Designed to turn reluctant readers or non-readers into enthusiastic, perceptive readers, this compact edition of Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays enables students to discover their rich and diverse literary heritage and the power of literature to illuminate and enhance their lives. Exploring the range of readers' response, this teaching text invites students to bring their own creativity and imagination into play as they learn to validate their own thinking and writing. The stories, poems, and plays featured offer a blend of classic favorites, contemporary pieces, and works representing authors from the mainstream as well as those from culturally diverse backgrounds, and a variety of interactive pedagogical features address the needs of today's students.