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Lessons in Y.A. Literature
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:54:52 -0500
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our discussion of series books.
For the second half of August, the CCBC-Net topic is "Lessons in YA Literature."
* *It seems a given that a good young adult novel should tell a good story. But should it teach a lesson, too?
A recent /New York Times /review thought so. Lisa Belkin's May 12, 2011 analysis of Jennifer Brown's "Bitter End" (Little, Brown, 2011) and Deb Caletti's "Stay" (Simon Pulse, 2011), began, "The purpose of young adult literature is often twofold: to tell a story, and to send a message, usually in the form of a much-needed lesson."
Belkin is a journalist and blogger for "Motherlode,", not a librarian, teacher or professional reviewer. Her perspective is perhaps more parental than professional when it comes to the realm of young adult literature. But hers is not a solitary assumption about young adult (or children's) literature. Like it or not, many people believe books for youth should be message-laden.
What are your expectations when you pick up a young adult novel? And as you read books that traverse complex realities of adolescent lives, to what extent do specific titles fulfill your expectations for what a young adult novel should be--or do?
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Thu 18 Aug 2011 08:54:52 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:54:52 -0500
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our discussion of series books.
For the second half of August, the CCBC-Net topic is "Lessons in YA Literature."
* *It seems a given that a good young adult novel should tell a good story. But should it teach a lesson, too?
A recent /New York Times /review thought so. Lisa Belkin's May 12, 2011 analysis of Jennifer Brown's "Bitter End" (Little, Brown, 2011) and Deb Caletti's "Stay" (Simon Pulse, 2011), began, "The purpose of young adult literature is often twofold: to tell a story, and to send a message, usually in the form of a much-needed lesson."
Belkin is a journalist and blogger for "Motherlode,", not a librarian, teacher or professional reviewer. Her perspective is perhaps more parental than professional when it comes to the realm of young adult literature. But hers is not a solitary assumption about young adult (or children's) literature. Like it or not, many people believe books for youth should be message-laden.
What are your expectations when you pick up a young adult novel? And as you read books that traverse complex realities of adolescent lives, to what extent do specific titles fulfill your expectations for what a young adult novel should be--or do?
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Thu 18 Aug 2011 08:54:52 AM CDT
