In this thorough and detailed study of second language reading, the author focuses on four main themes, which recur at different points throughout the book: 1. How is the way in which a reader reads and interacts with a text related to its context and familiarity? 2. To what extent are the language and processing problems experienced by readers affected by how familiar and easy the reading task is? 3. In what ways can learners' knowledge of the world help them with the reading process and with acquiring the vocabulary they need to read effectively? 4. What makes readingtasks meaningful for learners and how does this affect their motivation, interest, and engagement as readers? The book is organized into eleven chapters: Chapter 1: Issues in reading. (Introduction and overview) Chapter 2: Theories and models of first language reading processes Chapter 3: Second language reading issues. (Includes discussion of therelationships between first- and second-language reading and learning to read) Chapter 4: Reading skills. (Includes coverage of key terminology, such as 'lower-level' and 'higher-level' skills.) Chapter 5:Strategies and metacognitive skills Chapter 6: Content schema and background knowledge in second language comprehension. (How your students' background and existing knowledge affects the way they interpret reading texts.) Chapter 7: Formal schema and second language reading (How texts are structured linguistically, and how this affects teaching.) Chapter 8: Genre and contrastiverhetoric (Includes discussion of differences in how different kinds of text are organized in different languages.) Chapter 9: Vocabulary in second language reading Chapter 10: Reading and writingrelationships Chapter 11: Wrap-up of second language reading (Focuses on teaching issues.) Each chapter includes discussion and study questions at the end. There is also a glossary of terminology used in the book.