Isabel Allende Amy Tan Haruki Murakami Stephen King

Gr 8 Up—These books provide excellent information for reports. Each volume includes an introduction, a chapter about the author, and one that places the author in the context of his or her times. These chapters are very helpful as students often forget to view writers in light of personal and world history. The following chapters address at least two of the authors' major works and include a concise analysis; a section on plots, themes, and issues; motifs and symbols; and characters. There is also a list of the works and a chronology for each individual. The texts are organized well, lending themselves to be read in their entirety or used as needed for research, and include full-color photos and illustrations. While the books are on the right reading level for middle school patrons, the interest level would be older students.—Melyssa Kenney, Parkville High School, Baltimore, MD