"Angela Johnson: Poetic Prose provides a complete overview of the author's career, introducing her work and illuminating its nuances through research, interviews, and correspondence. The initial chapter offers insight into her life - including the early years - and the remaining chapters present a detailed literary analysis of each work, emphasizing the cultural insights and connections to African American literary history, as well as summations of published criticism. A chronology, bibliography, and index round out this resource for professors, scholars, and students of children's and young adult literature."--BOOK JACKET.

In “luminous moments told in lovely language,” the poems of the Newbery Medal–winning author of Boris bring a rural woman to vivid life (School Library Journal). Cynthia Rylant returns to her home state of West Virginia with this powerful and evocative collection of poems. In a heartbreaking narrative that flows like a novel, we follow Ludie from childhood to falling in love and getting married, through the birth of her own children, and on into old age. This is the story of one woman’s experiences in a hardscrabble coal-mining town, a story that brims with universal themes about life, love, and family—and all of the joy, laughter, heartache, and loss that accompany them. Would she tell you that six children were too many, that some disappointed, others surprised, but that, all in all, six were too many and one would have been just fine? Would she tell you that she married that boy at fifteen not only because he was tall and kind but also because she needed a way out? “A brilliant contribution to the growing collection of Appalachian literature that tells the story as honestly and purely as life in the mountains has always been and always will be.” —Teenreads “A collection of Zen-like moments of self-discovery and serenity . . . A powerful read for young and old alike.” —Kirkus Reviews

Throughout history, the verse novel has persisted as a modest but noteworthy literary subgenre, from classic works like Eugene Onegin to contemporary volumes by Vikram Seth, Dorothy Porter, and Derek Walcott. In particular, the verse novel has emerged as a popular form for young adult readers, such as the Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. As this unique form continues to flourish, it merits closer examination. In The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature, Brenna Friesner explores both the history and current use of the verse novel in teen fiction. Examining more than 220 titles written over the last few decades, Friesner discusses the verse novel’s evolution, analyzes key works, and considers how these novels can grapple with content that distinguishes them from traditional fiction. Though this study includes volumes written throughout history, its focus on contemporary novels further demonstrates the form’s relevance for today’s teens. By explaining its current popularity, this book acknowledges the verse novel’s potential to provide accessible, authentic stories for young adults to enjoy. The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature will be of interest to librarians and teachers, as well as anyone wanting to learn more about this burgeoning aspect of young adult literature.

Poetry in Literature for Youth offers teachers, librarians, parents, and students with an instrumental guide for incorporating all forms of poetry into the curriculum. More than 900 annotated entries provide descriptions of books and other resources, including anthologies, classics, various poetry formats, poetry novels, multicultural poetry, performance poetry, teen poetry, poet biographies, and curriculum connections. Educators, who are often unaware of the poetry resources available-particularly for young adults-will welcome this book with open arms. Lists for building a core poetry collection, along with resources for teaching poetry criticism and writing, electronic poetry resources, booktalks, classroom activities, and lesson plans complement this guide. Author, Geographic, Grade, Subject, and Title indexes are also included. For anyone interested in knowing more about poetry in literature, this is an indispensable guide.

Sometimes called the American Chekhov, Horton Foote has been mapping the rich emotional terrain just beneath the plain, quiet surfaces of his small-town characters for well over half a century. This anthology brings together three of his most critically acclaimed plays: Dividing the Estate, The Trip to Bountiful, and The Young Man from Atlanta.

A serial killer finds new hunting ground in the Smokey Mountains in this “smart, sexy and scary as hell” thriller by the New York Times bestselling author (Lisa Jackson, New York Times bestselling author). Just outside Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee, a victim is sacrificed on a makeshift altar—the gruesome handywork of a killer who has evaded authorities in state after state. FBI agent Dallas Sloan knows the scene all too well—just as he knows the killings won’t stop until there are four more bodies. Genny Madoc’s “sixth sense” has brought many of Cherokee Pointe’s residents to her isolated log cabin, looking for help. But now it’s Genny who needs help from disturbing visions that are getting stronger and more violent by the day. Thrown together by necessity, drawn to each other by desire, Dallas and Genny must band together, searching the darkest heart of a town’s hidden secrets before a twisted killer can complete a deadly ritual that will make one of them the fifth victim. “Fast . . . edgy . . . sexy . . . I loved The Fifth Victim!” —Linda Howard, New York Times bestselling author