Student Handbook Including The Young Reader's Companion Volume 2 - Hardcover

Carruth, Gorton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0835227650 ISBN 13: 9780835227650

Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc, 1993

Synopsis

This authoritative single-volume encyclopedia helps children and young adults understand the characters, plots, and allusions in the books they read. For librarians, parents, and teachers, it performs double duty as an in-depth selection tool. The Young Reader's Companion contains more than 2,000 entries, arranged alphabetically for easy access. Each is approximately 200 words long, and designates the appropriate reading level--either Middle Reader or young Adult.

About this title

About the Author

rruth /f Gorton

Reviews

As its preface states, this "illustrated A-to-Z short-entry encyclopedia has as its chief purpose the promotion of reading." It is designed to appeal to young people from approximately fifth grade through high school and could be used by those about to enter college. The compiler, Gorton Carruth, has been an editor of reference books for more than 40 years.

There are more than 2,000 entries: approximately 800 on books, 750 on authors, 280 on historical persons, and 200 on mythological and legendary figures, places, signs and symbols, and phrases. The book entries cover classics and contemporary titles, ranging from Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Pan to Ralph S. Mouse and Maniac Magee, from the Bible to 2001: A Space Odyssey and books by Stephen King and Tony Hillerman. Nonfiction titles that would quickly become dated have been excluded; however, such classics as The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Kon-Tiki, and On the Origin of Species have entries. The books are summarized with the young reader in mind, and film and TV adaptations are mentioned. The birth and death dates of authors are provided, and the rubrics MR and YA after each entry refer to reading level. MR (middle reader) covers grades five through eight; YA (young adult) suggests a high school or adult reading level.

The author entries summarize the writer's work and mention specific titles. Coverage is unusually good, although some personal favorites are missing: Bruce Brooks, Eve Bunting, Lynn Hall, Dianne Wynne Jones. The remaining entries provide background information for readers and are wide-ranging: for example, McCarthyism, Ode, Renaissance, and Shylock.

The subject index groups entries under such headings as African Americans, Biography and Autobiography, Fantasy, Poetry, and World War II. Approximately 120 black-and-white illustrations, largely reproductions from books, are scattered throughout the volume.

This book most resembles Ben{‚}et's Reader's Encyclopedia, though Ben{‚}et's was not written with children in mind. Students may not voluntarily seek out The Young Reader's Companion, but with adult guidance they should find it useful. Greatest use may come from teachers, librarians, and other interested adults who will find it valuable as a selection aid, for booktalks, and also for leisurely browsing.

Edition details

• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0835227650
• ISBN 13: 9780835227650
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 681