Here is the link to the next article:
The Power of Young Adult Fiction
Remember to click on each of the articles and read all seven commentaries.
What is your experience with young adult fiction? Which of the articles do you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with?
In
other news, here are links to the Google Docs versions of the handouts
we looked at in class on writing summaries, evaluations, and comparisons
for your reading responses. The formatting is a little different, but
the information is still there.
Evaluation/Comparison Handout
Summary Handout
Let me just say that young adult fiction is the reason why I even love reading in the first place. I still remember what seems like many years ago (can I really say that? lol) when my parents gave me the first Harry Potter book after it came it out, telling me that it was "supposed to be really good." Well there I went. While I don't put that much energy into reading for entertainment as of late, I agree with each of the authors of this article, with the exception of Joel Stein. He's an idiot if you ask me, for having such a closed and untried opinion. I completely agree with Lev Grossman...his article was probably my favorite of all of them. I believe I will never grow out of young adult fiction. Even books I read when I was really young still have great flavor to me. I've kept a book or two from my childhood because I still love the ideas and the emotions that emanate from them. I still feed off of them. They even trigger memories that I don't want to forget. If this is what Joel is bashing on, then shame on him. I don't believe age should have restrictions on reading material. When I was a junior in high school, my history teacher used the story of The Wizard of Oz to teach us about the U.S. economy in the early 20th century. The comparison was amazing. No matter what book it is or what age group it is meant for, you can almost always take something away from it. Who wants to see Joel and Lev get locked in a room to duke it out? I'll bring the popcorn lol.
ReplyDelete-Colton W.
I completely agree. Stein had no experience and didn't check his facts (it is Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, Cinderella Castle resides in Disney World, trust me, I'm a Disney freak). Lev is totally right, books shouldn't be boring. If you're reading for fun, the book should be fun, and young adult fiction does have some of the strongest writing, especially Harry Potter. Also, on Sharon Flake's argument, yes we need to be a little more sensitive to the black community, and include them more, but they also need to be a little less sensitive. Most authors are not trying to offend anyone by putting a certain race of character in their book. If Flake only writes about her race, why should white authors write about other races. Most people aren't as racist as you think they are. The only way to stop racism is by NOT TALKING ABOUT IT. A little something Morgan Freeman, a black man, said.
ReplyDelete-Bryson C.
I agree and disagree, that that is true I have read a lot of young adult fiction, ther arn't as many black charictters I think there is a lot more books out there then she thought and she was giving the impresion, that their arn't more books that do show what they can be and that is anything. and that is, one of the things that draws me to Youg Adult fiction. no matter what race you are. and they almost alway show that they can come out on top.
DeleteCraig N
I agree. I think as long as your reading and getting something out of it its a good thing. As long as your not decreasing your intelligence by reading,I think its fine. We all need some entertainment every once in a while. You don't always have to read on an "adult" level to learn something.
DeleteKaylee M.
Not all fiction is just for pure entertainment. I think that in the age of TV most people would rather be entertained by movies than books. A lot of books have always some kind of morality to learn from at the end. And if a story written for young adults will capture their interrist and teach them a lesson without having to learn it the hard way, than why should not adults be able to profit from that as well. One is never too old to learn something new.
DeleteAnna Hollingsworth
Matt De La Pena had the best passage in my opinion. He added something I felt like nobody else added, (not including intelligence which Stein lacked) emotion. He is at a point where he can express his feelings, and stop feeling judged. How many of us are secure enough to do this?
ReplyDelete-Jaxson S.
I agree, Mr. De La Pena had a great passage and completely changed the image he thought was necessary, into something that was a much better fit for him. Now his novels inspire a wide range of people to find their self and step out of their comfort zone.
DeleteSadly, not enough by any means.
Delete-Taylor O.
It's interesting to think that by knowing what we know and learning what we can, all of us can inspire through our writings. One person at a time little by little. Inspiration is a huge job that Mr. De La Pena can't do on his own.
Delete-Jaxson S.
I agree De La Pena writes by inspiration and people can write better and touch peoples lifes like that.
DeleteZul Martinez
I agree with Zul that some of the best writings inthe world have come from inspiration. I agree with Pena too, we is a couragous man.
DeleteI agree, Mr. De La Pena had a great passage and completely changed the image he thought was necessary, into something that was a much better fit for him. Now his novels inspire a wide range of people to find their self and step out of their comfort zone.
ReplyDelete-Felix B.
When Beth Yoke wrote "But holding teens to a standard that most adults don't adhere is not reasonable or productive, especially when we know that leisure reading is a critical component to academic success (and that a key to leisure reading is personal choice)." I started to laugh because of how true it is. I hear all the time from my work how parents kid's don't want to read and when I ask them what books they have helped pick out it is usually something that is boring and can't be related to by most people. I remember when I hated to read but once I read Twilight (before it got popular) I couldn't put a book down for more then a day or two. Personally I have young adult fiction books to thank for my interest in reading today and I am proud to say so.
ReplyDeleteMatt De La Pena in my opinion was the best one. He was not talking bad about how adults read young adults book. he actually talk about how people identify them self with the story and the characters he put a positive attitude towards books.
ReplyDelete-Zul M.
I think Matt had some very good points. The explanation of the books and how they relate to adults makes a lot of sense. I'm just glad that I think all of you disagree with Stein.
DeleteKyle L.
I really enjoyed reading Lev's article. I thought it was interesting how is book group only reads young adult fiction. I think it's kinda cool. I think it relates to Patricia's article in how she explains why adults are reading so much adult fiction. There aren't many adult books that are written in such a daring way. And also I think Joel Stein will someday read harry potter and cry his eyes out towards the end of Half Blood Prince (for those who haven't read it I won't spoil too much.)and sign up for Lev's group in no time.
ReplyDeleteKyle L.
I thinks is interesting how they read young adult fiction because it reminds them of their childhood and their young day.
DeleteZul Martinez
I didn't like Sharon G. Flake's article. I don't think that you should like books any less just because they don't meet a diversity quota. It should be about the struggles of the characters and the story.
ReplyDelete-Charles S.
I feel like Joel Stein is really sterotyping people. You never know the reasoning behind peoples' doings. I feel like he really jumped in to this topic only looking at it through his ways, and not others. Instead of looking at the facts, and realizing that people like different things, he just went ahead and basically pointed out it was wrong. Everyone still has that imaginative fictional characteristic, I don't think that is something everyone grows out of. It's not embarassing, it's a personal choice. Some of those books are really great, and can be great for people of any ages.
ReplyDeleteI've read the books these critics are talking about, and the one thing I can say about all of them is that they are easy to read. Not just in difficulty, but in story flow and page-turn appeal as well. They are entertaining reads, not literary masterpieces. Defaming them for being something they aren't trying to be is like being upset about Saturday morning cartoons for not having the plot or star power of a primetime sitcom.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the books that is discussed in the article but I know that Young Adult Fiction is what got me into reading in the first place and I know that it is something that can easily capture your attention and keep a hold of it for a long time.
ReplyDelete-Taylor O.
I personally don't think it matters who reads what, or why others care. It's none of anyones business how old i am and what type of books i'm reading for my age. I'm not in first grade anymore, no one should still be keeping track of what i'm learning. I don't understand why others, Joel, care either. He obviously has nothing better to do with his life than worry about what others are reading. sad. I tend to not worry about things that are completely out of my control.
ReplyDeleteStaci Galvez