Paul Jablon's "The Synergy of Inquiry" (2014) is well-timed. The 2014 deadline set by No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2002) for universal student proficiency has come and gone, and according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, "proficiency rates last year were below 50 percent for nearly every racial and ethnic group, in…

Sandoz provided a manifestation of historical events for her readers that went beyond a mere recitation of facts and ideas; in fact, her works consciously sought to bring enlightenment and perspective to history. Her biographical books took liberties with standard elements of historical writing by partially fictionalizing conversations and events…

Provides a sampling of new writers and titles that are representative of "nineties publishing" for young adults. Themes include the rebellious sixties; family life and racism; urban teens and father/son conflicts; adventure and sports stories; African-American experiences; sexual abuse; and homosexual parents. (AEF)

Mark Baker in "NAM: The Vietnam War in the Words of the Men and Women Who Fought There" (1981) tells a war story, and war stories tend to elevate the masculine combat adventure as inherently more profound, and therefore more valuable, than other experiences. However, now that the emotional considerations of war are no longer being…

Offers an appreciation of the Devil in Natalie Babbitt's "The Devil's Storybook"--a likeable, clever, and feeling man, who is a much more endearing character than the colder devil in Babbitt's "The Devil's Other Storybook." (ARH)

Details the successes of Ernest Raymond's novel "Tell England." Includes reviews of the book and details of the author's life. Discusses the reason's for the enormous success of the book, Raymond's treatment of the relationship between the young men, and his treatment of their deaths. (PRA)

Reviews "Author's Insights" (edited by Don Gallo) in which 12 distinguished writers of young-adult books have their say about how literature and writing ought to be taught in secondary schools. (SR)

Reviews and recommends nine books by Gary Paulsen, an author who writes for teenagers. (PRA)

Critiques five novels by James Salter--THE HUNTERS, THE ARM OF FLESH, A SPORT AND A PASTIME, LIGHT YEARS, and SOLO FACES. Notes that Salter's works have been ignored by literary critics and the public though praised by other authors. (MM)

Recalls the captivating characters; tidy, confident writing and winsome illustrations in the 50-year-old minor masterpiece, "Mr. Popper's Penguins." (SD)

Contends that "disillusionment novels" are characterized by a circumscribed vision of the world which itself is a function of limits set upon the authors by the historical situation of their position in society. Analyzes two Nigerian classic examples of the genre, Chinua Achebe's "A Man of the People" and Wole Soyinka's…

Examines differences between male and female young adult science-fiction authors. Reviews and compares works by men and women, arguing that in many ways women handle the material better than men, despite the fact that science fiction has been a "male-dominated preserve." (AEF)

Describes several videos about authors and illustrators of children's literature. The videos include interviews, performances, and discussions of the illustration and writing processes. Technical and collection development issues are considered, and distributors and prices are listed for 66 videos. (MES)

Presents what the author believes to be some of the most important environmental books published since Earth Day 1970. Discusses each selection and how it provides the historical background, basic information, and appreciation necessary to understand the character of our environmental dilemma and our need to address it. (MCO)

Discusses some works by the following Australian writers of young adult literature: Ivan Southall, Patricia Wrightson, Bill Scott, Ruth Manley, Allan Baillie, Colin Theile, Ruth Park, Lee Harding, Robin Klein, and Eleanor Spence. (MM)