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Education: Young Adult Literature

Prepared by Karilyn Jaap
February 2006

Circulating materials on this subject are located on the third floor of the library. Check the library online catalog under the subject headings “Young Adult Literature” and “Young Adults--Books and Reading” for further titles.

Biography

Black Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children and Young Adults. REF PN1009 .A1R62 1999.

A biobibliography of over 150 authors and illustrators of children’s materials. Appendices include photographs of jacket covers, a list of awards and honors, a list of bookstores and distributors, and a title index.

Contemporary Authors. REF Z1224 .C6

Gives an up-to-date source of biographical information on current authors in many fields and from many countries. Sketches include a bibliography of the author’s works and a list of reference sources. Since the series includes two extensive revisions, an author may be listed in several subsequent volumes, thus use of the separate cumulative index is strongly advised.

Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature. REF PN1008.5 .C66 2001.

Describes “the development and current trends in children’s literature” with “emphasis on the English-speaking countries.” Signed alphabetical entries are both topical and biographical (includes both authors and illustrators) and each concludes with a list of awards and a bibliography. A name index is at the back.

Junior Authors and Illustrators. REF PN1009 .A1S3936 Library has: 2nd ed., rev. (1951); Companion to 2nd ed., rev. (1963); 3rd ed. (1972); 4th ed. (1978); 5th ed. (1983); 6th ed. (1989); 7th ed. (1996)

Each book in this continuing series contains over 200 sketches of authors and illustrators who have come to prominence since the publication of the previous volume. There is a cumulative name index at the back of each.

The 100 Most Popular Young Adult Authors. REF PS490 .D74 1996

Brief biographical sketches are followed by a description of the author’s main fiction themes and a bibliography of the author’s works. No index. A second compilation, 100 More Popular Young Adult Authors (REF PS490 .D74 2002), supplements the first. This volume follows the same format with the addition of author, title, and genre indexes at the back.

Something About the Author. REF PN452 .S6

An ongoing series giving biographical information about authors and illustrators of children’s books. Entries include a bibliography of the author’s works. Every other volume carries a cumulative index.

Twentieth-Century Young Adult Writers. REF PS490 .T84 1994

Provides biographical, bibliographical, and critical information on more than 400 fiction authors writing for young people between the ages of eleven and nineteen. A title index follows at the back.

Writers of Multicultural Fiction for Young Adults. REF Z1037 .K88 1996.

Subtitled a “bio-critical sourcebook,” this volume combines a biographical sketch with an analysis of each author’s major themes and a critique of the works. The compiler includes 51 writers by defining “multicultural” as “literature written in English about North American and Caribbean cultural groups that by virtue of race, ethnicity, or religious background differ from the culturally dominant white Europeans.” There is a selected bibliography and author/title index at the back.

Yesterday’s Authors of Books for Children. 2 v. REF PN451 .Y4

Profusely illustrated entries “on children’s authors who died before 1961 with primary attention given to authors who are still being read by children.” About 80 authors are profiled with a complete bibliography of writings by and about each person. There is a cumulative author/illustrator index at the back of the second volume.

Criticism

Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults. 8 v. REF PN1009 .A1B43 1989

A compilation of analytical essays on and study activities for fiction and nonfiction written for junior and senior high school students. Signed entries are alphabetical by title and include sections on the themes and characters in the work, its portrayal of social issues, and suggested topics for class discussion. Appendices list a theme (subject) index and a cumulative author/title index.

The Best in Children’s Books. REF PN1009 .A1S93 Library has: 1973-1978; 1979-1984; 1985-1990.

A compilation of children’s book reviews from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books published by the Center for Children’s Books at the University of Chicago. Listings are alphabetical by author and give a recommended age level. In addition to a title index, indexes for developmental values, curricular use, reading level, and subject are appended.

Children’s Literature Review . REF Z1037 .A1C5

A multi-volume work that compiles excerpts from reviews, criticism, and commentary on books for children and young people. Each volume deals with 20 to 40 authors and includes biographical as well as extensive critical information. Cumulative author and title indexes are at the back.

Contemporary Literary Criticism. REF PN771 .C59

An ongoing series of selected excerpts from critical writings on contemporary authors. Writers included are “those who are either now living or have died since January 1, 1960.” About 175 authors are treated in each volume with critiques drawn mainly from writings of the past 25 years. Each volume carries a cumulative author, title, topic, and nationality index. Because an author may be treated in more than one volume, use of the index is strongly recommended.

Juniorplots. REF Z1037 .A1G5 Library also has: More Juniorplots. [REF Z1037 .A1G52] and Juniorplots 3. [REF Z1037 .A1G497]

Topically divided chapters on books aimed at young people aged 10 to 16. The titles were chosen for their use in book talks given by either teachers or librarians. Thematic and book talk material is stressed. Each book concludes with an author/title index and a subject index.

Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. REF PN761 .N5 1981.

Follows the same model as Contemporary Literary Criticism (see above) but is limited to writers who lived between 1800 and 1900.

General Sources

International Companion Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature. REF PN1008.5 .I57 1996

Topically arranged chapters on the theory and criticism of children’s literature. A list of references and further readings follows each essay. A subject index is appended.

Fiction Sequels for Readers 10 to 16. REF PN1009 .A1A53 1990

An annotated bibliography of books in succession arranged by author. A title index follows.

Radical Reads: 101 YA Novels on the Edge. REF Z1037 .B65 2002.

An alphabetical listing of “edgy, raw, and relevant” young adult fiction. Each entry includes a descriptive list of characters, a plot synopsis, major themes and ideas, the risks and strengths of the plot, and a list of reviews. Indexes at the back include author, genre, and subject.

Young Reader’s Companion. REF PN1008.5 .C373 1993

A short-entry encyclopedia on books “that appeal to young people” from fifth grade through high school, on the authors of those books, and on selected subjects. Characters, people of the Bible, legendary heroes, and mythological creatures are included. A subject index is appended.

Indexes and Guides

Best Books for Junior High Readers. REF Z1037 .B546 1991

Covers recommended reading material for young people aged 12 to 15. Titles are arranged under broad subject areas or by curriculum-oriented topics. Short annotations accompany each listing. At the back, in addition to an author and a title index, there is a subject/grade level index as well. A companion volume, Best Books for Senior High Readers (REF PN1009 .A1G54 1991), covers readers aged 15 to 18.

Best Books for Young Adult Readers, Grades 7-12. REF Z1037 .C176 1997.

In response to changes within the juvenile reading population, this book supplements and upgrades the two previous titles for junior and senior high readers. Arrangement and indexing are the same.

Book Review Index. 1965 to date. Index Row E

Covers book reviews found in about 450 periodicals. Reviews are primarily for both adult and juvenile fiction and general nonfiction. Arranged by author with bibliographic citations to reviews. A title cross-index is also in each volume.

Bowker’s Complete Video Directory. 4 v. REF PN1992.95 .V29

Volumes one and two of this series give complete descriptive and ordering information for Entertainment titles; volumes three and four feature Education and Special Interest titles followed by an extensive subject index. There is also a series index, a list of manufacturers and distributors, and a list of services and suppliers.

Education Full Text. 1994 to date [full text starts in 1996]. Libraries of the USF System

The online version of Education Index (1929-1996, Index Row D) delivers indexing of about 580 journals. Although this database indexes fewer journals than ERIC (see below), it includes a number that the latter does not.

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center). 1967 to date. Libraries of the USF System

Probably the foremost index in education, ERIC is actually two separate indexing/abstracting services: CIJE and RIE (see below). At USF, citations and abstracts to the entire ERIC collection are available online with links to full text versions of the materials.

CIJE (Current Index to Journals in Education). 1969-1996. Index Row D.

CIJE is a monthly index to more than 800 primary education journals. Arranged by abstract number within broad subject areas, each citation carries a detailed abstract. Indexing is by subject terms (descriptors) from the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors. Poynter Library subscribes to roughly 30% of the journal titles indexed in CIJE; most of the rest are available at the Tampa Main Campus libraries.

RIE (Resources in Education). 1973-2001. Index Row D.

RIE indexes and abstracts a variety of education documents not available through normal publishing channels. These documents include pamphlets, research reports, project reports, theses, conference papers, government documents, and a host of other hard-to-find peripheral materials produced in education. Poynter Library carries the complete set of RIE microfiche.

Index to Poetry for Children and Young People. REF PN1023 .B722 Library has: 1964-1969; 1970-1975; 1976-1981; 1982-1987; 1988-1992.

A title, subject, author, and first line index to poetry in collections for young people from elementary through senior high school. In each volume, the collections of poetry used in the index are listed at the front.

Reference Guide to Historical Fiction for Children and Young Adults. REF PN1009 .A1A35 1987

Concentrates on historical novels written since 1940 by authors of recognized excellence. Alphabetical entries are mostly by author, with titles, protagonists, places, and other relevant terms interspersed. Author entries give a short synopsis of each novel covered with comments on styles and themes. Appendices include a locale and date guide, readability level guide, a bibliography on writing historical novels, a second bibliography on the writers of the novels in the guide, and an author/title index.

WilsonOmniFile. 1994 to date. Libraries of the USF System

This database delivers full-text articles online selected from six indexes published by the H. W. Wilson Company: Readers’ Guide, Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, General Science, and Business. Since a good many of the most popular education journals are indexed in one or more of these indexes, WilsonOmniFile is a good source for educational subjects.

Your Reading. REF PN1009 .A1Y68 1993

Published by the National Council of Teachers of English, this booklist covers books published in 1991-1992 for middle school and junior high school readers. The book is divided into four large sections with annotated entries by author within subject areas. There is an appendix of suggested readings and separate author, title, and subject indexes.

Selected Journals

Alan Review. Print: 1991 to date. Online: 1994-1998. Refereed.

Booklist. Print: Current year only. Online: 1992 to date.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Print: Last five years only.

English Journal. Print: 1960 to date.

Horn Book Magazine. Print: 1970 to date. Online: 1993 to date.

Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Print: 1995 to date. Online: 2000 to date. Refereed.
Formerly: Journal of Reading. Print: 1964/65 to date.

Journal of Youth Services in Libraries. Print: 1987/88-2002. Online: 1998-2002.
[Note: Ceased publication in 2002.]

Library Journal. Print: 1974 to date. Online: 1996 to date.

Publisher’s Weekly. Print: Current year only. Online: 1987 to date.

Wilson Library Bulletin. Print: 1957 to 1995. Online: 1994-1995.
[Note: Ceased publication in 1995.]