This week: Books about teaching, books for teens, cultural change, and the eternal power of Shakespeare. Let's go. 

At Empathic Teacher, Jennifer Isgitt writes about the Young Adult novels she's been reading this summer.

David Masciotra has a strong opinion on the disappointing cultural shifts leading some to herald the demise of college English Departments.

We all know reading Shakespeare is important — and Jennifer Kitchen has researched how studying the Bard can help students become more creative. More here, including a few teaching ideas.

Dana Huff is reviewing ​Falling in Love with Close Reading: Lessons for Analyzing Texts—and Life, a recent book by Christopher Lehman and Kate Roberts. If you've heard of the book and are thinking of picking it up, you may want to look into this. She reviews Chapters 1 and 2 in this installment.

Have a great weekend!