From Text to Epitext

This guide explores how analyzing the material surrounding texts—from cover designs and author interviews to social media buzz and marketing campaigns—can transform how students engage with literature. Shelbie Witte applies Genette's theory of paratext, demonstrating how these peripheral elements are not just supplementary but are powerful tools for deepening textual analysis and media literacy. The book is structured as a series of theory-to-practice chapters, providing educators with concrete strategies for K–16 classrooms to help students look beyond the printed page.

What makes this resource distinctive is its practical focus on applying a complex literary theory across all grade levels, making it invaluable for both new and veteran teachers and school librarians. By teaching students to critically evaluate book trailers, online reviews, and authorial intent found outside the text itself, educators can foster sharper critical thinking and combat digital misinformation. This approach fundamentally reframes how we teach reading comprehension, empowering students to become more discerning consumers of all media.