Lost Masterworks of Young Adult Literature brings to the attention of librarians, teachers, and publishers works of young adult literature that are considered to be worthy of a far wider readership than they currently receive. Many of these "lost works" are either out of print or are lost to the attention of many young readers and to adults who promote young adult literature as a worthy and enjoyable genre. A compilation of 26 essays, each focusing on an individual work of literature or on a series of books treated as one, have been written by a stunning list of contributors. Twenty-six contributors each a known writer in the field of young adult literature, focus on an individual work of literature or on a series of books treated as one.
Each essay discusses why the book is of interest, profiles its critical qualities that make it a "masterwork" for young adults, and reviews how and why the book appeals to teen readers and how it can be used in the classroom. Aspects of the plot--primary characters, events, and the setting--are embedded in the discussion of each essay, giving an overview to readers who are not familiar with the book.
Contributors include Virginia Euwer Wolff, Katherine Paterson, Sue Ellen Bridgers, Kathleen Krull, and many other award-winning authors. This is an important resource for those who teach young adults and who provide reader's advisory services, as well as for those involved in curriculum planning and instructional design.