Sterling Publishing, 2006
ISBN: 9781402715150
Available: New
This book is a good introduction for the reader getting ready to take on the intricacies of language in the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. The book starts with a brief biography of the author and then leads the reader through five of Poe’s most famous short stories. Each of the stories is preceded by a short summary that ends by asking the reader an open ended question about the text. The words in each story remain entirely Poe’s- there is no abridgment- but words that may be challenging to the reader are listed in the corner of each page with a short definition, meaning the reader can continue to “flow” with the text rather than having to stop and look up every unknown word. Unfortunately, the words needing definition are not identified within the story, and a reader unaware of the feature might fail to take advantage of it.
As with many books aimed at reluctant readers, the book is visually attractive and designed with plenty of white space. The illustrations by Gerard DuBois are appropriately creepy in nature, with his murky oils creating an atmosphere of depression, fear, and madness. While not a textbook, there is certainly a place in the classroom for a book like this one. It’s a far cry from the permabound anthology with its tiny print and nonexistent margins that I used in school. And anyone who chances to come across this on their own may find themselves intrigued enough to explore further the works of this master of mystery and terror. Recommended for public library young adult collections and highly recommended for school library media centers in middle and high schools.
Contains: live burials, madness, murder, alcoholic drinking, plague and pestilence, revenge.