Presents the annual annotated list of the best science fiction, fantasy, and horror titles for teens that have been reviewed in this journal. Also includes a sidebar with four annotated titles of nonfiction resources related to science fiction, fantasy, and horror. (LRW)

Draws on Milton's "Paradise Lost" and on motifs found within Gnostic mythology and the poetry of William Blake to explore how Philip Pullman reworks the Judeo-Christian myth of the Fall in his trilogy, "His Dark Materials." Finds at its center "Dust": a conventional metaphor for human physicality in which good and evil, and spirit and matter…

Offers brief descriptions of 12 recently published books of young adult literature that offer voices from history, real kids with real problems, and whispers from the future. Discusses two simple guidelines for recommending books to students, and notes three suitable adult books as well as three resources for locating adult books that will be of…

Explains how a teacher comes to learn that primary and intermediate grade students are engaged by fiction and nonfiction both, that they do not associate one with pleasure and the other with learning. Argues that readers of all ages find meaning in a work, fictional or nonfictional, to the extent that it relates to their own lives and experiences.…

The professor has appeared as a fictional character since the Middle Ages, and several professorial images occur in academic fiction. Analysis of fictional images reveals that authors most often depict professors with no ambitions to gain power, whether economic, personal, political, or philosophical, as estimable characters; authors condemn…

Suggests the use of selected literature to explore the war in Vietnam with middle school students. Discusses the relevance of the war to contemporary students; presents an annotated bibliography of novels especially appropriate for middle school students; and suggests relevant class activities. (JPB)

Recommends using science fiction television episodes, novels, and films for teaching science and motivating students. Studies Newton's Law of Motion, principles of relativity, journey to Mars, interplanetary trajectories, artificial gravity, and Martian geology. Discusses science fiction's ability to capture student interest and the advantages of…

Advocates using African literature for general-education students, especially fiction with universalist themes and exploration of spiritual issues which students find engaging. Provides a four-day approach to studying Bessie Head's novel, "When Rain Clouds Gather." Presents questions and assignments. (PA)

Discusses Carol Matas' remarkable ability to craft compelling stories from real, but not very well-known events from the Holocaust. Notes that at the heart of these stories are adolescent protagonists who heroically confront their horrible circumstances with courage, dignity, and a fierce determination to survive. (SG)

Describes how, as an English language arts teacher of adolescents, the author has found it helpful to explore the historical terrains of both adolescence and the contemporary fictions adults have created for adolescents. Provides a historical overview of these areas of study for teachers who look to the past and the present in order to prepare and…

Describes how pairing fiction and nonfiction books on the same topic, along with interactive class strategies (such as Venn diagrams, K-W-L, DR-TA, webbing, and activating prior knowledge), can boost students' understanding and enjoyment, help teach content material, and help to ease students into reading content area textbooks. (SR)

Despite a growing body of work that draws attention to the presence of violence in the mass media and its effects on youth, little critical attention has been paid to the role of violence in young adult literature. The authors believe that by bringing violence to the foreground in the study of texts, they can enrich and deepen what these stories…

Stories and poems are the mainstay of primary education; children of all ages love them and children themselves are capable of writing very powerful material. Using poems, stories and songs in science allows children to access science from a different point of view. In this article, the author makes some suggestions and presents a list of useful…

In this article, I have presented findings from survey data to describe elementary teachers' and teacher-librarians' use of various genres of children's literature and their use of children's literature in specific curriculum areas. Data analysis revealed that teachers and teacher-librarians most frequently used the genres of non-fiction,…

This manuscript addresses adoption and the related gifts and challenges faced by adoptees. Challenges such as the search for identity, reconciliation, and identifying how they belong are also discussed. This manuscript also addresses common myths and misconceptions about the adoption experience. A creative intervention, using super heroes and…