When some cultural critics fret about the “ever-more-appalling” YA books, they aren’t trying to protect African-American teens forced to walk through metal detectors on their way into school. Or Mexican-American teens enduring the culturally schizophrenic life of being American citizens and the children of illegal immigrants. Or Native American teens growing up on Third World reservations. Or poor white kids trying to survive the meth-hazed trailer parks. They aren’t trying to protect the poor from poverty. Or victims from rapists. No, they are simply trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be. They are trying to protect privileged children. Or the seemingly privileged.
-- Sherman Alexie "Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood"
- DEBATE -- Is YA Lit too violent & dark?
Recently there was a provocative article about whether books for YA were too dark. This led to a response by Sherman Alexie and others. Also led to several discussions on MPR. See following links.
- archetypal analysis -
- Stand With Queer Youth (9:00) - explores the potentials of YA literature to grow understanding and advocacy for queer youth. Features sj Miller and several authors of YA literature (e.g. Luna, Ash)
recommended titles and curated book lists:
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