Your First Post: "What is YA Literature?"
So, what is it and what are your thoughts about it?
I admit, I used to be an elitist. If it wasn't canonical, I didn't really see why I needed it in my classroom. Back then, of course, I was still figuring out that the teaching focus wasn't on all my preferences but on the needs and interests of my students. I used to really turn up my nose at anything YA, but, I did so because I was stubborn in terms of my notions of "worthy literature" and ignorant to the complexity, variety, and quality of YA lit available.
How do you view YA lit?
posted by Bucky C. @ 11:38 AM
18 comments
18 Comments:
I'm looking forward to reading your comments! Post as much as you like or as little as a paragraph on the subject. Remember, if you chose a blogger profile that doesn't give me enough of an idea as to who you are, drop me an e-mail so I know it is you and can give you the proper credit.
to me, YA is being able to communicate to adolescents on their level and being able ot understand them better.
I have to agree with you Bucky C. When you listed your opinions on the board yesterday, I agreed with most everything you said. Then you asked us what we didn't agree with and for me it was the very last you listed. I think it is so very important for the students to be familiar with the "canonical" works. And I understand what you say about having to maintain their interests in order to keep them reading. But my question is how do you incorporate that into learning the classics? Do we just ignore the classics for the sake of teaching the child to read? How does that work?
When I was younger, and sometimes still today, I view YA lit as something I would like to read. I still find myself reading a lot of books from the "Teen" section of the books at the bookstore. When I signed up for this class, I thought, "Yay!" We'll get to read cool books!" I was rather disappointed when the only book I had read on the syllabus was Maus, and I'd only read that last semester as a result of 311. I am not an elitist. Even though I really like to read, most of the time I'd rather be reading comics. Once when I was senior, I got in trouble for reading a Hellboy comic during reading time instead of a novel. At least I was reading! I think that kids should be given a time at school for a least 20 min where they can read whatever they want, just like you said Bucky. But it will be hard for me to not push my own interests on the class. I'll say one more thing. My little sister is having to read "The Red Badge of Courage" for her 11th grade English honors class. She hates it, as did I. If I could get away from it, I would not teach that book.
I feel that YA Literature is allowing each other to communicate on the same level. Also, YA literature helps move into a closer connection with Adult Literarture.
This may be out there but I believe that young adult literature is about things that happen within a "characters" life or their inner self. The books help the "characters" release their emotions and help other readers understand the society of that period, as well as letting the reader know how the "characters" thoughts and feelings are. By reading YA literature it will help the reader be able to communicate easily with others of the YA age.
YA Literature, to me, is literature that is inteded for, speaks to, and speaks of adolescents. Books in this genre should cover topics relevant to young adults and should present challenging but manageable vocabulary, helping students transition from children's to adult literature.
Honestly, I am a new convert from believing that only "traditional" canonical texts should be used in classrooms, but--honestly--many of the books I remember reading are wonderful, now, but in middle and high school, I simply did not relate to Scarlet Letter, Animal Farm, etc.
Thanks for being among the firsts to post, you guys. I see who the "go getters" are in this class! :)
Hopefully your peers will post soon, but let me touch on Shannon's question by reminding that on Monday I mentioned that I am not advocating for a complete dismissal of traditional texts/classics. This class will give you techniques for learning how to use YA lit as a bridge to classics. So, hang tight!
Now here's a question for you to ponder, Shannon: How can you REALLY teach them the classics, if they can't read them? (we'll be getting some answers to that Q soon too.)
OK, remaining classmates, time for you all to share your posts! And thanks again to you six for being so on the ball. :)
YA Literature to me sounds like books that young adults can relate to and are concerned about. They may include teenagers and young adults as the main characters to create more intrest for the young reader. They also probably focus more on situations or conflicts that young adults and teenagers face in every day life.
Young American Literature is literature written with teens and young adults in mind. It usually is written about issues that young adults face daily, such as smoking, drugs, peer-pressure, sex, and gangs. It is usually written in the language that teens use during the time it is written. I find Young American Literature enjoyable to read.
Lisa Mc
Young adult literature is intended to expand the minds of students to help them with their higher thinking level processes. It should help bridge the gap between children's works and expand on and explain the concepts of higher reading and literary classics that are harder to understand for most people.
To me, YA literature is literature that makes a connection of some sort with the adolescent audience. This grouping can include novels, poems, etc written with this specific age bracket in mind. Also, this can include more classic, canonical literature if a connection is made with the readers. I feel that this is, largely, where our job as instructors of literature should come into play.
YA Literature to me consists of lit. that is for the pre-teen, teen,and sometimes even adult crowd. Many YA lit. books were written with the adult crowd in mind, but adopted by YA lit.book lists.The characters in YA lit. usually are teenagers, especially the protagonist.Teens usually relate with the characters in these books.I,personally, have always been a fan of YA lit. I do not know why I am drawn to this type of literature.More than likely it is that I can remember a time when things have happened to me that the protagonists in YA lit are also faced with.
I must say that I am really looking forward to exploring more YA literature. While I truly enjoyed the material I surveyed in high school, some of the books on your list seem like they would be refreshing. I think the best way to teach the classics would be a comparison/contrast of a classic novel vs a YA novel. I also believe that reading is viewed as a daunting chore to most high schoolers and by connecting more on their level, YA literature accomplishes a positive tie to reading. A positive experience with reading equals the motivation and desire to continue.
I think that YA is designed to enlighten students and make them think and to be able to relate various works with various subject matter to their own lives. Not only should students read things that are interesting to them, but they should learn how to relate the classics to their lives in order to gain a greater understanding and appreciation. YA should prepare students for trials that they will face as they mature.
To me Young Adult lit. is a erroneous title. Firstly, there is the problem of 'Adult' and the word's origins in latin, the perversion of that meaning in our society. Then there is issue of defining 'literature.' Thirdly, as a huge supporter of the First Amendment and it's intent, find the categorizing literature by any term with the intental or accidental exclusion of any reader, to be immoral, chilling, and UN-american. Now, each individual is unique, and their literary maturities are just as unique. You cannot categorize people by there temporal age.
YA Literature, as I understand it, neither should nor can exist, but to definite: Literature which is appropriate for young adults, according to preset theories of progression level by age and socio-political moral dicta which help maintain the statis quo rather than forging a stronger wiser gens futuri. The only thing which should ever hinder access to a text is the reader's weaknesses.
I hold that such a concept only serves to stunt learning.
Daniel (Danny Boy) Malone
I believe Young Adult Literature can be used as a method for tweens and teens to understand trying times. Since no one will deny that growing up is hard, it is a wonderful outlet for youths to relate, consider, and enjoy the plots and characters specifically taylored to them. I took a childrens literature course in Britain a few summers ago and realized as an English major that the world of literary analysis can occur in books such as Harry Potter. Young Adult literature should not be discounted as a true form of expression and literature.
ya is ...lit that can express the turbulent emotions that adolescents go through. but it is also a way for adults to communicate to teens to help them to learn in a fun and interesting way.
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