What are those teens really reading?
So if 83% of teens read at least one book last year (a higher percentage than for folks over 25) and literary reading has been shown to be on the rise (Pew and National Endowment for the Arts). Then, what are they reading?
Young Adult Literature can be very high quality and very popular or very popular and not very good quality and the unfortunate - very high quality and not very popular.
Young Adult Literature is VERY broad! Various subgenres are particularly popular including urban fiction/drama books, dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction, paranormal romance/urban fantasy, series fiction, fan fiction, steampunk, "new adult" fiction (not for school), "coming-of-age" realistic fiction, YA nonfiction, and graphic novels (manga, superhero, and realistic). Find quality titles through reviews and awards and then checking the popularity on sites like GoodReads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble can help you find books that will connect with students.
Curricular Considerations - How does YA play with the Common Core and text complexity? Can YA literature be rigorous (lexile/reading level and literary components) and can you defend it? Is YA literature only appropriate for reading for pleasure - what about in the classroom for actual study/close reading? Will YA be better "prepared" to deal with modern curriculum foci like global literature? YA doesn't fit all teaching situations but it is the best match for others - social responsibility, emotional connections/relationships, text relevancy (audience, time period references, etc.), reluctant readers/reader motivation, diversity in authors, personal connection/text relatability, literature circles and independent reading...what do you think?
Young Adult Literature can be very high quality and very popular or very popular and not very good quality and the unfortunate - very high quality and not very popular.
Young Adult Literature is VERY broad! Various subgenres are particularly popular including urban fiction/drama books, dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction, paranormal romance/urban fantasy, series fiction, fan fiction, steampunk, "new adult" fiction (not for school), "coming-of-age" realistic fiction, YA nonfiction, and graphic novels (manga, superhero, and realistic). Find quality titles through reviews and awards and then checking the popularity on sites like GoodReads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble can help you find books that will connect with students.
Curricular Considerations - How does YA play with the Common Core and text complexity? Can YA literature be rigorous (lexile/reading level and literary components) and can you defend it? Is YA literature only appropriate for reading for pleasure - what about in the classroom for actual study/close reading? Will YA be better "prepared" to deal with modern curriculum foci like global literature? YA doesn't fit all teaching situations but it is the best match for others - social responsibility, emotional connections/relationships, text relevancy (audience, time period references, etc.), reluctant readers/reader motivation, diversity in authors, personal connection/text relatability, literature circles and independent reading...what do you think?
YALSA - the Young Adult Library Services Association is all about what kids really want to read. They have a variety of awards related to many different segments of Young Adult Literature as well as ways to use YA Lit and ways to find YA Lit. Check out their website and especially their Teen Book Finder.
NoveList and NoveList K-8 (subscription services provided through the state library system - you may have to access them through http://www.nclive.org and then the Education resources list.) The service can help you match books to student interest and includes reviews, links to GoodReads, links to BookTalks, book lists, award winners, Common Core resources, read-alike books, etc. It can also be searched by age level and by reading level (i.e. Lexile). You can also check this site out for discoving lexiles. And this tool for ATOS leveling.
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GoodReads - the Facebook of reading has reviews by students, top lists created by teens and more. Use GoodReads alone or in conjunction with a service like NoveList to find not just quality YA but popular YA that kids want to read. You will need to create an account to get things going. Consider a "teacher" account and a personal account if you plan on sharing lists with students or "friending" them on GoodReads.
Litpick - online service with teen reviews of books. Teens can read book reviews by other young adults. Look for trends in YA literature and sign up to become a reviewer.
A list of eTexts via a LiveBinder - these are free texts available online that are geared towards young adults or searchable for young adult titles. It also includes "classics" that would not fit into the genre "Young Adult Literature"
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Where to get your hands on YA Lit?
METRC and CED Overdrive (eBooks that you can check out on any device with your student ID number - Download the Overdrive and Kindle app first on a mobile device!)
Narrow your search of the NCSU Library system to the METRC library. Directions here! |
Public Libraries - Cameron Village and Public Libraries eBooks/Download Library
Teen Reading Resources from the Public Library. Amazon Kindle Daily Deals
BN Nook Books Under $5 Google Play - Google Books (good samples for read-aloud) |
Some additional resources/readings:
"How Young Adult Fiction Came of Age" from The Atlantic by D.B. Grady
Brenner, R. (2013). Teen literature and fan culture. Young Adult Library Services, 11(4), 33-36. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=89132687&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Clemmons, K., & Sheehy, C. (2011). Science, technology, and YA lit. Science Teacher, 78(7), 42-45. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=66001698&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Connors, S. P. (2013). Challenging perspectives on young adult literature. English Journal, 102(5), 69-73.
Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=87614780&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Kent, A. M., & Simpson, J. L. (2012). The power of literature: Establishing and enhancing the young
adolescent classroom community. Reading Improvement, 49(1), 28-32. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=75059502&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Lesesne, T. (2010). Reading ladders: Leading students from where they are to where we'd like them to be. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann
Moreillon, J., Hunt, J., & Ewing, S. (2009). Learning and teaching in WANDA wiki wonderland: Literature
circles in the digital commons. Teacher Librarian, 37(2), 23-28. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=47500187&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Ostenson, J., & Wadham, R. (2012). Young adult literature and the common core: A surprisingly good fit.
American Secondary Education, 41(1), 4-13. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=84030209&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Brenner, R. (2013). Teen literature and fan culture. Young Adult Library Services, 11(4), 33-36. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=89132687&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Clemmons, K., & Sheehy, C. (2011). Science, technology, and YA lit. Science Teacher, 78(7), 42-45. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=66001698&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Connors, S. P. (2013). Challenging perspectives on young adult literature. English Journal, 102(5), 69-73.
Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=87614780&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Kent, A. M., & Simpson, J. L. (2012). The power of literature: Establishing and enhancing the young
adolescent classroom community. Reading Improvement, 49(1), 28-32. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=75059502&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Lesesne, T. (2010). Reading ladders: Leading students from where they are to where we'd like them to be. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann
Moreillon, J., Hunt, J., & Ewing, S. (2009). Learning and teaching in WANDA wiki wonderland: Literature
circles in the digital commons. Teacher Librarian, 37(2), 23-28. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=47500187&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Ostenson, J., & Wadham, R. (2012). Young adult literature and the common core: A surprisingly good fit.
American Secondary Education, 41(1), 4-13. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=84030209&site=ehost-live&scope=site
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