"[A] masterpiece...Denby is especially astute in describing what it takes to capture teenagers' attention....[A] wonderful book."
-The Huffington Post

"By turns funny, bracing, and utterly absorbing, it is that rare journalism artifact: a hopeful book about adolescence that doesn’t whitewash the nasty bits."
-USA Today

"Lit Up is a refreshing lesson in what motivates students and why not to dumb down reading lists."
-The New York Times

"Mr. Denby captures well how teenagers today struggle to grapple with the serious thinkers of the past."
–Wall Street Journal

"Denby makes an impassioned case for the critical importance of books to the lives of young people."
–New York Times Book Review

“Definitely a worthy successor to Great Books. The fight against the dumbing down of this country continues with this highly readable book. David Denby really cares about whether American literature has a future. You probably should too."
-James Patterson

"In this nuanced and vivid account of great books taught in three very different schools, Denby has proven what teachers have always known: that taught with passion and commitment, literature old and new can inspire any and every student. This is a necessary bulwark against knee-jerk cynicism about the decline of reading among young people."
–Dave Eggers, co-founder, 826 National and former editor, The Best American Nonrequired Reading

Lit Up reminds us that the study of literature can be life-changing, especially for adolescents, who are deciding who they are and who they hope to be. David Denby rises above the stale debates about education of our time to show the power of great teaching and great books.
–Diane Ravitch, author of Reign of Error and The Life and Death of the Great American School System

"A beautifully written meditation on why we need books, dedicated teachers, and the power of classroom conversation, the kind where passion ignites and community thrives. If you care about reading, and you need to care about reading, read this book!"
–Sherry Turkle, author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, MIT

“James Baldwin claimed that, ‘Art would not be important if life were not important. And Life is important.’ And this is why we need to read David Denby's Lit Up. Avoiding generalizations and preconceived notions, this book is an investigation of the essential role of ideas and imagination in our system of education, offering valuable insights into actual classrooms and the dynamic relation between great teachers and their students."
–Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran


“Lit Up is no alarmist screed but a steadfast appeal by a writer who understands that without a devotion to literature, we’re a hamstrung bunch.”
–The New Republic

"Denby is an engaging writer and a keen spectator....Denby gives us a dramatic, fascinating look at teachers and students struggling, questioning, and growing together. Lit Up is a testament to the power of extraordinary teachers and the willingness of young people to engage—not just with books, but with the serious business of becoming adults."
–BookPage

“An upbeat portrait of fine teachers and the students they inspire.”
–Kirkus Reviews

"[An] energetic and engaged...report on reading among modern-day teenagers."
–Publishers Weekly

Film critic David Denby goes back to high school to find out if teachers can make a difference in turning students into serious readers, and if so, what books they’re using to make that happen. Christopher Price steps behind the mic to guide listeners through Denby's year in tenth grade. Price keeps the audiobook engaging with his enthusiasm but doesn't do much to differentiate narrative from dialogue, nor is there noticeable distinction between the various speakers. A few cringe-worthy mispronunciations occur early in the production but are correctly read in later instances. Denby's approach to his subject leaves significant room for pedagogical debate, but Price's narration is strong enough to keep listeners tuned in for the duration. J.F. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

2015-10-07
Teenagers encounter great books and dedicated teachers. New Yorker staffer Denby (Do the Movies Have a Future?, 2012, etc.) believes ardently that reading affords pleasure, "an opening to a wider life," and enhanced "understanding of other people and oneself." He wondered, though, whether reading will survive for children inundated with increasing technology. Will they stop texting and read a book? How, he asks, "does the appetite for serious reading get created?" The author decided to investigate by sitting in on a 10th-grade English class at Beacon, a magnet school in Manhattan. After a year of attending classes and reading all the assigned material, he expanded his project by visiting two other public high schools: the inner-city James Hillhouse High School in New Haven and the suburban Mamaroneck High School in Westchester. Beacon, though, and in particular the class taught by energetic, 30-year-old Sean Leon, is Denby's central focus. Admission to Beacon is competitive, based on grades, a portfolio of schoolwork, and an interview. With students motivated to excel and teachers free to shape their own curriculum, it's hardly surprising that Denby came away impressed—and he ably conveys his enthusiasm to readers. In the two other schools as well, though, the author found that by teaching "aggressively and flexibly, with humor and dramatic power," teachers can generate students' passion for reading. He sees students taught to read actively: responding to readings through journals, annotations, marked-up copies of texts—all of which the teacher reads, comments on, and sometimes grades. At Mamaroneck, a "get-them-reading strategy" requires students to keep a yearlong journal of independent reading, including romance fiction and graphic novels. At Hillhouse, where many students struggle, Denby witnessed a fiery conversation about To Kill a Mockingbird deftly handled by an encouraging, but tough, teacher. An upbeat portrait of fine teachers and the students they inspire.