Young Adult Literature, Race, Arts, & Confidence: At-Risk Students Building Critical Literacy with Lester's "Othello."

Advocates three ways of engaging students with literature to develop critical literacy: incorporating young adult literature, responding through the arts, and addressing issues and themes (even the controversial ones). Argues that accessible literature, thought-provoking artistic methods, and genuine, higher-level questions encourage in-depth thinking that all students deserve. Describes a 6-week unit using Julius Lester's "Othello: A Novel" as the core text. (SG)