The author takes the experience of book challenges as an opportunity for positive curricular changes by walking readers through the development of a formalized procedure for selecting new, diverse texts to add to the English Language Arts (ELA) program curriculum. The text-selection committee arrived at a six-step method: (1) Identify Desired…

A national survey of senior secondary English curriculum content has confirmed that contemporary literature predominates among set texts, being seen as an "essential" category for study because of its "relevance" in helping students "understand the world in which they live." Perhaps uncontentious -- depending on the…

Expresses disappointment in the book and publishing community for not giving an award each year to the best young adult book. Presents an annotated list of the author's own favorites for each year from 1964 to 1995. (TB)

Discusses issues related to the use of gay and lesbian literature in secondary English classes. Describes how one English teacher uses A. M. Homes's novel "Jack" to help students understand the problems faced by homosexuals in today's society. (HB)

Describes young adult novels that may prove to be classics of the genre. Discusses "The "Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier, "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton, "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare, and "On Fortune's Wheel" by Cynthia Voight. (HB)

Science fiction today provides the best opportunity to introduce ideas that will get students involved.

Reviews and critiques a new collection of essays edited by Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner: "Reading Their World: The Young-Adult Novel in the Classrooms." Considers especially the "literariness" of literature. (HB)

Describes the current offerings in the genre of multicultural fiction for adolescents. Justifies the use of multicultural novels in the classroom. Provides examples of novels that include characters representative of a multicultural society. (HB)

Discusses the novel "Web of Dreams" by Virginia Andrews, a favorite among many secondary students. Considers the book as subject for secondary English study. Claims that the novel defies most teacherly prejudices about formula writing. Provides detailed criticism of the novel. (HB)

Discusses films based on young adult novels and why they are often considered failures. Describes various films about young adults and their problems that have proven to be artistic successes. Gives close attention to film versions of S. E. Hinton's novels and of Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War." (HB)

IN 1963, THE COOPERATIVE TEST DIVISION OF THE EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A LIST OF THE MAJOR WORKS OF LITERATURE TAUGHT TO ALL STUDENTS IN ANY ENGLISH CLASS IN UNITED STATES SECONDARY SCHOOLS. QUESTIONNAIRES ASKING FOR SUCH A LIST OF EACH GRADE WERE SENT TO RANDOM SAMPLES OF SCHOOLS, AND 222 PUBLIC, 223 CATHOLIC, 192…

THESE TWO TESTS--"THE CALL OF THE WILD" AND "THE PEARL"--WERE DESIGNED BY THE OREGON CURRICULUM STUDY CENTER FOR AN EIGHTH-GRADE LITERATURE CURRICULUM. THEY ARE INTENDED TO ACCOMPANY CURRICULUM UNITS AVAILABLE AS ED 010 143 AND ED 010 144. (MM)

Presents a rationale for teaching "Catch-22" in the 1980s. (DF)

Discusses the issue of whether or not Mark Twain's novel, "Huckleberry Finn," should be taught. Reviews various arguments for and against teaching the novel. Concludes that the novel is worthy of being taught. (HB)

Gives responses of 11 practicing teachers to the question, "What novel published since 1987 do you recommend for high school readers?" Provides citations, summaries, and overviews of the works. (HB)