Books in the The Breaking Down Series series

A practical guide to Sylvia Plath's works for middle and secondary school studentsOne of the most dynamic and admired poets of the 20th century, Sylvia Plath wrote work about war, motherhood, jealousy, rage, grief, death, and mental illness that challenged preconceptions about what poetry should be about. The enduring power of Plath's poetry and prose continues to attract and fascinate a multitude of readers. Best known for her poems "Daddy" and "Lady Lazarus" and the novel The Bell Jar, Plath starkly expressed a sense of alienation closely linked to both her personal experiences and the to the wider situation of women throughout mid-twentieth-century America. With an eye towards demythologizing Plath and focusing on her achievements, Breaking Down Plath aims to contextualize Plath's work in the larger scheme of Cold War-era gender politics, debates about mental health, and anxiety about global conflict.Breaking Down Plath informs readers of essential facts about Sylvia Plath's life and explores the works of the influential and controversial American poet, novelist, and short-story writer. Author Patricia Grisafi contextualizes and clarifies important underlying themes in Plath's works while providing insight into how interest in Plath's work developed, how the story of Plath's life has been told, what we still need to discover about her, and why her life and art matter.Breaking Down Plath:* Presents a critical biography of Plath's life* Offers a thematic tour through Plath's, short fiction, journals, and letters* Explores the recurrent themes in Plath's poetry* Features an overview of the reception of Plath's work* Discusses the role of Plath in contemporary popular cultureThis book is a primer for younger or new Plath readers and a welcome addition to the toolbox used by educators, parents, and anyone interested in or studying Plath's life and work.

A practical guide to Vonnegut's works for young adults, secondary, and college studentsKurt Vonnegut was a prolific American writer whose career spanned more than 50 years. Vonnegut's world is a complex web. His books, short stories, and essays are among the gems of American literature, exploring themes of historical events and human limitations. Written for young adults through adulthood, the goal of Breaking Down Vonnegut is to relate essential facts about Kurt Vonnegut's life and to address the themes underlying his imaginary worlds.Breaking Down Vonnegut features an overview of Vonnegut's life and an investigation of the midwestern values that were challenged by his imprisonment by the Nazis during his wartime military service. Those themes, often cloaked in science fiction, historical parallels, and social science conundrums, address the major questions of life: the values by which we choose to live.Author Julia Whitehead is the founder and CEO of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis. Her ten years of experience leading the organization and learning about Vonnegut impelled her to share her knowledge and insight with fans and those new to Vonnegut's life and work.Breaking Down Vonnegut* Showcases the multiple genres in Vonnegut's world* Provides a brief thematic tour through two of Vonnegut's books and one short story* Offers three chapters of biographical information* Explains why Kurt Vonnegut will remain one of the great American voices heard around the worldThis is the first book of its kind for middle and secondary students, and it will also delight educators, parents, and anyone interested in or studying Vonnegut's life and work.

A practical guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald's works for middle and secondary studentsF. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist, essayist, and writer best known for his glamourous novels that detailed life in America's Jazz Age--a term which he popularized. Throughout his career, Fitzgerald published four novels, four collections of short stories, and 164 short stories in magazines. His work commonly focused on themes of ambition and loss, money and class, and the promise and disappointment of America and its vaunted dream. In his lifetime, Fitzgerald gained fame for his The Great Gatsby and This Side of Paradise. Today, his works are taught in middle and high school classrooms throughout the United States and worldwide.Breaking Down Fitzgerald provides readers with an overview of Fitzgerald's life and investigates the composition, characters, themes, symbols, language, and motifs in his work and their relation to contemporary society. Author Helen Turner clarifies some essential facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and addresses important themes found in his novels and short stories. As readers explore the literary and cultural context of Fitzgerald's works, they develop a firm appreciation of Fitzgerald's role in modern literature and why he is considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.Breaking Down Fitzgerald:* Explains of why Fitzgerald remains one of the great American voices heard around the world* Showcases the multiple genres in Fitzgerald's world* Offers a brief thematic tour through Fitzgerald's novels and short stories* Provides an overview of Fitzgerald's critical reception* Discusses Fitzgerald in contemporary popular cultureThis book is a primer for younger or new Fitzgerald readers and a welcome addition to the toolbox used by educators, parents, and anyone interested in or studying F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and work.