Adolescent lit

[Tom Frenkel]

Would Kipling's _Kim_ be a good example of adolescent literature? I read
it as a grown-up, and remember being somewhat offended that the book was
labelled as being for "young adults" -- because I liked it so much! But
the main character *is* a young person (a boy), so from that standpoint it
would likely be good reading for younger people.

--Tom
Tom Frenkel <fre...@cucis.cis.columbia.edu>

[Doug R Capra]

I didn't intend my comment to reflect badly on "young adult"
or "children's" literature. Actually , I'm trying to separate the
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle" type of material from the good stuff
when I talk about the two different kinds. I still believe,, though,
the the category "young adult" is as much, if not more of, a marketing
strategy than it is an actual literary genre. Books are marketed in many
ways. Some covers just shout out "young adult," yet the story and writing
could easily be read by an adult without him or her making that kind of
judgment about the story. Unfortunately, we'll never know because once we
see that
"young adult" cover and get that category set in our mind, it's difficult
to see the book as anything else.
Doug

Doug, I have to differ. Just as there is plenty of adult literature that
is tedious, unsatisfying, or otherwise not-so-well-written, there is
literature for young adults that is equally so. But there are also very
fine pieces of literature, "really just good literature," written for young
adults which, when read by adults, are far from tedious.

As someone who teaches adolescent lit, I have to concede that reading
large quantities of it, which I need to do, can leave me hungry for books
that take on adult issues and deal with them in a complex manner. But
just as adolescents enjoy certain adult books, there are many young adult
books that adults can enjoy. I hate to let a somewhat negative
generalization about adolescent lit go by without comment =-).

Elise

On Thu, 2 Mar 1995, Doug R Capra wrote:

> This discussion of adolescent literature brings to my mind a
> thought I've pondered for a while. It seems there are at least 2 kinds
> of "adolescent" literature. the first is easily written for and
> marketed to young people. An adult reading it would find it somewhat
> tedious. the second type is really just good literature, labeled as
> "adolescent" or "young adult" at the publisher's level by those marketing
> the book. I almost hate calling these books "young adult" or "adolescent"
> because they appeal to adults as strongly as they do to young people.
> Doug Capra
>
> On Tue, 28 Feb 1995, Morris, Mark wrote:
>
> > I am in an Adolescent Literature course where I am required to
> > read some form of "classic" adolescent literature. I am looking for
> > either an "iniation" novel or an "adult" fiction that is popular in
> > classroom use. Any suggestions? (Please do not suggest _Catcher In
> > The Rye_ as we have already discussed this novel). Thank you in
> > advance!
> >
>
> There are so many, Mark, one hardly knows where to begin. I'm a little
> confused, though--are you talking about books written for adults, in which
> case *The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter* or *The Member of the Wedding* or
> *Huckleberry Finn* or *Other Voices, Other Rooms* or *The Bluest Eye* and
> many others would apply, or are you talking about young adult "classics,"
> like *The Chocolate War*, or *The Outsiders* or *The Summer of My German
> Soldier*? Of course there are books that fit into both categories--
>
> Elise
>

[Doug R Capra]

That's the kind of book I'm talking about -- a book that has an appeal
to both adults and children yet is often labeled "young adult." In addition
to other books by RLS, one will often find books by Jules Verne, Mark Twain,
(including Huck Finn), LM Alcott, Sallenger, etc. packaged to look like
"young adult" books. To adults who don't know better, seeing a book packaged
like a children's book will often turn them off to the book before they read itI
know I occasionally stumbled upon a recall all around classic when I decided
to read a "children's book to my kids and found out it was just good
literature that transcended age.
Doug

[Elise Earthman]

[ChrisC5211]

I can think of a few good European books - coming of age stories - for
teenagers that I enjoyed very much as an adult. To wit:

Herman Hesse - Under the Wheel
Robert Musil - The Young Torless
??? - Lord of the Flies (author's name escapes me)

I think Balzac is great for teens struggling with the big wide world too.

Regards

Christopher Crawford

[lne...@oregon.uoregon.edu]

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.950303103618.25943A-100000@mercury>, Elise Earthman <eea...@MERCURY.SFSU.EDU> writes:
>Doug, I have to differ. Just as there is plenty of adult literature that
>is tedious, unsatisfying, or otherwise not-so-well-written, there is
>literature for young adults that is equally so. But there are also very
>fine pieces of literature, "really just good literature," written for young
>adults which, when read by adults, are far from tedious.
>
>As someone who teaches adolescent lit, I have to concede that reading
>large quantities of it, which I need to do, can leave me hungry for books
>that take on adult issues and deal with them in a complex manner. But
>just as adolescents enjoy certain adult books, there are many young adult
>books that adults can enjoy. I hate to let a somewhat negative
>generalization about adolescent lit go by without comment =-).
>
>Elise
>

I also find it interesting that the library I work at, at the U of Oregon,
generally classifies science fiction or fantasy fiction in the juvenile
section. Most of that collection really is juvenile/YA lit that is, while not
tedious, of that sort that leaves you hungry for something else as Elise sayys
above, but some of em are books I'd read anyway, and ones which take on some
pretty big issues (for that matter, there are a few I'm surprised none of the
more, uh, conservative members of our community have looked at and decided are
totally INappropriate for young impressionable minds). Anyway, there's some
pretty amazing stuff in the Juvy collection, some of it not particularly
juvenile.
--Lara
lne...@darkwing.uoregon.edu

[bune...@earthlink.net]

On Friday, March 3, 1995 4:43:31 PM UTC-5, Tom Frenkel wrote:
> Would Kipling's _Kim_ be a good example of adolescent literature? I read it as a grown-up, and remember being somewhat offended that the book was labelled as being for "young adults" -- because I liked it so much! But the main character *is* a young person (a boy), so from that standpoint it would likely be good reading for younger people.--Tom Tom Frenkel <fre...@cucis.cis.columbia.edu>

Want to read a funny YA book, try SENIOR PRANK...

May I suggest this book.



The book is SENIOR PRANK. You can download it on Amazon.com. It is an edgy, politically incorrect, humorous, young adult novel. There is no hardback at this time; maybe at a later date. It is also downloadable on Ipad, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony Reader Store, etc. Only 2.99. Guaranteed to make you laugh your butt off or money back. Adults will enjoy the many Elvis references in the book.



Here’s the plot…Elvis McGraw wants to go out with a bang. He wants to deliver a senior prank that will go down in history. He recruits two of his fellow classmates, Jose Hernandez and Lamont Sheen, to assist him with his plan. When Thomas Jefferson High School, of Houston, Texas, their school, is nominated for the title of All American School, the trio sees an opening to leave their mark.



The governor and judges in the All American School competition visit the school but at every turn they encounter another prank or practical joke. The biggest prank they pull comes into play when their chemistry experiment accidentally produces a potion that can change personalities. They turn the quietest student in the class to a loud mouthed ghetto thug. They turn the National Honor Society representative to an intelligence challenged valley girl. They turn the class preppie president into a redneck, and the school’s macho jock into a flamboyant gay male. It gets even more wacko from there.



Thanks.



Tom Bunevich

Tampa, FL