Customer Reviews

Interpreting Young Adult Literature: Literary Theory in the Secondary Classroom (Young Adult Literature Series)

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Shortly after this book was released my colleague Dr. Helen B. Slaughter selected it for use in the methods course for pre-service secondary English teachers at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. As her graduate assistant in this course I had the occasion to observe students reacting to this unique text in small working groups. I can say the book was generally well-received because of its clarity and consistent attention to praxis (i.e. linking theory to classroom practice). Moreover, the book is organized into separate units to introduce each theory and so was quite conducive to course planning. Each theory is taken in a "walk-through" of a noted YAL text, which provides both a relevant example and focus for class discussion. Given that we had 35 students from a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds, and that this class was particularly concerned about identifying models of best teaching practice, the warm reception speaks even more to the strength of this volume. I do recommend it without reservation.

I used this book a few years ago for a graduate class taught by the author, Dr. Moore. I found the book to be helpful and practical. The theories described in the book were useful both in the classroom and in completing my master's project. It's one of the textbooks I didn't sell back to the used bookstore when the semester was over. For anyone interested in literary theory or teaching literature, it's worth the investment! Since my coursework, I've become an English teacher (and an author), and the book is especially useful in my AP Literature course.