Backpack Literature 4th Edition by Kennedy - College Textbook for American Literature Courses | Perfect for Students & Educators

I have been searching for a thorough introduction to literary analysis, and I've found it. Even though this is a college level text, it also works well for advanced homeschoolers. With 1000 pages, the author has plenty of room to introduce and discuss various literary terms, give examples, analyze the suggested readings, create correlations, and offer further critical thinking questions. (There is an instructor manual, however, it is very hard to get a hold of due to stringent safeguards against student cheating. I have the manual, but I found Sparknotes to be equally helpful for those times I wasn't sure what answer the author was looking for.) There is a take-away summary at the end of each chapter. In addition, the text is geared to taking what you've learned one step further and applying it to your own writing - whether fiction, or in essays. The last few chapters are devoted to how to write a proper essay.Even though this is a college level text, I was pleased to find that most (not all) selections are appropriate for younger students. There is limited cursing, and limited sexuality (usually fade-to-black). Though XJK obviously has his favorite authors, there is a wide range of pieces from all time periods and styles, both classics and lesser known stories and authors. My only complaint is the inclusion of a number of complete plays - I would have preferred excerpts or suggestions for reading, and saved the page space (almost 1/3 of the book). I would also like to see more suggestions offered for novel-length stories related to each concept.The pages are thin, however, a careful reader will find they are sturdy enough. With care, this book should last well.