There is evidence that student-selected reading of compelling, relevant young adult literature helps address the problem of low reading engagement among adolescents, but schools rarely take up this option as a curricular priority. A major source of apprehension for adults is fear that students might be placed at risk by exposure to realistic…

This research study explores the role of social annotation in supporting dialogic teaching in secondary English language arts. Grounded in Bakhtin's dialogism and building upon research into online discussion, this study describes how a high school English teacher and her students used a digital annotation tool to read and talk about texts.…

Promoting student power in the choice of high school literature can prove uncomfortable, unruly, and contentious. Without enough preparation, research, and reading, teachers may find language, content, and themes to be more mature than initially anticipated. This essay explores one teacher's reflection of two instances when choice reading…

The idea of offering students choice in their reading materials is not new yet this is not occurring in many high school classrooms. Researchers have identified many academic and personal benefits when students are allowed to choose their own reading materials, including more engagement with reading. This article describes one high school…

A great deal of attention is being paid to the lack of reading and academic success for adolescent males. In this article, we discuss three structures in a school where boys read (and perform) as well as girls. When instruction is guided by inquiry, when teachers model their thinking while reading, and when book choices are honored, all students…

The author, a former library media specialist, often heard female students describe graphic novels as being "boy books" and sought to examine how a group of high school girls and boys read gender in three graphic novels. Through focus group and individual interviews, the participants indicated that they enjoyed reading graphic novels to varying…

Presents annotations of 30 trade books on this year's list of Young Adults' choices that are the results of voting by students in five different regions of the United States. Notes that the books selected were published in 2001 and each book had to have at least two positive reviews from recognized sources. (SG)

Presents annotations of 30 trade books chosen by students and published in 2000. Hopes to encourage young people to read; to make teens, teachers, librarians, and parents aware of new literature for young adults; and to provide middle and secondary school students with an opportunity to voice their opinions about books being written for them. (SG)

Explores "fanfiction" (fiction written by fans of mass culture, such as "anime," Japanese animation) as a valid literacy practice in the context of the Multiliteracies framework. Strives to understand youth culture better and to make school literacy instruction more responsive to learners' needs. Discusses "Anime" as…

Considers how the Harry Potter books help students and adults cope with the struggles of life. Presents several cases in which these books have helped specific students in important ways. (SG)

Finds that children with special needs like the same kinds of books as other children and should be allowed to choose their own books for pleasure reading. Shows that, in addition to topic/subject matter, writing style, cover/illustrations, characters, and back-of-the-book summaries, these students also considered title, length of book, movie/TV…

Presents (in the form of a conversation with "The Vampire") data on middle school students' attitudes toward literature circles, how they choose their groups for literature circles, patterns in the groups chosen, and how students selected the books they did. (SR)

Explores strategies for literacy instruction that help high school seniors from different backgrounds expand their reading and writing skills. Examines how to differentiate instruction while keeping high expectations for all students. Describes a project which was based around the passions which sustain students. Details how this project included…

Presents the perspectives on books and reading of two middle school boys, both reluctant readers who were passionate about reading self-selected materials outside of school. Argues that the perspectives of these renegade readers can inform educators who want to improve students' engagement with reading. (SR)

Presents, in the form of a conversation with a vampire, results of a teacher's research on middle school students' reading preferences. Includes a list of favorite books mentioned, favorite authors mentioned, and how students found these favorite books. (SR)