Presenting Young Adult Fantasy Fiction (Twayne's United States Authors Series)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent look at YA Fantasy...
Review: "Success" is the first word that comes to mind after reading MacRae's contribution to the Twayne U.S. Authors Series. Her's is the first serious look at Young Adult Fantasy that has ever come to my attention, and I couldn't put it down.

Four author biography/critiques are presented throughout the volume. Terry Brooks, Jane Yolen, Barbara Hambly, and the lesser-known Meredith Ann Pierce are examined, from timelines of their lives to summaries of each of their works. Personal information and quotes from these acclaimed writers are the result of long research and personal and by-mail interviews. Other authors are also noted in less detail, such as Ursula K. LeGuin, Susan Cooper, David Eddings, and Robert Jordan.

Even more important than the indepth looks at authors is the young adult input in this book. Cathi Dunn MacRae, a young adult librarian, spent five and a half years heading a group of teen Fantasy lovers at the Public Library in Boulder, Colorado. The teenagers, who called themselves the Fantasy Fanatics, met to read and discuss Fantasy books. They filled out surveys called YAFERs, giving their preferences on various aspects of YA Fantasy for *Presenting.* Their opinions on mentioned books are included at the end of each of the sensibly-arranged sections. It's fun to watch the opinions of the teenagers throughout--for example, the occasional collision of like and dislike between Allison Barrett and Ashley Burns. What's easily apparent is that we owe the Fantasy Fanatics as much thanks for this book as we do MacRae. Their influence on this work, from their opinions and thoughts right down to the cover art (an excellent, striking black-and-white portrait of two winged tigers by Fanatic Galadriel Wills) is unique and invaluable.

Simply put, if you are interested in YA Fantasy, you are interested in purchasing this book. Whether you love Yolen or loathe *Shannara*, this will be $ well-spent--when was the last time non-fiction kept you up past your bedtime?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent on all counts!
Review: "Success" is the first word that comes to mind after reading MacRae's contribution to the Twayne U.S. Authors Series. Her's is the first serious look at Young Adult Fantasy that has ever come to my attention, and I couldn't put it down.

Four author biography/critiques are presented throughout the volume. Terry Brooks, Jane Yolen, Barbara Hambly, and the lesser-known Meredith Ann Pierce are examined, from timelines of their lives to summaries of each of their works. Personal information and quotes from these acclaimed writers are the result of long research and personal and by-mail interviews. Other authors are also noted in less detail, such as Ursula K. LeGuin, Susan Cooper, David Eddings, and Robert Jordan.

Even more important than the indepth looks at authors is the young adult input in this book. Cathi Dunn MacRae, a young adult librarian, spent five and a half years heading a group of teen Fantasy lovers at the Public Library in Boulder, Colorado. The teenagers, who called themselves the Fantasy Fanatics, met to read and discuss Fantasy books. They filled out surveys called YAFERs, giving their preferences on various aspects of YA Fantasy for *Presenting.* Their opinions on mentioned books are included at the end of each of the sensibly-arranged sections. It's fun to watch the opinions of the teenagers throughout--for example, the occasional collision of like and dislike between Allison Barrett and Ashley Burns. What's easily apparent is that we owe the Fantasy Fanatics as much thanks for this book as we do MacRae. Their influence on this work, from their opinions and thoughts right down to the cover art (an excellent, striking black-and-white portrait of two winged tigers by Fanatic Galadriel Wills) is unique and invaluable.

Simply put, if you are interested in YA Fantasy, you are interested in purchasing this book. Whether you love Yolen or loathe *Shannara*, this will be $ well-spent--when was the last time non-fiction kept you up past your bedtime?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent on all counts!
Review: This book has more information about fantasy fiction than I'd ever dreamed of encountering in one place. I was continually amazed by the insight shown in the reviews by the teenagers, and delighted by their descriptive comments. This book is a must-own for anyone who enjoys reading fantasy fiction- young adult or not.