Young Adult Literature

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Young Adult Literature

Young Adult Literature is also called "YA Lit".

Definition

The definition of Young Adult Literature (YA Lit) varies based upon the age group at which the literature is aimed, and who is asked. Authors, readers, and young adult agencies all have different views of the definition. However, it is generally agreed that Young Adult Literature is literature written for adolescent readers, and in some cases published by adolescent writers. The Young Adult Library Services (YALSA) of the American Library Association (ALA) defines a young adult as "someone between the ages of twelve and eighteen". Young adult novels have also been defined as texts written for the ages of twelve and up. Authors and readers of young adult (YA) novels often define the genre as "literature written for ages ranging from ten years up to the age of twenty" (Cole). Another suggestion for the definition is that Young Adult Literature is any text being read by adolescents, though this definition is still somewhat controversial.

History

Beginning in the 1920s, it was said that "this was the first time when it became clear that the young were a separate generation" (Cart 43). In 1951, the novel that has been cited as being the first young adult novel emerged. This novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger opened up a whole new eye to what types of texts adolescent readers read. Following this novel, other classic texts such as Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird; Maya Angelou's novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; and Toni Morrison's, The Bluest Eye all entered the genre of Young Adult Literature as well, along with many others. As the decades moved on, the stormy sixties became the era "when the 'under 30' generation became a subject of popular concern, and that research on adolescence began to emerge. It would also be the decade when literature for adolescents could be said to have come into its own" (Cart 43). The Outsiders was published in 1967, by S. E. Hinton who at the time was only a teenager. This book sparked talk about what adolescents face, and that adolescents can produce books that they can relate to. In the 1970s, what has become to be known as the "fab five" were published. "For the record, the fab five are: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; The Friends by Rosa Guy; The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath; Bless the Beasts and Children by Glendon Swarthout; and Deathwatch by Robb White" (Cart 77).

Then the 1980s: "the 1980's contained a large amount of Young Adult publications which pushed the threshold of topics that adolescents faced such as rape, suicide, parental death, and murder. Also in the 1980's, "teenagers seemed to want to read about something closer to their daily lives-romance novels were revived" (Cart 99). In the 1990s, Young Adult Literature pushed adolescent issues even further by including topics such as, drinking, sexuality, drug use, identity, beauty, and even teen pregnancy" (Lubar). Also in the 1990s, it seemed as thought the era of Young Adult Literature was going to lose steam but "due in part to an increase in the number of teenagers in the 1990's the field matured, blossomed, and came into its own with the better written, more serious, and more varied young adult books published during the last two decades" (Tomlinson and Lynch-Brown 5).

Teens have also become more and more marketable to text publications, bookstores have begun dedicating entire sections of their bookshelves to "teen" and "young adult" novels and texts, and movies are now produced more often that portray popular young adult texts with adolescent protagonists. As the genre continues to become more popular, and authors continue to publish texts that adolescents can relate to, Young Adult Literature will continue to be read and supported by adolescent and adult readers alike.

Genre

Young Adult Literature has become a genre which covers various text types including: novels, graphic novels, short stories, and poetry. Much of the literature published consists of young adult fiction which in itself contains several different types of text, but the genre also contains other various types of non-fiction such as biographies, autobiographies, journal entries/diaries, and letters. Memoirs are also popular forms of Young Adult Literature. The genre itself has been challenged due its seemingly mature content by critics of Young Adult Literature, but "other converted critics have embraced Young Adult so dearly that they have scoured the canon for any classics they could adopt into the YA family" (Stephens 2007).

Themes

Young Adult Literature uses a wide array of themes in order to appeal to a wide variety of adolescent readers. Some of these themes include: identity, sexuality, science fiction, depression, suicide, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, familial struggles, bullying, and numerous others. “The culture that surrounds and absorbs young adults plays a huge role in their lives. It also needs to play a significant role in how we approach this group and the books we offer them to read” (Lesesne 14). Reading about issues that adolescents can relate to allows them to identify with a particular character, and creates a sense of security when experiencing something that is going on within their lives. "Whether you call them archetypes or stereotypes, there are certain experiences and certain kinds of people that are common to adolescents. Reading about it may help a young person validate his or her own experience and make some kind of meaning out of it" (Blasingame, 12).

Characteristics

Young adult literature contains specific characteristics that are present throughout the genre. These characteristics encompass: “multi-themed story, tension versus shock effect, memorable characters, accurate facts and details, no unlikely coincidences, original idea, memorable voice, authentic dialogue, effective/clear writing style, sense of humor, widespread appeal, intriguing openings and memorable closings” (Cole 61-65). Other characteristics of Young Adult Literature include: "(1) Characters and issues young readers can identify with; those issues and characters are treated in a way that does not invalidate, minimize, or devalue them; (2) Is framed in language that young readers can understand; (3) Emphasizes plot above everything else; and (4)Is written for an audience of young adults" (Blasingame 11). Overall, Young Adult Literature needs to contain specific elements that will not only interest adolescent readers, but elements that relate directly to real situations adolescents face, and contain believable, empathetic characters.

Usage in Education

Young Adult Literature has been integrated into classrooms in order to increase student interest in reading. Research has been performed on what type of impact the introduction YA Lit has on students, particularly adolescent males and struggling readers: "Researchers have shown that introducing YA Literature to males improves their reading ability. YA Literature, because of its range of authors and story types, is an appropriate literature for every adolescent male who needs compelling material that speaks to him" (Gill). Research shows that not only adolescent males have been labeled as reluctant readers, struggling readers use reluctance as a coping mechanism. Young Adult Literature has been used to open up the door of reading literature to these readers as well: "When voluntary reading declines, the problems of struggling readers are only aggravated. By allowing adolescents to read good young adult literature, educators are able to encourage independent reading, which will, in turn, help adolescents develop the skills necessary to succeed" (Bucher and Manning).

Another reason that Young Adult Literature has been incorporated into classrooms is to be paired with classic texts that are traditionally read in classrooms, and required by many schools curricula. Using YA Lit alongside a canonical piece of text can increase a students comprehension of the common themes the various texts have, and make reading a classic text more enjoyable: "Young adult literature can spark interest in the classics and vice versa. Although it's clear that young adult literature is more accessible, that doesn't warrant denying the classics to struggling readers. The classics shouldn't be reserved for exceptional students, and Young Adult Literature shouldn't be reserved for at-risk readers. (Cole 513).

Suggestions for classical/young adult text pairings using more recent YA publications (List generated by Joan Kaywell, as cited in Cole 515-516):

Classical Text/Young Adult Text/Common Themes/Topics

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee/Monster by Walter Dean Myers/Trial: Guilty before Innocent

Lord of the Flies by William Golding/The Clique by Lisi Harrison/Use and Abuse of Power

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain/The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis/Prejudice

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury/Feed by M. T. Anderson/Exploring the Future

Dracula by Bram Stoker/Twilight by Stephanie Meyer/Vampires

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne/Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger/Sexual Behavior Alienation

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger/America by E. R. Frank/Mental Illness Rebellion

Awards

Various young-adult-fiction awards are presented annually, and mark outstanding adolescent literature writing.

References

Blasingame, James. Books That Don't Bore 'Em: Young Adult Books That Speak to This Generation. New York: Scholastic, 2007. Print.

Bucher, K., Manning, M. Lee. "Young Adult Literature and the School Curriculum" education.com Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall. 2006.Web. 12 May 2009.

Cart, Micheal. From Romance to Realsim: 50 Years of Growth and Change in Young Adult Literature. New York: Harper Collins, 1996. Print.

Cole, Pam B. Young Adult Literature: In the 21st Century. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print.

Gill, Sam D. "Young Adult Literature for Young Adult Males". The Alan Review Winter 1999. Web. 12 May 2009.

Lesesne, Teri S. Making the Match: The Right Book for the Right Reader at the Right Time, Grades 4-12. Maine: Stenhouse Publishers, 2003. Print.

Lubar, David. "The History of Young Adult Novels". The Alan Review Spring 2003. Web. 12 May 2009.

Stephens, Jonathan. "Young Adult: A Book by Any Other Name...:Defining the Genre". The Alan Review Fall 2007. Web. 12 May 2009.

Thomlinson, Carl M., Lynch-Brown, Carol. Essentials of Young Adult Literature. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2007. Print.