Literature for Young Adults
5385.03-Dr. Lesesne
Textbook Reflections-Topics 10-13
Realistic Fiction
This is perhaps one of the most recognized and popular sub-genres for young adult readers. Realistic fiction, also known as Modern Realistic Fiction or Contemporary Realistic Fiction, is so engaging for young adults because many of the elements such as the characters, plot, setting, and theme are written in a very realistic manner, thus making it possible for the young adult reader to be able to relate to the story line. Many of the topics or subject matters deal with the same problems, conflicts, or situations that young adults face everyday in their young lives. The topics may include death and loss, being misunderstood, loneliness, sexuality and sexual orientation, and many other difficult and sensitive subjects. If the author's writing is believable and consistent with real world situations, the reader will be able to relate, and may even be able to bond with the characters and their problems. The theme or themes in realistic fiction should be well-developed, and the reader should be able to discover them in a subtle manner after reading all the novel, instead of being told throughout the story in an evident and apparent type of writing. This allows the young adult reader to fully understand the development and growth process of the characters in the story as they go about solving or living through their predicament.
One thing that is important to remember when evaluating young adult literature is to make sure that the literature is void of stereotyping, especially in the area of gender roles, cultural elements, and pre-conceived notions of what is acceptable and non-acceptable when dealing with social conformity. Many of the realistic fiction novels deal with subjects that are very difficult and personal to the young adult reader, and it is important to be aware of how the subject matter is being dealt with and portrayed in the novel. As librarians, it is important to consider all this criteria when evaluating realistic fictional works of writing. What used to be viewed as "taboo" or inappropriate is now the topic of most young adult novels, and although some may still disapprove, it is better to assure ourselves that our young readers are provided literature which they will not only enjoy, but which will enrich their lives in some positive form or manner. I learned that this is important to remember as I read through the young adult novels assigned. Many, such as Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and Pink Smog, to name a couple, deal with very difficult subject matters, but nonetheless, subject matters with which many of our young adults may have to deal with in their real lives. That is why it is important that the work of realistic fiction that they are reading be written in an unbiased manner. By evaluating the literature using the criteria provided, we are ensuring that our collection is diverse and appropriate for the audience it was intended for.
Nonfiction
Defining nonfiction works of literature is a bit difficult due to the fact that it encompasses different formats such as biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, and other narrative and expository works. It would be impossible to be an expert in all the topics that can be covered under the genre of nonfiction, but there is certain criteria which can help us evaluate nonfiction writing, the first of which is looking at the qualifications of the author. We can research their backgrounds to see if they have any knowledge or experience in the topic they are writing about. Some authors also provide notes or references as to their sources of information. The author may not be an expert in the field either, but the quality of their sources is very important to note. The next criteria would be checking accuracy of information. Are the facts presented accurate? There are several resources or lists such as the Outstanding Science Tradebooks and the Notable books for Social Studies that help when checking for accuracy. There are also some authors that have become synonymous with their topics such as Kathleen Krull, Steve Jenkins (animals), Don Brown, and Seymour Simon (Science) to name a few. It is also important to consider the purpose and scope of the book. Are we looking for a broader scope and purpose or more narrow? This will depend on the type of book we choose for the topic we are covering. Another important criteria to remember is the organization or layout of the book. Does the organization assist readers in locating information effectively and in a timely manner? How is it organized, does it contain an index, glossary, or table of contents? The organization of a book will facilitate the reading, especially for a child working on researching a particular topic. The last criteria to consider is the role visuals play in the format of the book. Do the visuals elaborate on the text, break up the text into chunks, and are real-life photographs provided? Some nonfiction books even incorporate photos of artifacts, paintings or archival photographs. It is also important to consider the balance with which the nonfiction book is organized. One of the best books to use as a resource for nonfiction is Nonfiction for Young Adults: From Delight to Wisdom by Betty Carver and Richard Abrahamson. They provide excellent questions to consider when evaluating nonfiction books.
This is a resource I definitely plan to acquire for my future library, and even to use in my classroom now. The book we had to evaluate this semester, It's Perfectly Normal, is an excellent example of how to incorporate the criteria to evaluate nonfiction books. This book has very detailed visuals about the human body and contains topics about sexuality and sexual health. As I evaluated this book, I learned what an important role visuals played along with the text. The visuals are appropriate to the topics discussed in the book. The accuracy of the information is evident due to the index and references thanked and noted in the back of the book. Although it may be considered controversial, and even put on the Challenged List, it contains topics that students need to learn about. This is why our evaluation of these books is so important. As librarians, it is important to be well-versed in this criteria so that we may be able to defend its' existence in our library. There is a wealth of nonfiction books about an array of topics, and although we are not experts in many of these topics, knowing how to evaluate the author's qualifications, the accuracy of information, and the purpose and scope of the books is crucial as we acquire this genre of books for our libraries.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
A lot of children are fascinated by fantasy fiction books. When asked to define fantasy, most children are quick to respond, "Something that is not true." Fantasy seems not true to them because the possibility or reality of what is happening in the story rings impossible or unable of occurring. Science fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy. All science fiction belongs in the fantasy genre, but, not all fantasy is science fiction. There is a common misconception that science fiction books don't contain any themes or problems as other genres. However, this is not true. There are themes and conflicts written into science fiction works of writing. When the story is written in a narrative format, the reader tends to be more involved and accepting of the impossible. There are various categories which are the subject of many science fiction books such as apocalyptic/post apocalyptic, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, and perhaps one of the most popular, dystopia. Dystopia has become very popular and deals with the topics of independent and information thought being restricted, citizens under controlled surveillance or having fear of an outside world. There are also the topic of the society being a perfect world. A popular subject in dystopia usually deals with resistance. There are other categories which are the subject of many science fiction books such as extra-sensory perception, robots/androids/cyborgs/and artificial intelligence, and time travel/parallel universe to name a few.
Fantasy and science fiction are not some of my preferred formats for reading so the criteria used for evaluating this type of writing for children was very useful when I evaluated this type of novel, for example, The Knife of Never Letting Go. As I read it, I looked to see if the characters behaved in a consistent and believable way, even though some of the events seemed hard for me to imagine. The author's use of imagery and suspense helped in "the willingness of suspension of disbelief". The rules for the fantasy world created existed and helped the plot along. The last criteria used for evaluation was the use of themes that explored universal truths, such as not believing blindly everything you are told to believe. Since I am not an avid reader of this format, I definitely will purchase Dr. Perry's book, Sci Fi on the Fly: A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction for Young Adults. As Dr. Perry, after evaluating this format, I have to say I am more inclined to read soft science fiction than hard science fiction, but I know I must be able to evaluate both for my students.
Graphic Novels
I must admit that my introduction to graphic novels was thanks to my students love of them. The first time I read Babymouse, I began to understand their fascination with graphic novels. Graphic novels are a format, not a genre. Graphic novels are an extension of a comic book. They tell a story through the use of pictures in sequence, with speech balloons, gutters, captions, and in panels. The illustrations are essential to the story line. Graphic novels contain the literary elements of plot, characters, setting, theme, and climax. Most also contain figurative language and a lot of symbolism, especially through the use of color. Some illustrations may be in black and white, while others contain a lot of color. Even though graphic novels are usually considered wonderful for special populations such as dyslexic, ELL and LEP students, they are really for anybody who enjoys this type of format, even adults, and not just for children who have trouble reading or lack motivation. Graphic novels can be fiction, non-fiction, history, fantasy, or anything in-between.
As I was evaluating, Persepolis, I thought how wonderful this book would be in a history class. It is a wonderful memoir written in a format that many students enjoy. This is a great format for teachers to use to teach mood and tone. The illustrations help define and enhance the text, even though the topic may be a difficult one to discuss with students. As with any form or genre, it is important to evaluate the appropriateness of the audience. The format may be deceptive as to the subject matter of the graphic novel, since it can be found under historical fiction, science fiction or nonfiction, so it is important to implement evaluative criteria when assessing this format. Graphic novels may be categorized as manga (Japanese), contain subjects such as superhero stories, personal narratives, and non-fiction. This is a format that is growing in popularity and that is constantly searched for by students.
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