Discusses the appeal of romance fiction for adolescent girls, particularly the "Sweet Valley High" series, and summarizes some research in the area. Topics addressed include reading preferences of teenage girls, sales and marketing of romances, literary criticisms, what readers gain from the books, and what constitutes good pleasure…

Identifies several impediments to achieving reading literacy for many in-city high school students in California, including lack of interest and motivation, inappropriate resources and absence of support, and insufficient reading experiences and background knowledge. Recommends ways to remove these barriers through the use of strategic reading and…

In the first manuscript, preference and interest studies are examined for the purpose of determining the issues involved in guiding educational professionals in the selection of books for free reading in the classroom and the library. Studies which examined books that children actually read rather than studies investigating topics children might…

The assumption that book title choices can be used for identification of pupil interests is supported. (RB)

Research shows that censorship by the schools, especially in English departments, has remained strong over a ten year period; a paper presented at annual Conference on English Education (7th, Syracuse, N.Y., March 28, 1969). (SW)

Teachers are urged to be very discriminating when choosing books for a particular group of kindergarten children. Extensive lists of books chosen by a group of children in 1965-70 are included. (AF)

Highlights six current adult books of interest to high school readers. (HOD)

Describes "Bookmatch," a computer program that attempts to match children with just the right book. (FL)

Describes how the author was shaped by his reading experiences as a boy and young man. Suggests some of the values literature holds for individuals in various circumstances and urges that teachers work to match books to individual students and their needs and interests. (TJ)

Describes the kinds of books that adolescents tend to choose to read on their own, including the influence of series books on the genre. Lists positive and negative aspects of series book publishing. Argues for teachers to stay up to date in adolescent literature. (HB)

Presents a model (developed as a result of surveying college students enrolled in "Fiction for Adolescents" classes) to help teachers recognize adolescent novels which are likely to appeal to their students and which have literary merit. (SR)

Library media specialist should be prepared to select books appropriate for each student's needs. In this article, the author suggests that when making selections for Spanish-Speaking ESL students, look for the following characteristics: (1) Choose books with simple, limited text and pictures on each page, (2) Select bilingual books with text in…

This book presents an informal history of books and reading, beginning with the first clay tablets and continuing on to the latest novels. The history recounted in the book reveals the power books have always had to delight and entertain, and to enlighten, educate, and "raise possibilities." But the story of reading also contains many…

While English teachers want students to enjoy reading, to appreciate the beauty of literature, and to recognize the universality of the classics, many adolescent students do not become interested in the aesthetic aspect of literature until they are beyond high school age. Some works, outside the traditional literary canon, speak more directly to…