Hello Everybody.
I am starting the blog again after a three month hiatus. After seven great years at LSU, I have moved on to a new faculty position at UNLV in the Department of Teaching and Learning. My wife got a great opportunity at UNLV and I was lucky enough to come along as a trailing spouse. I loved my association with the LSU faculty and students in both the English department and the School of Education. I am already missing their contributions to my life and career. Fortunately, I am finding tremendous new colleagues and students at UNLV.
Now that I am situated in a new house in Las Vegas and beginning a new series of classes at UNLV, let the fun begin.
I am starting the blog again after a three month hiatus. After seven great years at LSU, I have moved on to a new faculty position at UNLV in the Department of Teaching and Learning. My wife got a great opportunity at UNLV and I was lucky enough to come along as a trailing spouse. I loved my association with the LSU faculty and students in both the English department and the School of Education. I am already missing their contributions to my life and career. Fortunately, I am finding tremendous new colleagues and students at UNLV.
Now that I am situated in a new house in Las Vegas and beginning a new series of classes at UNLV, let the fun begin.
 The LSU Young Adult Literature Conference and Seminar was a great success (check the previous blog posts for some good summaries). The contributions of the authors was tremendous. It is absolutely clear that Jacqueline Woodson and Kwame Alexander earned the awards they collected. If you haven’t read Brown Girl Dreaming, drop everything and get at it. The only excuse that you might have is if you haven’t read The Crossover, and you decided to start with that verse novel instead. Both of these novels, written in verse form, are exceptional examples of literary quality, engaging narratives, and exemplars of diverse books that provide, not only windows to the world, but mirrors that allow African-American children to see themselves reflected in prized books in the literary world. |  You must read this book. |
Coe Booth, Sharon Flake, and Sharon Draper also added to the week in a variety of ways. Conversations with all of them were enough to keep me engaged with the promotion of African-American young adult literature for a long time.
Coe’s work is one of the best examples of how to represent troubled adolescents. Many teachers work with these students and untold amounts of rhetoric have been spoken about how to teach them, how to police them, and how integrate them into society as productive citizens. Booth captures their essence and respects them for who they are and who they can become. One of the joys of last spring semester was a call from a librarian in a local Baton Rouge middle school, who explained how she was using Tyrell to engage reluctant readers. It was refreshing. Just as my graduate students were trying to figure out how they might use a book like Tryell, a local librarian provided a useful model—complete with a discussion of how the students in the program decided how to deal with “problematic” language.
Coe’s work is one of the best examples of how to represent troubled adolescents. Many teachers work with these students and untold amounts of rhetoric have been spoken about how to teach them, how to police them, and how integrate them into society as productive citizens. Booth captures their essence and respects them for who they are and who they can become. One of the joys of last spring semester was a call from a librarian in a local Baton Rouge middle school, who explained how she was using Tyrell to engage reluctant readers. It was refreshing. Just as my graduate students were trying to figure out how they might use a book like Tryell, a local librarian provided a useful model—complete with a discussion of how the students in the program decided how to deal with “problematic” language.
Sharon Flake’s contribution included not only some discussions of her fantastic novels The Skin I’m In, Bang, and Pinned among others, but a vibrant introduction to her new novel--Unstoppable Octobia May. I loved this book and its quirky character who wants to solve mysteries, avoid Zombies, and grow up in the south. Again, if you haven’t read through her collected work you are missing out. Do your best to introduce your pre-service teachers or your secondary students to this fantastic author and her newest offering.
It was a great opportunity for me to meet Sharon Draper. I have admired her for a long time. First, she is a dynamic speaker. Second, she taught in public schools for as long as I did and we are both Milken Educators. Third, she is one of those marvelous educators who leads the way for others. In addition to her remarkable career as an educator, she wrote a few books. In fact, she has been one of the most productive young adult authors over the last twenty years. No classroom library is complete without a majority of Draper’s novels on the shelves. If your budget is limited, start with Tears of a Tiger, Romiette and Julio, Copper Sun, and Out of My Mind. These are all fantastic reads. On top of all of those recommendations, I would be a miss if I didn’t recommend Stella by Starlight. This wonderful novel is inspired by events within her own family. Listening to Sharon explain the history of her family reminds us of the story that probably exists within our own heritage.
All of these authors added to the conference and to my own understanding of young adult literature. We need diverse books in our college curriculums, in our classroom libraries, and in the scope of our research and critique. I had a wonderful week that focused on African-American young adult literature, but it served, in large measure, to remind me of all of the ways that scholars and teachers of young adult literature need to be inclusive in our offerings and our understanding of diverse books.
All of these authors added to the conference and to my own understanding of young adult literature. We need diverse books in our college curriculums, in our classroom libraries, and in the scope of our research and critique. I had a wonderful week that focused on African-American young adult literature, but it served, in large measure, to remind me of all of the ways that scholars and teachers of young adult literature need to be inclusive in our offerings and our understanding of diverse books.
One final note. One of the most important questions I asked during the last year was posed to Jaqueline Woodson. I asked her: “Who is the new African-American author that I should be reading that maybe I don’t know?” She didn’t miss a beat and replied Jason Reynolds. You know what? She was exactly right. Next week I will discuss Jason’s wonderful books and the start of a tremendous career.
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