LIS 527 Young Adult Novel

June 11, 2015

Characteristics of a Young Adult Novel

  There are many characteristics that pervade the entire genre of a young adult novel, most young

adult novels are focused on a plot meant to teach a specific life lesson or moral. The language and form is usually very simple to understand. The protagonist is typically a child, adolescent or teenager. Young adults can better relate to a character that is close to their own age, many of the protagonists are forced to confront problems on their own, without parents or authority figures to provide direction. Many young adult novels feature realistic fiction; the characters are no longer the all-white middle class, which were the focus in most all early novels. There seems to be more stories from different ethnic and cultural groups. Young adult novels generally avoid adult themes and are not typically sexually explicated.

  The plots are more focused in a young adult novel and there are few if any subplots. There seems to be a very detailed description of things like, the appearance of the character and the usage of the current slang, thus depicting the environment the writer is trying to convey.

It seems to me that there is a shift in the definition of young adult literature, more and more I see usage of four-letter words, drugs, drinking and sex creeping into young adult novels. There aren’t too many topics out there that you can’t find in young adult novels; to me the lines are becoming more blurred between what we consider to be adult and/ or controversial material for the teenage audience.  I find references to topics that would never have been allowed to be listed as a young adult novel a few years ago. The genres of  young adult  literature are realistic fiction, humor, adventure, sports, mysteries, the supernatural, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, horror, nonfiction, biography, poetry ,drama, and short stories. This is a huge variety and many controversial subjects can be adapted to influence the young adult readers. Books like C.S.Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” are the first to come to mind when I think about a young adult novel. The book was and still is completely original incorporating a simple plot, language and form, original writing that catches a young person’s attention and holds it and the fact that it stepped outside the usual norm for this age group all contribute to it becoming a classic. In this book there are many life lessons for young readers to relate too and learn from. As the oldest child, Peter acts as a father-figure towards his siblings. He often tries to instruct his siblings in behaving properly, especially Edmund. Peter's courage and leadership are tested as he fights against Jadis the witch. His sister Susan takes on the mother role as often times the oldest daughter will do. Susan also is the cautious one keeping Peter in a safe place as much as he will allow her. Then there’s Edmund, little brother who is a complainer, he is constantly in trouble with  his older brother His selfishness and desire to avenge his pride leads him to betray his siblings, a decision that causes him and many others pain. The younger sister Lucy is the first to open the wardrobe door and enter into the magical world of Narnia and develop a strong belief in Aslan. There are many issues dealt with in this novel, all can be related to real life situations, you would not find these types of scenarios in a book intended for adult audiences. Adult novels are more focused on adults who have had these life lessons already taught, and hopefully learned. The adult novel would be dealing with more mature themes, feature more nuances, the language would be more explicit and would include sex and violence. Compared to an adult novel like John Steinbeck's “The Grapes of Wrath” Which tells the story of the Great Depression’ following one family and a nation in search of work & human dignity.  The novel focuses on the Joads, a poor sharecropper family driven from their home in Oklahoma by drought, economic hardship, & changes in financial & agricultural industries. Due to their hopeless situation, in part because of the Great Dust Bowl, the Joads headed west for California. Along with many others who sought jobs, land, dignity & a future. The Great Depression is a point in our history that many adults still refer too today, a time when food was scarce and travel was difficult. The exhaustive challenges of day to day life in the adult novel would overwhelm a young adult; it would be difficult for them to understand what the writer was talking about or relate to the dramatic transformation caused by this event in our history.

                                                  Annotated Bibliography: Children’s Literature

June 11, 2015

Fantasy

Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach. New York: Puffin Books.1961.

Fantasy, Grade Level 3-6. James is orphaned in childhood when his parents are eaten by a rhinoceros. James is sent to live with his mean aunts. James dreams of escaping. One day a strange man gives him a bag of magic crystals. James accidentally drops the crystals in the garden a barren peach tree suddenly grows the largest peach in history. Finding a secret passage, James meets several giant insects who become his friends. He and his new friends escape in the peach and fly to New York.  James, once so lonely, now has all the friends he could ever want, or does he?

Sendak,Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper Collins, 1963.

Fantasy,  Grade Level PreK- 3. In "Where the Wild Things Are," Max parades around in his wolf suit looking for some mischief. Then he gets sent to bed without his supper. Soon a forest begins to grow in his room, allowing his mischief to continue undisturbed. He goes venturing out into the forest, where the wild things are; strange creatures with terrible eyes and terrible claws, who dance by the light of the moon. His adventure continues until he must make a choice to go back home, or stay a wild thing forever. This fantasy text feeds the young adventurous mind.

Picture Books

Reid,Barbara. The Subway Mouse. New York: Scholastic. 2003

Picture Book, Grade Level K- 2. Nib lives with his family beneath a busy subway station. He loves to listen to stories, especially those about a special but dangerous place called Tunnel's End. A true pack rat, he collects all sorts of objects and lovingly arranges them into a cozy nest. Although the story is somewhat flat and predictable, Reid's artwork is outstanding. The images are both realistic and clever and have an inviting, three-dimensional appearance. Young children will pore over the details and older children will get ideas to create their own pictures.

Sidman,Joyce. Song of the Water Boatman. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 2005

Picture Book, Grade Level K- 5.  The book begins with the poem, "Listen for Me," in which spring peepers wake from their winter hibernation and sing out, "Listen for me on a spring night,/on a wet night,/on a rainy night./…Listen for me tonight, tonight,/and I'll sing you to sleep." The melody verse continues through summer. The illustrations show of the food chain of a pond, cattails in all seasons until late fall when a painted turtle settles into the mud. The story offers a unique but realistic depiction of the life below the water, and in the surrounding reeds and trees.

 Lucke,Deb. The Boy who wouldn’t Swim. New York: Clarion.2008

Picture Book, Grade Level K-3.  Eric refuses to get into the water. He is jealous that his sister is enjoying swimming lessons. By the time June comes around his sister can swim across the deepest part of the pool and Eric turns green with envy when he sees what his sister can do. Anyone who has ever been afraid of water and swimming will immediately identify with Eric. His means of getting back at the world for his self-created misery will have you laughing out loud, and the surprising ending will have the grownups nodding to one another in shared understanding.

Seeger,Laura. One Boy. New York: Roaring Book Press.2008

Picture  Book, Grade Level PreK - 2.  This is an amazing concept book. Using the numbers 1 through 10, featuring brightly colored die-cut pages and a vocabulary that is shows words inside other words.  When you first read through the text, it appears that the 10 objects are linked only by their counting patterns. However, in the end, it becomes clear that all of the art was painted by the "one boy". Preschoolers will enjoy the book's design and enjoy guessing what is next. However it’s the children who are beginning to develop their sight vocabulary that will enjoy this book the most.

Butterworth, Chris. Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. 2006.

Picture Book, Grade Level K-2. In the warm ocean among the waving sea grass and along the coral reefs, an eye like a small black glass bead peering out at you and watching the fish dart by. Who is this? His scientific name is Hippocampus, which means “horse like sea monster” his head looks like a horse, tail like a monkey, and pouch like a kangaroo. He swims upright moving through the water with little fins on his head and back. Linger for a while and discover all the secrets of the sea horse, one of the shyest fish in the sea.

Cowley, Joy. Chameleon, Chameleon. New York: Scholastic.2005

Picture Book, Grade Level K-3. Experience close up the many moods and colors of the chameleons. The story setting is in the rain forest, one brave lonely chameleon ventures out and, runs into some big, not so friendly forest animals. As the chameleon searches for a new home, he is very happy to discover the tree he has chosen already has a chameleon living in the trunk. While the chameleon tries to introduce himself, she displays her bright beautiful happy colors until she is sure he is friendly. The text is simple and the pictures are brilliant and perfect for young children.

Poetry

Schertle,Alice. Advice for a Frog.New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard. 1995

Poetry, Grade Level K-4. Each of the 14 poems concern an animal, usually and exotic or endangered animals like toucans, fruit bats, pangolin, cranes, lizards, eagles, cheetahs, rats, turtles, rhino, mourner, iguana, monkeys, and the African secretary bird. The poetry is inspiring, accompanied by lush illustrations. Although not a long book, it is filled with linguistic surprises. Imaginative and playful, the pictures bright colors capture the personality of each exotic creature, and the poems use word plays keep it interesting. This book contains a plea for greater environmental awareness. The last page lists each animal and describes its condition in today's world.

 Livingston,Myra. B is for Baby.New York. Margaret K. McElderry.1996

Poetry, Grade Level PreK- 3. This book features an alphabetized collection of poem about babies how they have moments and moods just like other children. A celebration of babyhood from A to Z. This book captures the nature of babies in a variety of moods and their actions and reactions to the world around them. The small, full-color photographs of the darling infants will evoke enjoyment and excitement in younger children. The loving observations made in the poems should provide tremendous enjoyment for expectant mothers, older siblings and grandparents as well. What a splendid and colorful tribute to babies during human infancy.

Sidman,Joyce. Red Sings from Treetops. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.2009

 Poetry, Grade Level PreK- 2.  It is wonderfully strange to read about colors with sounds, smells and taste that correlate with our emotions.  The changing seasons have been the subject of many picture books, but this one has a particularly unique take on the topic. Succeeding seasons that offer opportunities for the colors to spread their magic. In summer,” The blue in water takes on many names: “turquoise, azure, cerulean.” In fall old leaves and crushed berries smell purple. The book features bright colorful illustrations, including collage and paintings on wood. And as the title implies, the colors do sing on every page.

Traditional Literature

Pickney,Jerry. Noah’s Ark. New York: Sea Star Books,2002

Traditional Literature, Grade Level K- 4.   This is a straightforward account of Noah's story and includes only minor changes from the event which is explained in Genesis. The illustrations used in the book tell more. Noah and his family are farmers, but they are faithful and build the Ark. His family endures the taunts of neighbors as they watch the gathering of provisions, preparing for the animals, which spill across the pages in bright watercolors and great detail. Such details add to the book's visual discoveries, from the underwater animals floating across the pages, to the final view of Earth adorned with clouds and rainbows.

Rodgers,Greg. Chukfi Rabbit’s Big, Bad Bellyache. El Paso,TX:Cinco Puntos Press,2014

Traditional Literature, Grade Level K-3.  Deep in Choctaw Country Chukfi Rabbit is trying to figure out some way to avoid work at all cost. The author tells the story from a Choctaw perspective, using Choctaw names for the animals. As the animals all work together to build a new house for Ms. Possum, Chukfi Rabbit says he is too busy to help, until he finds out there will be a feast to eat after the work is all done: Cornbread Biscuits, grape dumplings, tanchi labona( Choctaw corn stew). Chukfi helps himself to the food while everyone else is working and he gets a bellyache.

 Bruchac,Joseph. Raccoon’s Last Race. New York: Dial Books, 2004

Traditional Literature, Grade  Level PreK-5. Azban the raccoon had long legs the fastest of all the animals. He was conceited and loved to challenge the other animals just so he could run past and taunt them. The animals soon refused to race with him, and even refused to speak to him. Then he began to play tricks on the other animals making them angry. Lonely, Azban began talking to a Big Rock; he liked to talk especially about himself. He pushed the Big Rock trying to out run it, the rock fell from the mountain top, there he laid rolled out flat as the animals ran past him.

Keams,Geri. Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun.Arizona: Northland, 1995

Traditional Literature, Grade Level K- 4. In this Cherokee story animals live in the dark half of the world and decide to steal a piece of the sun from the other half. First, Possum goes, hiding the stolen piece in the thick fur of his tail. The sun burns the fur right off, and that is why Possum has a hairless tail. Then Buzzard tries, carrying the sun in his thick crown of feathers, which burns off. Finally, Grandmother Spider goes and successfully brings the sun back in a clay pot, and that is why we see the sun in the center of her web.

Historical Fiction

Barton,Chris. The Amazing age of John Roy Lynch. Michigan: Eerdmans Books, 2015

Historical Fiction, Grade Level 2-5. Set in the Civil War Era, during Reconstruction, John Lynch spent most of his childhood as a slave, born to an Irish father an enslaved mother, making him “half Irish and all slave”.  John worked hard learning to read, write, and began public speaking. Over the next ten years he was appointed as justice of the peace and became one of the first African Americans to be elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. This remarkable story of hope and perseverance is a very valuable supplement to any lessons on the Civil War and Black History.

Averill,Ester. Daniel Boone. New York: Harper& Brothers, 1945.

Historical Fiction, Grade Level 2-6. Daniel Boone grew to be the greatest hunter in the history of America. Wearing a deerskin hunting suit trimmed in fringes standing five foot and ten inches he became a legend. Chief Blackfish decided to adopt Daniel Boone to take the place of his real son who had been killed by white men, he handed Daniel a belt. "The beads represent three paths," he said. "The red path is the warpath. The white path is the path we can walk together. The black path is death if you do not surrender." Could he help the settlers escape the path of death?

D’Aulaire,Ingri. Abraham Lincoln. New York: Doubleday, 1936

Historical Fiction, Grade Level 1-5. Deep in the Kentucky wilderness stood a one room cabin with deerskin covering the windows, and as the February wind tore through the roughhewn logs on that Sunday morning in 1809 our sixteenth president was born. Abraham Lincoln. Abe was raised on a farm, he lost his mother to a plague at age 9 and his step mother and her three children moved into his home. She brought books and taught Abe to read and write. Moving to Springfield Abe becomes a lawyer, finds a wife and has three sons. Later in life he becomes the President of the United States.

Nelson, S.D. Black Elk’s Vision a Lakota Story. New York: Abrams Books for Young

Readers, 2010.

Historical Fiction, Grade Level 3-6. Born in 1863, Black Elk, an Oglala-Lakota medicine man, was warned from an early age to beware the "Wha-shi-choo," or white people. By the time he was 16, his people had been attacked on their lands, fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and been confined to grim reservations, their way of life forever changed. Told in a first-person narrative, this book is his biography. In addition to his respected tribal status, his involvement in many landmark events, from his travels with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show to being injured at the Wounded Knee massacre, makes him a unique historical figure.

Multicultural and International

 Morales,Yuyi. Just a Minute. Houston,TX: Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press, 2011

Multicultural, Grade  Level 4. This Latino grandmother will charm young readers, as she charms the skeleton that pays her a visit on her birthday.  Grandma Beetle tells him “there are things I need to do”, she sweeps ONE house, makes TWO pots of tea, grinds THREE pounds of corn for tortillas, and so on, all in preparation for her Birthday Party. As her grandchildren begin to arrive, they can’t figure out why there is a skeleton visiting on Grandma’s birthday, it’s not until he extends Grandma's lease on life that the children realize she has cheated death. The relieved, loving embrace she gives her grandchildren says it all.

Levine,Ellen. Henry’s Freedom Box. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007

Multicultural, Grade Level 2–5. Born into slavery, torn from his mother as a child, forcibly separated from his wife and children, a desperate Brown conspired with a friend and local doctor to get him out of the tobacco slave factory, they put him in a packing crate and mailed him to Philadelphia. His journey took him, from wagon to steamboat to railroad car. He was tossed sideways and upside down. Henry Brown emerges from his confinement and smiles upon his arrival in a comfortable Pennsylvania parlor. This story depicts the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man.

Brown,Monica. Clara and the Curandera. Houston,TX: Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press, 2011

Multicultural, Grade Level K- 3.In this bilingual story, Clara is a grumpy young girl who just wants space and time for herself. She is tired of sharing with all her brothers and sisters, taking out the trash, and reading books for school. She complains about her schoolwork, chores, and sharing toys with her siblings. Her mother sends her to a curandera (healer), who tells Clara to do more of everything: take out the neighbors’ trash, share her fun toys with her siblings, read more books. And, to Clara’s surprise, when she does all that, life is blissful. Clara’s frown is gone.

 Realistic Fiction

Curtis, Gavin. The Bat Boy and his Violin. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998

Realistic Fiction Grade Level 1-4. This book is an interesting look at life in the Negro Baseball League of the 1940s, a wonderful father-son relationship, and a gentle advocacy of the Negro culture. Reginald is serious about playing his violin, but his father coaches and believes his son would use his time more wisely by serving as a bat boy for his team. Reginald is an unusual bat boy; he plays his violin in the dugout to urge the players on. Ultimately, the team’s success and appreciation for Reginald's talents make his father alter his view of violin playing and find pride in his son's achievements.

Levitin,Sonia. Nine for California. New York: Orchard Books, 1996

Realistic Fiction, Grade Level PreK- 3. When Pa goes to the California’s gold fields and writes to say he's lonely, Ma takes her five children on a 21-day journey west from Missouri, cramped in a stagecoach. Slowly but surely, Ma's sack full of "everything we'll need" for the trip doesn’t last.  The long route is at times overwhelming. Every time Amanda begins to become bored, something exciting happens: hungry Indians surround the stage; a torrential rainfall causes it to get stuck in the mud; buffalo stampede toward the coach; and so on. The characters and language makes the story come alive.

MacLachlan,Patricia. Snowflakes Fall. New York: random House, 2013

Realistic Fiction, Grade Level K- 3. This book was created as tribute to the victims of the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. It celebrates the laughter and the uniqueness of the children who were lost in the Sandy Hook shooting, and of children everywhere. The image of falling snowflakes, no two the same, all beautiful” makes a powerful metaphor. The author uses a poem to describe snowflakes swirling together like the voices of the children blanketing the backyards , gardens, rolling countryside, and the town's familiar sites. This book can be used to address tragic events and discuss the grief and recovery process.