To Be a Boy, To Be a Reader: Engaging Teen and Preteen Boys in Active Literacy

by William G. Brozo

It's no secret that boys in the United States are at great risk of failing at school, due in large part to their disinterest in traditional literacy texts. The first edition of To Be a Boy, To Be a Reader shed light on a novel way to boost boys motivation to read and increase their achievement in school-and set them on a path of lifelong literacy. And now, the bestselling, oft-cited classic is back in a fully updated second edition, packed with helpful, timely advice and resources for your middle or high school classroom. To Be a Boy, To Be a Reader centers on engaging boys with books that contain positive male archetypes such as the Pilgrim, Patriarch, King, Healer, Prophet, and Lover. In these pages you get * Full descriptions-with literature examples-of all 10 archetypes
* Classroom vignettes that show how teachers have successfully integrated these books into their teaching
* A brand-new chapter that focuses on using alternative texts such as graphic novels and comic books
* Fresh ideas for involving parents and community leaders in boys literacy growth
* An expansive, fully updated young adult literature list, organized by the 10 archetypes The International Reading Association is the world's premier organization of literacy professionals. Our titles promote reading by providing professional development to continuously advance the quality of literacy instruction and research. Research-based, classroom-tested, and peer-reviewed, IRA titles are among the highest quality tools that help literacy professionals do their jobs better. Some of the many areas we publish in -Comprehension
-Response To Intervention/Struggling Readers
-Early Literacy
-Adolescent Literacy
-Assessment
-Literacy Coaching
-Research And Policy

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

239 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this book 3.5 if I could. The book's premise is that boys can get into reading via their personal interests and books which deal with themes which are traditionally boyish - war, adventure, non-fiction. Boys also favour books with boy protagonists which links into one of the most interesting aspects of the books, the male archetypes. Brozo uses books with characters that boys can identify with and that provide good examples of masculinity based on the male archetypes which appeal to boys. There is a section on each archetype with book recommendations and examples of teaching. I found the idea of the archetypes based on Jung psychology really interesting but the teaching examples were somewhat disappointing, nothing new or particularly creative, otherwise a very good book for people looking for ideas to engage boys in reading.

[Salsabrarian]

Author describes how to find books for boys using 10 positive male archetypes: Pilgrim (searcher, wanderer, wants to improve life), Patriarch (care, nobility, self-sacrifice), King (trustworthy, leader), Warrior (brave, edifying, honorable), Magician (intuitive, clever), Wildman (lustiness, unpredictability, independent), Healer (mystical, spiritual, heals societies that are suffering), Prophet (controversial, piques consciousness, revelations), Trickster (irreverent, funny, satirical), and Lover (giving, caring, intimate). By teaching these archetypes through literature, the author believes that boys will find reading relevant to their lives and learn about honorable ways to be a man.