| On October 4, 2018 Kelly Roberts wrote a piece for The Conversation that was, in part, a way to react to the Kavanaugh hearings through a robust YA novel, Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Most people in the field of YA scholarship know the book and its constant impact in classrooms and among individual readers for nearly twenty years. I have personally witnessed Ms. Anderson, not only sign books for the obligatory 30 to 60 minutes but she stays and listens to the intimate stories and concerns that readers of the book want to share with her for as long as it takes. She looks them in the eye, she hugs them if they need it, and she believes them. I have learned a great deal from watching Laurie on several occasions. Most recently, as she presented at the 2018 Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature last June at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I observed her take a long lunch with one of my graduate students who need the personal touch that Laurie frequently provides. I believe, as professor Joan Kaywell claims, that books can save lives. Maybe not every book with every kid, but those of us who work with adolescents and promote Young Adult literature have watched too many kids completely embrace a book. |  |
Many of the students that enter our middle and high school classroom feel alone. Some are struggling with difficult situations that they don’t know how to talk about but feel that they should talk to someone. Adults in schools need to be better listeners. Those of us in Language Arts Classrooms should book talk more, should provide more reading options, and should worry less about constant assessment and, instead, promote more about authentic student engagement.
What I want to emphasize is that Laurie is not sounding this clarion call alone. There are a large number of YA authors who are also addressing the concerns raised by the #metoo movement and by the troubling reactions to the Kavanaugh hearings.
Let’s be clear, the novelists I will highlight here were writing about rape culture and the issues surrounding it before the Kavanaugh hearings. The statistics about the number of female and male adolescents who are raped is well established and you can read more about this on the RAINN webpage and other similar sources. What the hearings taught us is that males in power say they want to believe, but never quite find it plausible if it means that one of their colleagues might be culpable.
I love the novel Speak, but I want to acknowledge that Anderson is not alone in writing fiction that depicts this ongoing problem. The novels I highlight below were all written before the hearings, but in the recent past. Nevertheless, they could be read as if they are responding to the emotional issues of recent events. Indeed, they are not. Instead, these authors are writing about the issue of rape and consent based on their own experience or the experiences of people close to them. Are we listening? Do we believe?
What I want to emphasize is that Laurie is not sounding this clarion call alone. There are a large number of YA authors who are also addressing the concerns raised by the #metoo movement and by the troubling reactions to the Kavanaugh hearings.
Let’s be clear, the novelists I will highlight here were writing about rape culture and the issues surrounding it before the Kavanaugh hearings. The statistics about the number of female and male adolescents who are raped is well established and you can read more about this on the RAINN webpage and other similar sources. What the hearings taught us is that males in power say they want to believe, but never quite find it plausible if it means that one of their colleagues might be culpable.
I love the novel Speak, but I want to acknowledge that Anderson is not alone in writing fiction that depicts this ongoing problem. The novels I highlight below were all written before the hearings, but in the recent past. Nevertheless, they could be read as if they are responding to the emotional issues of recent events. Indeed, they are not. Instead, these authors are writing about the issue of rape and consent based on their own experience or the experiences of people close to them. Are we listening? Do we believe?
Wrecked by Maria Padian
This book first came to my attention a couple of years ago (Thanks Trevor Ingerson). I wrote about Wrecked as a result and included an interview with the author. This is a powerful text that deals with the aftermath of an abuse that takes place on a college campus. It is amazing that the types of parties and social interactions described in this book and others like it resemble the reports of Kavanough’s accusers. If you like Speak, then you should look for the opportunity to read Wrecked. It should be prominently displayed in classroom and school libraries.
Tradition by Brendan Kiely
Brendan Keily is a shining star in the field of YA literature. His co-authored book, All American Boys, with Jason Reynolds has been one of the more important books to be published in recent years. The issues that surrounds #blacklivesmatter and police shootings is not simple. It is quite complex. Working together, these two authors show a spirit of collaboration between a white and a black author who work together to shine a light on the issue of police brutality. By retelling an event through alternating points of view they demonstrate how emotionally fraught the issue can be.
Kiely followed that novel with The Last True Love Story, a novel about the relationship between a boy and his aging grandfather who is suffering from dementia. It is built around the metaphor of an Odyssey, as, together, the two characters attempt a journey home.
His most recent novel, Tradition, takes on rape culture on a college campus. It is another tour de force. In this book, both Jamie and Jules must confront the negative traditions and cultures that pervade the campus. Kiely does not shy away from difficult subjects. Instead he works to carefully craft a narrative that has believable characters in complex situations. Again, this is a novel that should be on your “to be read” list.
Kiely followed that novel with The Last True Love Story, a novel about the relationship between a boy and his aging grandfather who is suffering from dementia. It is built around the metaphor of an Odyssey, as, together, the two characters attempt a journey home.
His most recent novel, Tradition, takes on rape culture on a college campus. It is another tour de force. In this book, both Jamie and Jules must confront the negative traditions and cultures that pervade the campus. Kiely does not shy away from difficult subjects. Instead he works to carefully craft a narrative that has believable characters in complex situations. Again, this is a novel that should be on your “to be read” list.
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
For my weekend pick last Friday I selected Blood Water Paint. I keep recommending this book to everyone I talk to though out my day. I was stopped cold by both the beauty and the sorrow of this book. I was unaware of the historical events surrounding the life of Artemisia Gentileschi. In part I wrote in my annotation the following:
…this is a beautiful historical verse novel. The pages ran before my eyes as I was swept away by the narrative. McCullough does a wonderful job of creating a strong character who draws her inspiration from two biblical characters, who have both been the subjects of Renaissance paintings, Judith and Susanna. You can find the paints of this remarkable painter by following this link.
This novel demonstrates that the story of male abuse is not new. Artemisia’s trial against her attacker took place in 1611. It is lamentable that her success has not carried on through the centuries. Is it any wonder that women stay silent? This novel made the longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Frankly, I was pulling for it to make the short list, but alas it didn’t happen. Pick this one for your book group. The conversations will be rewarding.
…this is a beautiful historical verse novel. The pages ran before my eyes as I was swept away by the narrative. McCullough does a wonderful job of creating a strong character who draws her inspiration from two biblical characters, who have both been the subjects of Renaissance paintings, Judith and Susanna. You can find the paints of this remarkable painter by following this link.
This novel demonstrates that the story of male abuse is not new. Artemisia’s trial against her attacker took place in 1611. It is lamentable that her success has not carried on through the centuries. Is it any wonder that women stay silent? This novel made the longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Frankly, I was pulling for it to make the short list, but alas it didn’t happen. Pick this one for your book group. The conversations will be rewarding.
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
This last novel will be out in January. I was luckily enough to receive an advanced readers copy from Bill when he was in Las Vegas for the 2018 Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature as a keynote speaker. I have included this book as a reminder that boys are also victimized by sexual predators. Konigsberg does a great job showing how difficult it is for a victim to share his trauma. He knows his mother and his new boyfriend care deeply about him. Nevertheless, his embarrassment and uncertainty about his role in the event causes him great concern and he hesitates. Bill's books resonant with teens. They provide strong narratives that engage readers. His books, from Out of the Pocket to The Porcupine of Truth , deserve a place on your shelves and his latest, The Music of What Happens, will be no exception.
The name Laurie Hales Anderson carries weight throughout the YA community and on social media. I hope that as we move forward we strive to include more voices. Bill Konisberg, Joy McCullough, Maria Padian, and Brandon Kiely are four strong voices that write about his issue. They are not the only ones. A quick search on Google or by browsing through lists on GoodReads will provide many more novels that explore the topic.
One thing is certain. Adolescents need to know that we care, that we will listen, and that we will believe them. Just maybe, the vicarious experiences provided by reading one of these novels will help them feel less alone. They might find the courage to resolve a problem or gain the tools to avoid a problematic encounter in the future.
Until next week.
One thing is certain. Adolescents need to know that we care, that we will listen, and that we will believe them. Just maybe, the vicarious experiences provided by reading one of these novels will help them feel less alone. They might find the courage to resolve a problem or gain the tools to avoid a problematic encounter in the future.
Until next week.
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