This edited volume blends two of the field’s (and my) favorite innovative practices—teaching through arts integration and young adult literature—into a beautiful cacophony of research backed and practically anchored chapters that both reinforce best practice while paving the way for new connections to be formed. Every middle and high school literacy-minded and students/learning focused teacher needs a copy of this book within reach as the challenges and opportunities of the classroom call for a constant evolution and deepening of our practice.

Christian Z. Goering, PhD, NBCT, past chair, English language arts teacher educators professor, English Education, University of Arkansas

Amid comments that ELA is not “English Language Arts (and Crafts)" and that a creative installation as culminating activity becomes a “Grecian Urn,” these practitioners present the artisan pedagogy that comes with authentic pottenbakken. In this collection, teachers like Donna Miller, Emily Wender, and Pauline Skowron Schmidt thoughtfully select contemporary Young Adult titles with known teen appeal and vet out the best match for creative expression while keeping an end product aligned to rigorous expectation of responding to literature. The authors here clearly express the “what and why” of their approach inviting collaboration between the ELA and art classroom. This collection should definitely be in the stack of the teacher looking for resources to approach multiform, multimodal responses to literature.

Paul W. Hankins, AP English Language and Composition (11th, 12th), Silver Creek High School/Sellersburg, Indiana

As an educator of English, Spanish, and Art for the last 25 years, I am passionate about the benefits of art integration across the curriculum. However, adding the arts to traditional lessons can be daunting and time consuming. Arts Integration and Young Adult Literature: Strategies to Enhance Academic Skills and Empower Student Voice provides ready, engaging, and detailed lessons that unify literary analysis and artistic creativity, helping students process literature through personal experience and practical application.

Dawn L. Sievers, artist, art educator, English educator, and Spanish educator

Arts Integration and Young Adult Literature offers valuable arts-integrated instructional techniques for teachers of young adult literature. Chapters in this impressive collection edited by Becki Maldonado describe innovative ways to help students examine and explore characters, themes, settings, and vocabulary in diverse young adult novels. Teachers using this influential book will find user-friendly strategies focused on artistic methods such as finger painting, digital storytelling, photo narratives, and dramatic performances that can help increase adolescent readers’ engagement and enjoyment. No artistic ability is required to use this inspiring text!

Kia Jane Richmond, PhD, Professor and Director of English Education, Northern Michigan University

The most important thing about Arts Integration and Young Adult Literature: Strategies to Enhance Academic Skills and Empower Student Voice is the wide array of art forms dovetailing so perfectly with a multitude of Young Adult titles. As educators are looking for ways to incorporate SEL standards into their content without losing rigor, they can look to this book for practical strategies that will engage students and support their overall development and confidence.

Cindi Koudelka, EdD, Fieldcrest CUSD 6 Curriculum Specialist, Aurora University Adjunct Professor, Illinois Reading Council: State Coordinator, Advocacy Chair, National Board Certified

A one-stop shop, providing the rationale for involving arts integration in all subjects, along with specific instructional support for classroom teachers. Should be of interest to all teachers in K-12 education. A guide-book that can be put to use immediately.

Bill McCloud, coordinator of social studies, Pryor (OK) Junior High (1975-2005), Rogers State University, poet, and author of What Should We Tell Our Children About Vietnam?