Weirding Out Latinx America

The insistence on constructing an identity that pushes against and challenges mainstream or cultural pressures to be “hip” or “on fleek” forms the central tenet of the essays in Nerds, Goths, Geeks, and Freaks: Outsiders in Chicanx/Latinx Young Adult Literature. Given the established canon of Latinx YA literature and the growing body of those works that explore “weirdos,” “nerds,” and other “taboo” identities, an edited volume that examines such identities is warranted. This introduction provides an overview of the four sections and the chapters included in each section.

Author(s):  
Davin L. Helkenberg

This paper investigates Young Adult (YA) Literature as a source of information on sexuality for young women readers. The data for this study is derived from semi-structured interviews (Seidman, 2006) that were conducted with 11 female participants. Six major categories of information on sexuality were found within the interview data: sexual acts, types of relationships, relationship realities, strategies for dealing with relationship problems, sexual abuse, and consent. These findings provide empirical evidence that YA Literature can act as a valuable source of information on sexuality and may promote the sexual agency and well-being of young people, especially young women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
Baderaddin Yassin ◽  
Hadeel Saed

The purpose of this study is to shed light on Young Adult literature (YAL) in Jordan. Eleven English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and 62 EFL students in Jordanian public schools participated in this research to first measure their awareness of the YAL and to evaluate the academic benefits of integrating English YA literature into the Jordanian public school curricula. A group of EFL instructors and EFL learners were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. The instructors' interview questions focused on demographics, definitions of YA literature, age classification of YAL, benefits, and challenges of using YA novel in Jordanian English curricula. Questions for the learners centered on demographics, definition and age classification of YAL, and the use of YA novels in the EFL classroom. The study revealed that EFL teachers' reliance on the official curriculum tends to remove innovation and creativity from their teaching and limit their opportunities to adapt the curricula to the competence and interest of their EFL students. The research also revealed that EFL students who read English YA novels developed necessary competencies in both the English language and daily life experiences. The results showed that most EFL teachers in this research paper asserted that English YA novels positively affected EFL students in Jordan. This effect led to increased motivation and engagement in EFL classrooms.   Received: 27 January 2021 / Accepted: 8 April 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021


Author(s):  
Sarah Thaller

<p>Young adult literature has never shied away from taboo topics, particularly if the topics effect or concern adolescents. Recent studies have indicated that one fifth of the American population, about 50 million people including children and adults, live with some form of mental illness. Mental illness is clearly an issue that impacts young people, yet there are very few examples of authentic representations of characters with profound mental illness in young adult (YA) literature. This article discusses two texts that contribute to stereotypes about mental illness.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-179
Author(s):  
Amber Matthews ◽  
Gavin Bennett ◽  
Maneja Joian ◽  
Jenna Brancatella

Over the last decade Indigenous Young Adult (YA) literature has risen in popularity and demand in library programming and collections. Many works draw on the rich historical and cultural significance of narratives, oral history and storytelling in Indigenous communities. Their rise in prominence presents new opportunities for libraries to work with Indigenous authors and groups to share the importance of Indigenous histories and works in and through library spaces, collections and programming. However, in the context of popular culture including Indigenous YA literature, it is important to consider the identity and representation of Indigenous people, cultures and histories. The following annotated bibliography has been developed to guide libraries on the appropriate professional and cultural competencies to compliment this rising body of work and foster respect and recognition of Indigenous communities and works.


2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 299
Author(s):  
Leanne Cheek

This is a timely, updated treatment of the subject of young adult (YA) literature. Cart has a wealth of experience and knowledge in YA literature, having founded and chaired the Printz Committee and authored or edited twenty-three books. He deftly organizes that knowledge into a highly accessible volume for librarians.


Author(s):  
Stephen W Litvin ◽  
Emily Powell

This research, with data collected pre-COVID-19, provides insight into an interesting and rarely studied event, the young adult (YA) literature festival. Survey research conducted at a YA festival, with attendees generally from middle school through university age, provided useful insight into the motivations for visiting the festival, determination of the person making the decision to attend (surprisingly, the YA and rarely his/her parent) and the satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors that affected the attendee’s attitude toward the festival. In addition, Significance Performance Analysis (SPA) is introduced as an alternative to the widely used Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) model.


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