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Re: Lessons in YA Literature
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From: Todd Krueger <toddbcpl_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:12:31 -0400
Interesting discussion for sure.
To play devil's advocate for a moment (and this by no means defends Lisa Belkin); I think we overestimate how put off teens are when reading something that teaches a lesson, or that we call didactic. We have our adult experiences of reading too many works that are overtly lesson-teaching, and while there will be plenty of examples of writing that is rather obvious for teens, other works have lessons that can be crystal clear and many teens won't mind at all.
Quick reads for teens that they select as entertainment are sometimes quite lesson-heavy -- for example, Lurlene McDaniel, and the Kimani Tru series. Teens don't seem to mind the didacticism in those works. They (hopefully?) won't consider them the height of great literature, but at the same time I doubt they worry all that much about being taught a lesson by the authors.
Todd
-- Todd Krueger Collection Development Baltimore County Public Library Towson MD 21204 toddbcpl_at_gmail.com YALSA Michael L. Printz 2012 Award Committee Member
Received on Fri 19 Aug 2011 10:12:31 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:12:31 -0400
Interesting discussion for sure.
To play devil's advocate for a moment (and this by no means defends Lisa Belkin); I think we overestimate how put off teens are when reading something that teaches a lesson, or that we call didactic. We have our adult experiences of reading too many works that are overtly lesson-teaching, and while there will be plenty of examples of writing that is rather obvious for teens, other works have lessons that can be crystal clear and many teens won't mind at all.
Quick reads for teens that they select as entertainment are sometimes quite lesson-heavy -- for example, Lurlene McDaniel, and the Kimani Tru series. Teens don't seem to mind the didacticism in those works. They (hopefully?) won't consider them the height of great literature, but at the same time I doubt they worry all that much about being taught a lesson by the authors.
Todd
-- Todd Krueger Collection Development Baltimore County Public Library Towson MD 21204 toddbcpl_at_gmail.com YALSA Michael L. Printz 2012 Award Committee Member
Received on Fri 19 Aug 2011 10:12:31 AM CDT
