Life is full of surprises, big and small. For example, on a "typical" day, you might be surprised by the strange behavior of birds, a spooky deserted mansion, or a frightening apparition that turned out to be nothing more than headlights through a window. As you read the selections in this unit, be prepared to encounter extraordinary occurrences of all kinds. Check out the Additional Questions, Hot Links, Internet Activities, Reading Strategies, and Self-Tests for this unit using the navigation bar at the left.
Annie Dillard	from An American Childhood	Autobio-graphy	424
Comparing Literary Works
Mark Twain	What Stumped the Blue Jays	Short Story	438
Diane Ackerman	Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall	Cause-and- Effect Essay	443
Comparing Literary Works
May Swenson	Southbound on the Freeway	Poem	452
Victor Hernández Cruz	Los New Yorks	Poem	454
Mark Van Doren	The Story-Teller	Poem	456
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle	The Adventure of the Speckled Band	Short Story	462
Comparing Literary Works
Gary Paulsen	A Glow in the Dark from Woodsong	Autobio-graphy	494
Sylvia Plath	Mushrooms	Poem	498
Arna Bontemps	Southern Mansion	Poem	500
Theodore Roethke	The Bat	Poem	502