CCBC-Net Archives
Reading Real: Realism in YA Lit
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:42:21 -0500
Today we turn our attention to our July topic: Reading Realism: Realism Is Coming Back in YA Lit. We'll spend this week and next week in our general discussion, and then move on to book discussion:
Week of July 21: Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn (St. Martins/Griff, 2013) Week of July 28: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
(Candlewick Press, 2013)
Both authors will be able to join us.
So, realism is back? Truthfully, we all know realism never went away.
What seems to be different is the fresh attention being given to realism. Never mind all those articles written back in in the early 2000s when media outlets lamented the darkness and edginess of young adult literature (it happened in 1997, too)--books that were, in general, TOO realistic in some writers' opinions (it seemed to be people who weren't immersed in young adult literature but visited it briefly, with their minds already made up regarding what it held). Once supernatural romances and dystopias captured the attention of mainstream media outlets and readers who were vocal and involved on social media, it was as if nothing else existed.
But as anyone who reads across genres in y.a. knows, a lot of other things exist, including a rich body of realistic fiction each and every year. Even a quick check through back issues of CCBC Choices, our annual best-of-the-year list, shows oustanding works of realistic fiction we have recommended every year. Here is a random sampling of just a few recent examples we chose from among many more.
Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Split by Swati Avashti Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley The 10 P.M. Question by Kate de Goldi Ask the Passengers by A.S. King Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman 37 Things I Love (In No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley How To Save a Life by Sarah Zarr
I could go on and on.
Sure, publishers jumped on the supernatural and dystopia bandwagons with the success of books like "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games" series. Our shelves groaned under the weight of all those fearful futures and metaphysical imaginings, but it's not like they completely abandoned publishing realistic fiction. The numbers were no doubt affected, as were marketing efforts, and we can talk about the impact of that, but let's also honor the efforts of writers and publishers who have have continued to create and publish fine books of realistic fiction.
What are your thoughts about realism in young adult publishing--now and in the past? What do you observe in the habits and interests of teen readers? And what are some of the realistic fiction titles you've especially appreciated or wish had received more attention?
Megan
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:42:21 -0500
Today we turn our attention to our July topic: Reading Realism: Realism Is Coming Back in YA Lit. We'll spend this week and next week in our general discussion, and then move on to book discussion:
Week of July 21: Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn (St. Martins/Griff, 2013) Week of July 28: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
(Candlewick Press, 2013)
Both authors will be able to join us.
So, realism is back? Truthfully, we all know realism never went away.
What seems to be different is the fresh attention being given to realism. Never mind all those articles written back in in the early 2000s when media outlets lamented the darkness and edginess of young adult literature (it happened in 1997, too)--books that were, in general, TOO realistic in some writers' opinions (it seemed to be people who weren't immersed in young adult literature but visited it briefly, with their minds already made up regarding what it held). Once supernatural romances and dystopias captured the attention of mainstream media outlets and readers who were vocal and involved on social media, it was as if nothing else existed.
But as anyone who reads across genres in y.a. knows, a lot of other things exist, including a rich body of realistic fiction each and every year. Even a quick check through back issues of CCBC Choices, our annual best-of-the-year list, shows oustanding works of realistic fiction we have recommended every year. Here is a random sampling of just a few recent examples we chose from among many more.
Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Split by Swati Avashti Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley The 10 P.M. Question by Kate de Goldi Ask the Passengers by A.S. King Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman 37 Things I Love (In No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley How To Save a Life by Sarah Zarr
I could go on and on.
Sure, publishers jumped on the supernatural and dystopia bandwagons with the success of books like "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games" series. Our shelves groaned under the weight of all those fearful futures and metaphysical imaginings, but it's not like they completely abandoned publishing realistic fiction. The numbers were no doubt affected, as were marketing efforts, and we can talk about the impact of that, but let's also honor the efforts of writers and publishers who have have continued to create and publish fine books of realistic fiction.
What are your thoughts about realism in young adult publishing--now and in the past? What do you observe in the habits and interests of teen readers? And what are some of the realistic fiction titles you've especially appreciated or wish had received more attention?
Megan
--
Megan Schliesman, Librarian
Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Through July 31:
600 N. Park Street, Room 4290
Madison, WI 53706
Beginning August 1:
Room 401 Teacher Education
225 N. Mills Street
Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503
schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
ccbc.education.wisc.edu
My regular hours are T-F, 8-4:30.
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Received on Tue 08 Jul 2014 09:43:52 AM CDT
