or her field. This unique system has helped make the Best American series the most respected -- and most popular -- of its kind.

The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2002 is a selection for young people of the best literature from mainstream and alternative American periodicals: from the New Yorker, Jane, Rolling Stone, Zyzzyva, Vibe, The Onion, Spin, Epoch, Time, Little Engines, Modern Humorist, Esquire, and more. Dave Eggers has chosen the highlights of 2001 for this genre-busting collection that includes new fiction, essays, satire, journalism -- and much more. From Eric Schlosser on french fries to Elizabeth McKenzie on awful family to Seaton Smith on how to "jive" with your teen, The Best American Nonrequried Reading 2002 is the first and the best.

Cart's authoritative survey is already a go-to text for students of literary studies, teachers, and YA staff. In this new edition he gives it a thorough update to make it even more relevant and comprehensive. Surveying the landscape of YA lit both past and present, this book sketches in the origins of literature targeted at young adults; shows how the best of the genre has evolved to deal with subjects every bit as complex as its audience; closely examines teen demographics, literacy, audiobooks, the future of print, and other key topics; includes updated treatment of best-selling authors like John Green, Suzanne Collins, and Veronica Roth, plus interviews with leaders in the field; presents new and expanded coverage of perennially popular genre fiction, including horror, sci fi, and dystopian fiction; offers an updated overview of LGBTQ literature for young adults, including Intersex; covers such commercial trends as adult purchasers of YA books and the New Adult phenomenon; andfeatures abundant bibliographic material to aid in readers' advisory and collection development. Cart's up-to-date coverage makes this the perfect resource for YA librarians who want to sharpen their readers' advisory skills, educators and teachers who work with young people, and anyone else who wants to understand where YA lit has been and where it's heading.

"Author of the bestseller Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism, Cart applies his considerable expertise as columnist and critic for Booklist to identifying 200 exceptional adult books that will satisfy a variety of young adults' recreational reading tastes. Reflecting the notoriously choosy reading interests of today's older young adults, this useful book Features only the best of the best-no cheesy star bios or chick lit lite here Covers a wide range of genres, from graphic novels and real-life adventures to romance and speculative fiction Includes numerous read-alikes and related-titles lists, making it a great tool for both collection development and readers' advisory Makes finding a great book easy, with multiple indexes and thorough annotation Cart's roundup of high-quality titles, put together with insight and obvious affection, spotlights hundreds of great books for a hard-to-satisfy audience."

Today's young adult literature is every bit as complex as the audience it's written for, unflinchingly addressing such topics as homosexuality, mental illness, AIDS and drug abuse. In this much expanded revision of his 1996 book, veteran author Michael Cart shows how the best of contemporary YA lit has evolved to tackle such daunting subjects without resorting to sensationalism. He brings his historical survey of this category fully up to date, covering its explosive growth in the past decade, and advocating that librarians and teachers look beyond romance and horror when advising young adults. This survey helps YA librarians who want to freshen up their readers' advisory skills, teachers who use novels in the classroom, and adult services librarians who increasingly find themselves addressing the queries of teen patrons by covering the following: Reading habits of today's teens, Influence of new technologies and formats, New YA lit awards, This insightful and often humorous work presents the evolution of YA lit in an appealing way, making it equally useful for students of literary studies. You'll definitely update your recommended ""to read"" lists after a spin through Cart's advisory.

You've waited more than 20 years...finally...at your fingertips...a one-stop source for information about these prestigious awards and books that have been honored as the best!This information-packed volume compiles bibliographic information about the books and authors honored by the Alexander, Edwards, and Printz awards given by YALSA - the division of the American Library Association (ALA) that serves the librarians who work with young adults. Essays written by experts in young adult content are included, and there are separate chapters about each award and its criteria. In addition, you'll find complete lists of award-winning books to date, speeches by and interviews with the winning authors, along with brief annotations, publisher information, subject/thematic descriptions and display and programming ideas.