The required classics in grades 7-12 are often too complex and removed from adolescent experience. This informative text uses thematic groupings built around recent young adult literature (YAL) as bridges to the classics. This second edition, which the authors have revised and greatly expanded, emphasizes the goal of helping teenagers become lifetime readers, as well as critical and confident readers. By pairing the required classics and young adult literature around common themes, the authors illustrate specific theme connections and include extensive lists of annotated YAL titles at the end of each classic title. New to this second edition:

Features more than 1,000 titles, hundreds published in the last five years.

Thirty-three recent YAL titles are included as theme connectors among the twelve most frequently taught classics.

Thematic units on "War: It's Effects and Its Aftermath" and "The Great Depression," including the "Dust Bowl" have been expanded.

Many new annotated YAL titles added to Archetypes.

A step-by-step approach to writing an Author Paper using YAL

Profiles of five outstanding school and public library programs that exemplify innovative student involvement.

Twelve interdisciplinary categories include lengthy annotated lists of fiction and nonfiction for interdisciplinary approaches.

Internet resources of book reviews, professional journals, authors, organizations, and Web sites devoted to YAL.