Five Post Worth Revisiting!

9/4/2024

Why Y. A.? How I Discovered Young Adult Literature and How it Transformed my Teaching

Daria is one the first classroom teachers I met who was actively using Young Adult Literature as an integrated part of her classroom.

Eventually, she was a president of ALAN and remains very involved in the organization.

The title of this section is an active link. In this post Daria tells you a little bit about her journey into the world of YA literature.

Nonfiction for Young Adults Awarded ... and Rewarding by Nancy J. Johnson

I am not sure I can count how many times Nancy and I stood around in the author signing area trying to keep the lines quiet as people waited. I am sure Nancy did it more frequently than I did.

Now we are both retired, but staying connected to YA literature. In addition, we have both walked the Camino de Santiago, but not at the same time.

In this post, s the hyperlinked title suggests, Nancy discusses award winning YA non-fiction.

Hey, That’s Me In A Book: Ain’t That Something! by René Saldaña, Jr.

I have been hyper aware of trying to include books in this blog that represent diversity. I am always grateful for the help and insight that I get from Rene Saldana Jr. Once again Rene was some I met at NCTE through a mutual friend who was connected to YA literature.

Now, we have presented at conferences together and always enjoy discussing literature.

In the Hyperlinked post, Rene discusses the importance and excitement of seeing yourself in the books you read.

“Surprise, Surprise”: Increasing Diversity in YA Novels of Mental Illness by Diane Scrofano

I meet Diane when she attended a summit at UNLV. She is an engaging colleague and even struck up a long time friendship another long time colleague, Kia Jane Richmond. They share an interest in how YA Literature deals with Mental Health Issues.

Her post, hyperlinked in this sections title discuss the increasingly diverse ways YA fiction is presenting mental illness. The issue is constantly with us. This post is a good reminder.

Around the World in a Dozen YA Novels: Windows, Mirrors, and Doors that Show the Trials, Tribulations, and Hope of Teens in Challenging Circumstances by Marshal George

I have known Marshall George as long as I have been working with Young Adult Literature. This goes back nearly twenty years to 2005. Marshall and I have even discussed (multiple times) whether or not the correct term is Young Adult Literature or Adolescent Literature.

Marshall is also a citizen of the world. I don't know if there is another YA advocated who has traveled the world as much as Marshall has.

In this las post, Marshall takes readers on a tour of books that represent the world. He has some fascinating recommendations that you can find in the hyperlinked title above

Thanks for checking out these older posts. If you get a minute, share them around.

Dr. Steve Bickmore
Creator and Curator

Dr. Bickmore is a Professor of English Education at UNLV. He is a scholar of Young Adult Literature and past editor of The ALAN Review and a past president of ALAN. He is a available for speaking engagements at schools, conferences, book festivals, and parent organizations. More information can be found on the Contact page and the About page.

Dr. Gretchen Rumohr
Co-Curator

Gretchen Rumohr is a professor of English and writing program administrator at Aquinas College, where she teaches writing and language arts methods. She is also a Co-Director of the UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature. She lives with her four girls and a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier in west Michigan.

Bickmore's
Co-Edited Books

Meet
Evangile Dufitumukiza!

Evangile is a native of Kigali, Rwanda. He is a college student that Steve meet while working in Rwanda as a missionary. In fact, Evangile was one of the first people who translated his English into Kinyarwanda.

Steve recruited him to help promote Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media while Steve is doing his mission work.

He helps Dr. Bickmore promote his academic books and sometimes send out emails in his behalf.

You will notice that while he speaks fluent English, it often does look like an "American" version of English. That is because it isn't. His English is heavily influence by British English and different versions of Eastern and Central African English that is prominent in his home country of Rwanda.

Welcome Evangile into the YA Wednesday community as he learns about Young Adult Literature and all of the wild slang of American English vs the slang and language of the English he has mastered in his beautiful country of Rwanda.

While in Rwanda, Steve has learned that it is a poor English speaker who can only master one dialect and/or set of idioms in this complicated language.

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