Although young adult literature is often recommended as a reading bridge to the classics, Stallworth insists that the genre deserves a prominent place in the middle school canon in its own right. She describes several examples from middle school classrooms of how young adult novels can enhance tweens' "life literacy" by both helping them develop the reading and writing skills needed for success and giving them a forum for discussing tough life issues. There is controversy, which Stallworth addresses, over the tendency for many teen novels to center on such emotionally dark subjects as rape and domestic violence. Stallworth also discusses why some middle school teachers are reluctant to step beyond the tried-and-true classics and incorporate young adult literature into the curriculum.