Chapter 1 of the textbook, Literature for Today’s Young Adults, is a perfect overview of young adult literature. The author’s begin by briefly introducing YA literature and explaining its slightly unsettled past. Before The Outsiders most novels with young protagonists were geared towards adults. It seems that the authors have a great love for the genre.
The first chapter gives what the author’s refer to as the “Honor List” of young adult books. This particular edition’s honor list goes from 1967-1999. On this list one can find books such The Chocolate War or The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, among others. The authors are gracious enough to those of us who have encountered YA literature, but never referred to it as such, to give basic characteristics of the best of the best.
According to the text in order to qualify as a YA book, it must fall into the following 7 characteristics:
- Written from the viewpoint of a young person
- Very little interaction from the parents
- Fast-Paced
- A variety of genres and subjects
- Multiple ethnic and cultural groups
- A worthy accomplishment is made or the book is optimistic
- Deal with emotions that are important to young adults
Now I have to admit that I have to disagree with number 6 only slightly. Take, for example, The Catcher in the Rye that I just finished reading. I can honestly find very little optimistic and no accomplishment within the 277 pages of that book. Holden spends most of his time depressed and running through the gambit of natural teenage emotions (a perfect fit for characteristic 7) and accomplishes nothing, but landing himself in a mental institution at the end! So I’m a little skeptical that all YA novels have to be optimistic or some amazing accomplishment is made. Nonetheless I very much agree with the others on the list. As future educators or librarians I think it’s important to notice the characteristics on this list, to be familiar with them and understand them. With every student that crosses the threshold of our classrooms it is our job to entice them into a love of reading… or at least I think it is.
Speaking of love of reading, chapter 1 also gives a very interesting chart of “Stages of Literary Appreciation.” The chart serves the purpose of showing people where they are in their love of literature and how they can improve and mature in this arena. I love to look and think about where my kids are on the chart, of course they’re still on the bottom rung, but I hope that I can successfully instill in them as much of love for books as it seems their father already has for video games. The chapter ends, with the authors describing each of the rungs of the "literary love ladder." I like to consider myself at the top of the ladder, hanging out with all the suave people who are aesthetically appreciating literature for more than just its face value. However, as the authors point out, once you’ve reached a stage of appreciation you never really leave it, you just add it to your collection. Perhaps that is why I can still enjoy Little Golden Books just as much as I can Twilight any day.
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