This article illustrates the serious challenge of engaging boys in reading and writing which has become more complex and even influences the lives of gifted adolescent males. This article attempts to address this concern. In order to do so, the authors examine the scholarly literature on boys' reading preferences and report findings from that…

The latest reading assessment results of the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP-13) reveal that the majority (88%) of Canadian 13-year-olds perform at or above the expected level of proficiency. These results also reveal a persistent literacy gap between boys and girls: with the Canadian average set at 500, girls outscore boys by 23 points (see…

Researchers concerned with curriculum differentiation for gifted and talented students have long promoted the benefits of providing opportunities for students to explore their personal interests within the regular curriculum. Many literacy researchers have also concluded that teachers can improve students' (especially boys') attitudes toward…

Argues that young adult literature can play a significant role in the emotional and mental health of an adolescent as well as help young males become more literate. Offers a 19-item annotated list of young adult novels with male protagonists, sorted by themes: nature and adventure stories, sports stories, genre stories, historical stories, and…

Describes a technique that used ambiguously drawn pictures of scenes depicting various aspects of the reading process to elicit imaginative reactions by fifth-grade boys. Results suggest that the high achieving readers had significantly more positive attitudes toward reading than did low achieving readers. (FL)

A study was conducted to discover if the stated reading attitudes and interests of sixth grade students were relevant to their self-selected reading materials. Fifty students completed questionnaires concerning their reading attitudes and interests and used log sheets to record information about their self-selected reading materials. The results…

Discusses text features that tended to engage boys, and describes their desire to use literacy to share and socialize. Finds that boys were more different than alike, and that very particular conditions in the social context were more important than preexisting interests. Offers brief descriptions of 11 books the author has found to be appealing…

Analyzes the roles played by females in Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret." Concludes that the book offers flat and unflattering portrayals of female characters. (FL)

The author of a new guide to selecting books boys (preschool through junior high) will enjoy discusses the social view of reading as feminine, the limited cultural vision of masculinity, and the ability of books to offset these one-dimensional images. (Author/AEF)