This book includes in-depth descriptions of young adolescent novels organized by theme and useful teaching ideas. The themes are clustered in the following categories:

• Against the Tide - novels about standing up and speaking out
• A Tangle of Emotions - novels about family relations
• When Danger Threatens - novels about survival
• Beyond Stereotypes - novels about growing up in other cultures
• No Longer Strangers - novels about strangers
• Bruised and Outside - novels about the homeless

"Vossler's new book stands as an exceptionally useful guide to responding to kids' issues by drawing upon the plethora of excellent literature available today"—from the foreword.