Last week in class we had a discussion about what makes Young Adult Literature and why it's important. These are just some highlights I took away from discussion that I want to share with you. :)
What is Young Adult Literature:
~ Young Adult Literature wasn't a genre until the 60's. Up until that point, youth were just reading whatever they could get their hands onto - their parents' books, newspapers, magazines, etc.
~ When the genre of Young Adult Literature started, it was used primarily as a means of teaching morals. Lots of the early YA lit consisted of how teens should behave.
~ This changed in the 70's and 80's when books for youth began to explore things that were previously considered taboo: sex, drugs, pregnancy, suicide and death, etc.
~ Now YA lit is a genre that seeks to reach out to youth and to let them know they aren't alone.
Why YA Lit is Important:
~ Young Adult Literature is a gateway for discussion. Teachers can use it as a launch point to discuss things going on with their students or issues that the students may have to face or are facing. This can be really beneficial.
~ Youth are exploring their world through whatever means they can, and YA Lit can act as a filter to help them figure out their place with their peers, themselves, and the greater world.
~ YA Lit may be the only thing that gets some youth to read. It offers them an outlet to explore the written word and eventually move beyond teen books and possibly into other genres of reading.
And I think this might be the most import of all:
~ Young Adult Literature is important because it lets teens know they aren't alone. No matter what they're going through, others are there too. The books help reinforce this sense of community.
What do you guys think? Is Young Adult Literature important? What makes something for young adults in your mind?
~Meaghan
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