Welcome back to school! And welcome back to a brand new year of READ magazine!

In our first issue of the year, we ask students to look inside themselves and see what they can see. The theme of this premiere issue is all about identity and self. Teenage years are a time when students are trying out different identities and figuring out who they are. In this isssue, we offer several stories that address this topic carefully.

Our center stage play is an adaptation of Karen Cushman's young adult novel, The Midwife's Apprentice. The story explores the character of a little girl in 14th-century England who emerges from a dung heap to search for her place in the world. Who is she? Who should she be? It takes the poor thing many years just to figure out a name for herself let alone what she should do with her life!

In a nonfiction piece, we excerpt a chapter from We Beat The Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success. It is a true story of three African American friends who made a pact early on in life that no matter what the cost, they would escape from their hard knock lives and make something of themselves. This very inspiring story tells the message loud and clear: anyone can be what they want to be.

Our fiction story is written by Gary Soto. It is called Capturing The Moment, and it concerns itself with a little girl who lives in a trailer and doesn't have much in terms of wealth. But she does have her art and she can recognize and reproduce beauty. Is that enough to paint a well-rounded image of happiness? What do you think?

In our writing section, we excerpt Ralph Fletcher's A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. You think that's all? Well it's not! We've also got an exclusive interview with Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series! Wow! Welcome back, indeed!

Had enough? Hope not! Because this year, we've got a ton of electronic extras for you! Check it out!

PREMIERE SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT

READ has a full library of electronic issues inluding literary sites dedicated to Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Poetry, The Canterbury Tales, Student Writng, and much more! If you are a subscriber, you already have access to these great literary tools. Just click HERE and sign in using your account number if it is your first time. Then, you can set up a username and password and even set a "magic word" so that your students have instant (easy) access.

FREE PREVIEW OF SHAKESPEARE

READ magazine presents: William Shakespeare, the electronic issue

For a limited time only, non-subscribers can access our WIlliam Shakespeare site. But hurry! This link won't last long! Click HERE to subscribe to READ magazine!

READ Magazine has a blog! WORD!

Have students submit their writing to us at word@weeklyreader.com. We will post the best of the best on our blog, WORD, at www.readandwriting.com.

Interactive Lit Scene Investigation: Symbolism

Click HERE to introduce your students to a whole other level of Gary Soto's story Capturing The Moment.

Phew, that's a lot! We hope you and your students get the most out of READ! E-Mail us any time at read@weeklyreader.com.

Happy New School Year!

-Bryon Cahill

Senior Editor, READ Magazine