Identity Crisis: A Review Double Feature

Who am I? What kind of person am I? How do other people see me? Can I be more than one thing? What box do I fit in? 


These questions about identity are among the biggest concerns for many teens.  So it's no surprise that so many novels written for young adults tackle this area of philosophical conflict.  I read 10 Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Pink by Lili Wilkinson in the same week, having no idea that they share some interesting similarities.  Both novels are by awesome Australian young adult authors and both stories take place in modern day Australia.  But as I read each one, I found that the similarities go beyond the geographical: these two novels tackle the classic young adult issue of identity in some unique and specific ways. 

Limited Visibility: My Response to THAT WSJ Article

Whew! I woke up yesterday morning to an Internet storm in the young adult lit blogosphere. If you frequent young adult lit blogs or follow YA authors on Twitter or are on a young adult services listserv, you will have likely read the now infamous article in the Wall Street Journal, "Darkness Too Visible" written by Meghan Cox Gurdan.  If not, check it out here.  


First, I'll say that there are so many extremely articulate and wonderfully thoughtful responses to this article by bloggers, librarians, and authors--I'm including a list of links to several of them at the bottom of this post.  Please check them out because they are far more experienced and eloquent than I am.  


Now, this WSJ article got me riled up for a large number of reasons.  There's such a great deal about it that frustrates me that I'm almost unsure where to begin.  I think that my objections can be tied into one overarching problem with this article: it's extremely limited viewpoint.  The article's content demonstrates a very narrow understanding of young adult literature, of young adults, and of librarians, authors, editors, and others in the industry.  


Firstly, the article begins by describing the experience of one mother who was very unsatisfied and unhappy with the selection of books in her local Barnes and Noble's teen section; she felt that there was nothing appropriate for her 13 year old daughter, saying: "It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff."  The author goes on to agree with this statement, stating that "kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18."  I have to say that such statements are indeed very "broadly speaking."  This generalization about the range of materials out there for young adults is especially frustrating because it is patently untrue.  I frequently find myself explaining to people that YA literature is not just one thing; it is not all vampire love stories or angsty prom tales or 'problem novels.'  Just like adult literature, young adult literature is extremely diverse.  Books dealing with some darker issues or situations are one type of fiction out there aimed at teens; they are far from the only kind of young adult literature being published and read right now.  What about the fabulously fun or romantic or hilarious or whimsical young adult novels out there? Additionally, not all teen fiction is aimed at the same age group; most YA literature is not created for the entire 12-18 demographic.  As other bloggers have noted already, if this mother had walked into a library and asked a teen or children's librarian for some advice, she likely would not have left empty-handed.  


The main thrust of the article is that the fiction being published for teenagers is too dark, covering topics previously considered taboo such as sexual and physical abuse, self-mutilation, depression, suicide, sexual assault, etc.  Other bloggers have articulated nicely that young adult literature has essentially contained 'problem novels' or issue-driven stories dealing with difficult topics since the genre has existed.  I would rather simply point out why I, as a librarian and youth advocate, feel that books addressing these topics are important.  I was a lucky kid--I lived a safe and comparatively happy life as a child and an adolescent.  But I knew that the scary stuff was out there; I either knew of or was friends with young people who dealt with some or several of these situations.  For a lot of teens, total innocence or ignorance of the dark side of life is simply not a reality.  Now that I am older, I am even more aware of the fact that for many young adults, abuse, self-injury, or sexual assault are things of reality rather than fiction.  Do I think that this means that every young adult should read about these topics? Of course not--each kid is unique and has distinct reading preferences and needs.  But I do think that the attempt to give a voice to the voiceless should not be dismissed as easily as Ms. Gurdon seems to feel it can be.  When we say that these topics cannot be written about--that they are dirty and depraved and so should be hidden in the dark--what message are we sending to the young survivors of abuse, assault, or depression?  We are telling them that their stories do not matter; we are saying that these realities should not be discussed.  As someone who has made it her job to care about young adults, I believe that such action is simply not okay.  


In her conclusion, Ms. Gurdon states that "book business exists to sell books; parents exist to rear children"; I would like to add to that that librarians (and along with other members of the young adult literature community) exist to defend each child's individual right to read and to provide a diverse literature in support of each child's discovery and understanding of the world around her and her place in it.  This difference in objectives ties into my last quibble with this article: there is a distinction between banning and guidance.  When we discuss censorship or book banning, we mean the demand that an item be removed from access by the public or by a large group of people (such as students at a particular school) based on the objections of an individual or a group.  Meanwhile guidance is on individual, personalized basis.  Parents should talk with their children about what they're reading; please do! However, individuals do not have the right to extend such guidance to other children or young adults.  


To end on an inspiring note, please check out the myriad of responses on Twitter using the hashtag #YAsaves; hundreds of teens and adults have shared their personal examples of how powerful stories written for teens can be.    


Here are a few of the great responses to this article so far- check them out! 


Liz B. @ A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy,  "There's Dark Things in Them There Books!"  

Stephanie Lawton, "YA Under Attack: Heaven Forbid We Address Reality" 

Libba Bray's recent Twitter feed compiled by WSJ 


Linda Holmes @ NPR's Monkey See, "Seeing Teenagers As We Wish They Were: The Debate Over YA Fiction"

Elizabeth Bird @ A Fuse 8 Production, "Fusenews: Hand Me My Smelling Salts! I Think I Have the Vapors!"

Laurie Halse Anderson, "Stuck Between Rage and Compassion" 


bookshelves of doom has a response and a round up of other responses 


 Mary Elizabeth Williams at Salon Magazine, "Has Young Adult Fiction Become Too Dark?"

Malinda Lo, "The Moral of the Story" 

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Tween Tuesdays! 

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous GreenBeanTeenQueen over at her blog.  Bloggers use the meme to highlight awesome reads for tweens. 

A Tale Dark and Grimm

Adam Gidwitz

You've heard about Hansel and Gretel before right? With the witch and her crazy house made of candy and cake?  Well, then, you haven't heard the whole story.  The real story of Hansel and Gretel is a much darker,  bloodier, and more Grimm adventure than you might imagine. 

So don't say we didn't warn you. 

What a delightfully Grimm novel!  Gidwitz weaves together several of the Grimm brothers' tales into one witty and darkly funny story held together by our brave young protagonists, Hansel and Gretel.  The very involved narrator interjects sly and wry comments throughout the story and kids will greatly enjoy this hilarious commentary.  Additionally, readers who like creepy and bloody tales or fairy tale retells will be quickly hooked on this story, which combines both subgenres into one twisting and eventful adventure. 

As I have said before, I am a big fan of fairy and folktale retellings.  I had heard good things about this particular fairy tale-inspired novel but wasn't quite sure what to expect when I turned the first page.  What I found was a very unique re-imagining of the now iconic Grimm tales.  Gidwitz draws on the darkness and the gore of the original tales; instead of white-washing them, he highlights their scary qualities.  He finds overarching truths embedded in several separate stories: grown-ups are unreliable, the world is a frightening and unsafe place, and no one is truly innocent.  Through these common themes, he crafts a new story that will likely appeal to many children for the ways it acknowledges how very scary the adventure we call 'growing up' can be.    

5/5 STARS 

           

In My Mailbox #6

This week's In My Mailbox is actually a bit of a mish-mosh of my library acquisitions from the last two weeks. Some of these I've already read (and loved!) and others I'm eagerly awaiting finding the time to start.  IMM is a fantastic meme in which bloggers list the books that they received over the last week via mail/bookstore/library.  It's hosted by the lovely Story Siren over at her awesome blog and you can go here to get more info about joining in!
  

Ten Things I Hate About Me

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
Jessica Day George


The lass has grown up without a name, in a world of constant winter.  But when a mysterious white bear shows up on the doorstep, the lass' special gift of speaking to animals offers her an opportunity to help her family.  So she agrees to travel with the bear back to his strange castle and remain with him there for a year in exchange for her family's wealth.  However, neither the bear, his bizarre servants, nor the lass herself are what they seem.  


Now, I've got to put it out there that I am a sucker for a fairy or folk tale retell.  So, with my bias out in the open, I can say that I genuinely enjoyed this particular retelling of the Norse story, 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon.'  Despite remaining nameless for nearly the entire novel, the main character is admirable and sympathetic.  Within the first few chapters, the reader is able to gain a good picture of her family and her background as well as her individual personality; so when she goes on her strange journey, the audience is happy to follow her.  


The plot has pretty steady action and the mystery is revealed slowly, keeping the reader hooked until the final chapters.  The romance is sweet and generally satisfying.  The story feels a little unoriginal at times and the conclusion was somewhat rushed but overall, this novel is fresh pick for lovers of fairy and folk tale retellings and romantic fantasy. I read Edith Pattou's version of the same tale, East, a few years ago and think that I might prefer it.  However, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow might work better for a younger teen audience. It could match well with novels by Gail Carson Levine, Robin McKinley, or Donna Jo Napoli.


3/5 STARS   
    

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Airborn
Kenneth Oppel


Matt Cruse has only wanted one thing in life: to fly.  As a cabin boy on the  Aurora airship,  Matt is living his dream.  But then he helps the crew rescue a lost and injured balloonist and suddenly Matt's carefully planned life is pulled off course into an adventure far beyond any of his dreams.  


Whew, what a fast and fun read! This steampunk adventure can truly be described as rollicking and swashbuckling.  Airborn has a fast moving plot, relatable but interesting characters, and great fantasy world.  Matt simultaneously introduces us to the general mechanics of his world and his own passion for the Aurora.  


From the minute I began reading Airborn, I could not put it down.  The story keep moving from exciting event to exciting event. The world building happens naturally in the flow of the story. Matt and Kate, the rich young passenger and explorer, make excellent partners and appealing protagonists; both are tough, determined, and loyal.  Airborn has all the elements of a great adventure story: pirates, romance, suspense, fantastic creatures, and nonstop action.  And the best part? There are two more books in the trilogy, Skybreaker and Starclimber.  


This book will definitely appeal to lovers of adventure stories.  Airborn could be sold to readers who enjoy classic science fiction and pirate stories like those by Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson as well as lovers of most recent fantasy adventures.  It could also be paired with other steampunk style novels like Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series. 


4/5 STARS 

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Smile
Raina Telgemeier
Raina just wants to get through sixth grade.  Then one night she trips and smacks her front teeth into the pavement.  Now, Raina has to deal with a succession of crazy dentistry drama on top of the everyday confusions that seem to come with growing up.  


Delightful-that's my gut one-word description of this great graphic novel.  Based on her own experiences, Telgemeier's story will resonate with a lot of young readers; it's  both funny and painful-like any heartfelt and honest recollection of middle school must be.  Raina's thoughts, worries, and reactions will be very familiar to any other middle schooler; she is a spunky but reassuringly average protagonist.  The illustration style fits the characters and the age group.  Telgemeier uses clean lines and bright colors; the characters' figures and faces clearly express a range of emotions, supporting the story's focus on Raina's feelings and personal experiences.  


Smile has been one of my first forays into the graphic novel genre and it definitely made a very positive impact. Its subject and style could attract a range of readers, including some that might normally be less likely to pick up a graphic novel.  Also, Smile is great example of the diversity within the graphic novel genre now; it doesn't fit into the stereotype of a comic book that springs to mind for many adults, and some teens, when you say 'graphic novel.'  


Overall, Smile is delightful graphic novel with wide-spread appeal for a variety of teens sixth grade and up.  


5/5 STARS