Illustrates dilemmas of "self" and "other" through memories of the author's relationship with her grandmother. Discusses assessment involving three close encounters: a reflective encounter (self to self); a reflexive encounter (self to other); and a dialectical encounter (a teacher who can act as mediator between self and other). (SR)

Discusses text features that tended to engage boys, and describes their desire to use literacy to share and socialize. Finds that boys were more different than alike, and that very particular conditions in the social context were more important than preexisting interests. Offers brief descriptions of 11 books the author has found to be appealing…