Argues that kids do not go wrong or fall into despair for no good reason. Maintains that people are inculturated to certain areas of social blindness and denial, and that the function of all good literature is to break through that to unmask and show inner realities. (SR)

This tribute to Robert Fairthorne, a pioneer of information science, who died May 24, 2000. Honors his achievements, awards, years spent at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, theoretical papers published over twenty years, and his Canfield research in the United States. Highlights his transition from Aeronautical Research to Information Science.…

Argues for the study of popular female authors of the Victorian era on two grounds: (1) issues concerning Victorian female writers are relevant to problems in Victorian literary scholarship and to discussions about the relationship between literary theory and feminism; and (2) their works were printed on acid paper. (TB)

Describes an index of cohesion for the investigation of communication between authors or academic units and compares it with the Brillouin-Shaw index. Communication and cooperation between researchers is discussed and graph theory is explained, especially cooperation graphs. (Author/LRW)

Discusses dilemmas that confront authors who must decide whether to address a relatively restricted audience in their native tongue or compete for a much larger public by either learning more widespread language or relying on translations. Focus is on the issue of free or restricted exchange of texts. What happens when more authors and readers…

Notes that an increasing number of contemporary multicultural children's books aid readers' text comprehension with an author's note, foreword, or afterword. Describes ways teachers can use these author's notes, and ways to make the most of this author information. (RS)

Provides a list of Patricia Polacco's books that feature her signature artwork. Includes ideas for activities to extend the books into the classroom or library media center. Also lists related information sources about Polacco's life and work including Web sites. (LRW)

Points out the powerful basic truth that respect is a healer. Notes that fear is not a synonym for respect, and that increasing respect for kids and for adolescence itself would automatically create better communication. Argues that all literature, be it about children, teenagers, or adults, should reflect some truth about what is rather than what…

Suggests that mainstream book review editors, as well as book editors in the black press, reinforce the notion that blacks are experts on themselves and on little else. In recent years, most black-authored books publicized in the press have focused on racial themes or featured blacks in central roles. However, books by African Americans that are…

William Apess is among a number of Native intellectuals from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to whom scholars have paid increasing attention over the past decade and more. Apess was raised in the crucible of Native New England, had been abused in various ways in it, and spent his adulthood giving voice to those who experienced the…

The author of this article revisits Simon Ortiz's poem, "From Sand Creek," in which the latter can in so few words convey both the horrific tragedy of conquest and colonization, while at the same time find a space for possibility, a means for recovery that is never about forgetting but always occurs as a kind of recuperative remembering. Ortiz…

This article argues that Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" may be read as a series which attempts to assault the Christian doctrine of God. We believe that this demonstrably accords with Pullman's personal views, and that, through his story, he seeks to foster such views in his readership. However, the accuracy of his attack falls short of its…

A professor of biology discovered that the people who are in literature rather than science, saw the same readings very differently and were looking for very different things like how nature writings expressed the author's views on nature, or what they communicated about the human experience of the living world. Further he visits London to see the…

Students will see writing as a powerful act when they learn to analyze a published author's writing style and send a written critique straight to the source. The author critiques help students to analyze their own writing and the Sentence Opening Sheet is an excellent device for this purpose as it reformats the text so that students can see their…

The ways in which James Welch's poetry and prose are used to overcome stereotypes of Native Americans are discussed. He was a great writer who developed unforgettable characters and scenes that enriched reader's experience.