Today, as our guest contributor, we have Anita DuBroc. I met Anita when she enrolled in the Holmes MA program at LSU. Now she is a PhD student working on her dissertation in literacy at the same institution. In this post, Anita talks about getting some inspiration from another post in Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday. It is source of happiness when the work and ideas of others is shared on the blog and, in turn, inspires others. Thanks Anita.
To Be Read: Young Adult Literature in BookTube
What is BookTube?
BookTube is a subcommunity of YouTube that is based on books and reading. Alison Wender and Tara Anderson Gold wrote a wonderful post based upon BookTube for YA Wednesday in February 2018, which I have linked here. They have inspired me to go down the rabbit hole of BookTube for my own research and the results have enlightened and diversified my reading habits. I discovered BookTube during my first year of teaching and since then, it has challenged me to be a more thoughtful reader and book recommender to family, friends, and students.
BookTubers are content creators who are also readers and sometimes even writers. Many BookTubers are librarians or work in the publishing industry. Some BookTubers have even been hired by publishing companies because of their work in BookTube.
BookTubers are content creators who are also readers and sometimes even writers. Many BookTubers are librarians or work in the publishing industry. Some BookTubers have even been hired by publishing companies because of their work in BookTube.
Booktube is rooted in young adult literature. The advent of YouTube as a social media platform coincided with the YAL boom during the early 2000s. As those early booktubers have grown, their reading interests have evolved; they discovered new interests, authors, genres, and series. The BookTube community is a space for readers in the digital world that brings together several social media networks where readers can not only share recommendations, review books, and plan their future reading: BookTube is also a space where literary analysis can happen, too.
What does it do?
BookTube videos usually feature one person, the booktuber presenting a book review. A booktuber may begin the month with a video of his or her to-be-read list (TBR) of books expected to be read over the month. Then, at the month’s conclusion, the booktuber will review those books. These videos give the viewer a sneak peek at potential reads. Review videos also show when a booktuber DNFs (did not finish a book), which suggests that it is okay to not like or finish a book, an important idea that all readers should keep in mind. Life is too short to read books you don’t like!
While book reviews are a staple in the community, there are numerous other video types that would be useful when translated into the classroom. Many readers participate in reading challenges, which occur over a defined period of time. Another example is a read-a-thon where a creator delivers a prompt with a challenge. For example, last year the Book Roast hosted The Magical Readathon, with prompts based on the Harry Potter series. Nonfiction November is happening this month; created by several booktubers, it challenges other booktubers and viewers to read at least one nonfiction book over November 2020.
While book reviews are a staple in the community, there are numerous other video types that would be useful when translated into the classroom. Many readers participate in reading challenges, which occur over a defined period of time. Another example is a read-a-thon where a creator delivers a prompt with a challenge. For example, last year the Book Roast hosted The Magical Readathon, with prompts based on the Harry Potter series. Nonfiction November is happening this month; created by several booktubers, it challenges other booktubers and viewers to read at least one nonfiction book over November 2020.
The Magical Readathon
Nonfiction November
Reading challenges can also feature a time limit, such as Dewey’s 24 Read-a-thon where readers read as much as they can over a twenty-four hour period. The most easily accessible reading challenge is Goodreads’ yearly reading challenge which is hosted on their website, www.goodreads.com.
Tags are also a mainstay in BookTube. Similar to an email chain, a list of prompts or questions is created with booktubers responding to the prompts based on their bookshelves or reading experiences. Book tags include “Unpopular Opinions,” seasonal picks, or ones related to a particular monthly theme (such as Black, female, or LGBTQIA+ authors), or Top 10 lists.
Tags are also a mainstay in BookTube. Similar to an email chain, a list of prompts or questions is created with booktubers responding to the prompts based on their bookshelves or reading experiences. Book tags include “Unpopular Opinions,” seasonal picks, or ones related to a particular monthly theme (such as Black, female, or LGBTQIA+ authors), or Top 10 lists.
Book chats videos feature literary analysis, much like what is done in a classroom, though in an easily accessible and enjoyable format. Book chats can feature a specific theme, author analysis or genre analysis. These videos can also feature author videos or collaboration between two booktubers (a collab video).
What’s most unique about Booktube is the active comments section included in each video. Here, viewers can interact with the booktuber and with other viewers/readers. Thus, the reading recommendations, critiques, and analysis do not remain only with the booktuber as a reading authority, but with the viewers and booktuber exchanging ideas and opinions.
What’s most unique about Booktube is the active comments section included in each video. Here, viewers can interact with the booktuber and with other viewers/readers. Thus, the reading recommendations, critiques, and analysis do not remain only with the booktuber as a reading authority, but with the viewers and booktuber exchanging ideas and opinions.
YAL in BookTube
Young adult literature is one of BookTube’s favorite genres. With the growing popularity of young adult series, readers have more books to choose from young adult authors. Fantasy and science fiction are the latest popular genres in YAL amongst booktubers. Authors Tahareh Mafi, Sarah J. Maas, and Leigh Bardugo have risen in popularity in the last two years with their fantasy series.
I have discovered numerous young adult titles through BookTube, including John Green, Gabrielle Zevin, and Melina Marchetta. I have been encouraged to diversify my reading to include other ethnicities, nationalities, races, and gender identities. Booktubers have advocated for multicultural books and authors. For example, Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give has spurred an emphasis on young adult books with Black characters and by Black authors. The Artisan Geek offered her advice to viewers about how they can diversify their reading as she took on a personal challenge to be purposeful in her reading.
I have discovered numerous young adult titles through BookTube, including John Green, Gabrielle Zevin, and Melina Marchetta. I have been encouraged to diversify my reading to include other ethnicities, nationalities, races, and gender identities. Booktubers have advocated for multicultural books and authors. For example, Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give has spurred an emphasis on young adult books with Black characters and by Black authors. The Artisan Geek offered her advice to viewers about how they can diversify their reading as she took on a personal challenge to be purposeful in her reading.
The Artisan Geek
Some BookTubers only read YAL, while others infuse YA titles with adult titles, as with readalikes (If you like this, then you should read this…), where YAL books are paired with canonical or contemporary titles with similar themes or characters. Many booktubers have taken on issues with young adult literature as a genre in their videos including what they would like to see more of in the young adult genre. Charlotte, at Wonderfully Bookish explains the ideas she wants to see in YAL and turned her video into a Tag video and invited increased discussion in the video’s comments section, especially book recommendations. The videos challenge teachers, publishers, and librarians to help students find books and authors that respond to these wants and needs. The conflicts presented in these videos would bring a great discussion into the classroom about diverse representation in school reading.
Wonderfully Bookish
BookTube in the Classroom
BookTuber Ariel Bissett has also issued a challenge to both students and teachers in her video “Is BookTube Educational?” (2018). She has convinced some of her own university professors to accept video essays in lieu of traditional literary analysis papers. BookTube has numerous classroom possibilities to help motivate readers, create a classroom culture of reading possibilities, and teach important digital literacy skills.
Ehret, Boegel, & Manuel-Nekouei (2018) suggests that BookTube can be used in the classroom to teach students important digital literacy skills. They suggest creating a BookTube channel for your classroom where students can post book reviews, book recommendations, or literary analyses. Using Google privacy features, teachers can set the channel to private and monitor the comments section. Through the comments section, students can also discuss their classmates’ opinions and exchange information based on books, literary film adaptations, and reading challenges. Del Mar Suárez and Gonzalez Arguello (2020) include a wonderful evaluation rubric they used with their language--English--for a Specific Purpose for students in Spain.
Ehret, Boegel, & Manuel-Nekouei (2018) suggests that BookTube can be used in the classroom to teach students important digital literacy skills. They suggest creating a BookTube channel for your classroom where students can post book reviews, book recommendations, or literary analyses. Using Google privacy features, teachers can set the channel to private and monitor the comments section. Through the comments section, students can also discuss their classmates’ opinions and exchange information based on books, literary film adaptations, and reading challenges. Del Mar Suárez and Gonzalez Arguello (2020) include a wonderful evaluation rubric they used with their language--English--for a Specific Purpose for students in Spain.
BookTube is not without its criticisms. Many booktubers take issue with the community’s lack of diversity in book choices and popularity and the lack of diverse representation among booktubers. Some also find conflict with the professionalization of BookTube; several booktubers, including Ariel Bissett, have begun careers in publishing or writing due to the skills and networking based in BookTube. Several publishing houses have begun BookTube channels.
Recommendations
BookRat Misty is a Michigander who reads middle grade titles, graphic novels, and YAL. She also hosts a blog TheBookRat Blog which includes a plethora of author interviews, links to fellow booktubers, and her own hand-drawn creations to keep track of reading progress. She also hosts reading challenges and book chats throughout the year.
A Clockwork Reader is a college student who loves YA fantasy and eschews the traditional TBR list. She is also open about her own life in her channel.
Words of a Reader, Lesley is a Brit who advocates for children’s literature and creates thoughtful book discussions based on issues within the BookTube community such as What Makes a Classic Book?
Merphy Napier’s How to Find the Best booktubers [for you] notes how BookTube viewers can find the right BookTube channel to fit their preferences. Much of her suggestions include narrowing search terms to favorite author, genre, or reading preferences.
BookTube Recommends: Underrated YA Books is a wonderful collaboration video of booktubers recommending their favorite underrated YA books. The video would be a great introduction for those looking to find their way into BookTube.
Angeltrazo's Asian American Book Club: Young Adult Books Angel is a Ph.D student in cultural studies at UC – Davis and admits to loving YA despite being 25. Her recommendation video is a response to the Filipino-American History Month, which this month. She recommends a mix of fiction and nonfiction books by Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.
A Clockwork Reader is a college student who loves YA fantasy and eschews the traditional TBR list. She is also open about her own life in her channel.
Words of a Reader, Lesley is a Brit who advocates for children’s literature and creates thoughtful book discussions based on issues within the BookTube community such as What Makes a Classic Book?
Merphy Napier’s How to Find the Best booktubers [for you] notes how BookTube viewers can find the right BookTube channel to fit their preferences. Much of her suggestions include narrowing search terms to favorite author, genre, or reading preferences.
BookTube Recommends: Underrated YA Books is a wonderful collaboration video of booktubers recommending their favorite underrated YA books. The video would be a great introduction for those looking to find their way into BookTube.
Angeltrazo's Asian American Book Club: Young Adult Books Angel is a Ph.D student in cultural studies at UC – Davis and admits to loving YA despite being 25. Her recommendation video is a response to the Filipino-American History Month, which this month. She recommends a mix of fiction and nonfiction books by Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.
Research articles
Ehret, C., Boegel, J., & Manuel‐Nekouei, R. (2018). The Role of Affect in Adolescents’ Online Literacies: Participatory Pressures in BookTube Culture. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 62(2), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.881
Del Mar Suarez, M and González Arguello, M. V. (2020). Becoming a good booktuber. RELC Journal, 51(1). 158-167. DOI: 10.1177/0033688220906905
Semington, P., Mora, R. A., and Chiquito, T. (2017). Booktubing: Reader Response Meets 21st Century Literacies. The ALAN Review, 44(3). 61-67. Retrieved from http://www.alan-ya.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/J61-66-ALAN-Sum17.pdf
Sorenson, K and Mara, A. (2013). BookTubers as a Networked Knowledge Community. In M. Limbu and B. Gurung (Eds.). Emerging Pedagogies in the networked knowledge society. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
If you have any BookTube or booktuber recommendations, please include them in the comments below!
Del Mar Suarez, M and González Arguello, M. V. (2020). Becoming a good booktuber. RELC Journal, 51(1). 158-167. DOI: 10.1177/0033688220906905
Semington, P., Mora, R. A., and Chiquito, T. (2017). Booktubing: Reader Response Meets 21st Century Literacies. The ALAN Review, 44(3). 61-67. Retrieved from http://www.alan-ya.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/J61-66-ALAN-Sum17.pdf
Sorenson, K and Mara, A. (2013). BookTubers as a Networked Knowledge Community. In M. Limbu and B. Gurung (Eds.). Emerging Pedagogies in the networked knowledge society. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
If you have any BookTube or booktuber recommendations, please include them in the comments below!
Until next week.
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