Myths about Adolescent Literature

1 -Teenagers today can’t read Difference between illiteracy and alliteracy Conventional literacy vs. functional literacy In 1900, 4 th grade was the level needed to function. 1.WWI - 45% year olds read at 4 th grade level 2.WWII - 65% 3.Vietnam – 80% 4.Problem - 4 th grade no longer sufficient

2- Young Adult literature is simplified to accommodate low reading levels Has some truth to it. Overgeneralized, however. They are shorter Are “styalistically” simplified, but not with lowered vocabulary.

3-Teenage books are all the same Tremendous variety Non-fiction –Sports –Information –Health –How-to Fiction –Adventure –Mystery –Realism –History –Science fiction MANY DO, HOWEVER, COME UNDER THE “COMING OF AGE” GENRE

4-Teenage books avoid the “TABOO” and fixate on white, middle-class protagonists True up through the 1950’s Now, books are painfully honest The taboos have broken down –Drinking –Profanity –Racial unrest –Pregnancy –Drugs Some suggest that they have gone too far toward realism.

5-Teenage books are didactic Close to the truth Authors what to share insight with YA readers This can be said of ALL writing, however. Promote societal values of the day.

6-Teenage books are anti-adult (parents) Want the protagonist to achieve independence Want a teenage protagonist Was more true in the 1960’s than today

7-Girls read girl books, boys read boy’s books Has the most potential to become true, if We don’t intervene More true through elementary years ***Girls read more “boy” books than boys read “girl” books. This is changing also. More books with female protagonists are being written - ***Girls read more then boys.

8-If Teens see the movie, they won’t read the book Simply not true !! Movies actually spur readers on to read the book.

9-YA literature does not produce classics A classic is rare in any genre As new as YA literature is, “classic” status would be astounding (classic in the sense of Moby Dick) Classic authors –Betsy Byers –Cynthia Voight –Robert Cormier –M.E. Kerr –Richard Peck –Norma Fox Mazer –Harry Mazer –Jucd Blume