Gary Paulsen, a three-time Newbery Honor winner, has written over 175 books for young adults and adults for over twenty years. His stories of adventure and survival are beloved by readers, teachers, librarians, and critics. This volume examines a sample of the most widely-known and widely-studied books by Paulsen. A biographical chapter demonstrates how Paulsen's life experiences, notably the Iditarod, have influenced his writing. Each book is analyzed for plot, characterization, setting, and themes, written at a level that is accessible for young readers, yet providing in-depth...

Joan Bauer is one of the most popular young adult novelists today. She is well-respected not only by her readers, but also by librarians and critics, having won a Newbery Honor for "Hope Was Here" (2001), among other awards. Drawing on personal experiences with divorce and family alcoholism, Bauer has her seemingly ordinary teenage characters face situations that test, and prove, their maturity and confidence. Following an introduction to Bauer's work, and a biographical chapter, this volume examines each novel by breaking it down into sections on plot, characterization, setting, and...

"Sharon Creech" is a best-selling author for young adult readers, and her books are enjoyed in both classroom settings and for leisure reading for three important reasons: -She shows great respect for teens through giving attention to the voices of teen protagonists, creating adventures in which teens grown socially and emotionally as a result of a journey. She captures the language of her characters, including dialects from the hollers of West Virginia and the mountains of Switzerland, and introduces figurative language and vocabulary to enrich her readers' experience during and after...

Tamora Pierce has a large following of teen and adult readers, who savor her fantasy novels with strong female characters. This volume provides her readers and fans with additional insights into her life and work. The first section provides a biographical chapter and literary heritage. The second and third sections analyze the Tales of Tortall and the Magic Circle Sagas as a whole, providing details into the characters and settings of each. The final section of the book, Perspectives, includes both a section on literary techniques along with an interview of Tamora Pierce herself....

Walter Dean Myers, acclaimed author of African American books for children and young adults, published his first book, "Where Does the Day Go?" in 1969. He is most widely known for his coming-of-age novels including the Newbery Honor books "Scorpions" (1989) and "Somewhere in the Darkness" (1993). A prolific author of both fiction and nonfiction, novels and historical works examined here include "Fallen Angels, The Glory Field, Monster" and "Shooters."

Myers has written over 70 books, the most recent also illustrated by his son Christopher. He volunteers at local schools to encourage...