Revenge

November 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-These volumes provide detailed guidelines on examining literary works for thematic content and critiquing them. Each selection presents comprehensive overviews of familiar literary classics and films, followed by insightful analyses and critical-thinking questions. Ideas for alternative analyses will further stimulate students' thinking (for instance, in The Antihero, an examination of Heathcliff is followed by a question about whether Cathy is a feminist antihero). Theses and their supporting arguments are highlighted and thoroughly explained. The inclusion of popular films, including those based on books by John Green, Suzanne Collins, and Veronica Roth, heightens the appeal. Color and black-and-white stills taken from films and cinematic and staged versions of the titles under discussion generously illustrate the volumes. Back-matter resources are excellent: "Analyze It" invites students to use what they have learned to analyze a book of their choosing, "Characteristics and Classics" lists salient features of the themes and famous works that include them, and bibliographies are in-depth. VERDICT Highly recommended for able, sophisticated students, and particularly valuable for advanced English and literature classes.

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