books and reading

Literature for Today's Young Adults, by Aleen Pace Nilsen and Kenneth L. Donelson, Sixth Edition. I purchased this book for a class in adolescent literature, and have found to be the book very good and very thorough. The book includes many chapters about modern adolescent literature and their various controversies. Besides being an interesting book, I found it very thorough because it includes varied points of view, and includes many articles written by the authors themselves who write novels for young adults.

Having graduated from high school in 1979, I found my insights into teen literature to be prehistoric at best. As a "utility classroom teacher," I have to keep up with a variety of subjects. This book is a great help to anyone who needs to get a grasp of Young Adult literature, an important topic.
In an age when teens face, more than ever, the difficult issues the world places at their door, (drug and alcohol usage, sexuality, health and family conflict)any teacher entering the reading classroom should be familiar with literature that is current, educational and helpful. This volume provides insight into current authors and trends in Young Adult literature, as well as reviewing "old standards" and interviewing authors. It is an extremely helpful book for anyone who must not only educate but also provide guidance.

Nilsen and Donelson's comprehensive text provides much needed insight and clarification for those who are involved with young adults and books. Focusing on such YA topics as fantasy, New Realism, and adventure, this text leads the reader through the various genres, as well as critiquing various authors and their books. This feature is especially helpful because, as a teacher, I can not read all the authors and books available. By providing these condensed lists and descriptions of current and classic books, as well as lists of Hollywood tie-ins, the authors enable classroom teachers and librarians to survey a larger range of books than they would ordinarily be able to. The authors also cover the issue of censorship, making the distinction between concerned parents and the avid censor. In discussing censors, however, the authors deal rather unfairly with the religious right, ascribing fanatical views to groups devoted to restoring traditional values to the classroom. Conversely, the left is treated in a much more favorable light, while their political biases are downplayed.

Overall, I found this text to be very useful and intend to further my reading with some of the selections highlighted by these authors.