This study explores virtual, student-author interviews eighth-grade students led with Chris Crowe in response to his young adult novel "Mississippi Trial, 1955." The opportunity to interview the author motivated students to read the novel. Through their text-world development, students connected with the fictional and nonfictional…

Notes that athletic coaches appear infrequently in young adult novels and are typically narrowly drawn, flat characters. Discusses numerous "coaches" in young adult novels. Suggests that these coaches reflect the real-life good and bad coaches that exist in society. (RS)

Presents an interview with John H. Ritter discussing his life, his books, his views on sports literature, and a variety of other subjects. Discusses in particular his two novels "Choosing Up Sides," and "Over the Wall." Describes how he uses baseball scenes as metaphors to depict difficult choices that kids are dealing with. (SC)

Describes a method for teaching several novels simultaneously to students in the same English classroom. Provides a list of questions to be answered by students at various stages of reading a particular novel. (HB)

Presents a collection of excerpts from a recent virtual class discussion students (primarily senior English majors planning to become English teachers) had on a course listserv regarding young adult literature. Contains annotations of 10 recommended works of YA literature. (SG)