Once again Kelly Bull is providing a blog post. Kelly provided a wonderful blog post about a year and half ago about book by Lita Judge. It was a great find for me. Lita Judge's book was an exploration of Mary Shelly and the story of her creation Frankenstein. The book has a ton of original art work. If you didn't catch that blog post you can check it out at this link. Kelly is another YA scholar who has a wealth of knowledge. I look forward to seeing her at the NCTE convention every year. In fact, her post this week foreshadows one of the topics she is working on for this years convention, YA world literature. Below she share some of her favorites.
A reminder, all of the book covers are linked to a place that will let you buy the book. If you don't know the authors that Kelly is recommending you should add a few of these to your shelves.
A reminder, all of the book covers are linked to a place that will let you buy the book. If you don't know the authors that Kelly is recommending you should add a few of these to your shelves.
World Literature for Young Adults
Reading world literature invites adolescents to learn cultures, customs, and traditions different from their own, opening doors to meaningful inquiry and discussion. Exploring culturally diverse texts written for young adults provides opportunities for students to unmask stereotypes and misconceptions, as well. Readers learn how they are both alike and different from characters on the page, deepening empathy for and understanding of others. This is especially important in our increasingly interconnected and global world where our students will need to understand one another outside of national borders. Reading world literature is “a fantastic way into the DNA of different cultures,” according to Martin Pucher. Reading world literature deepens students’ understandings of cultures and builds their global competence.
Growing global citizens who confidently and competently read the word and the world is possible for English teachers who are conscious of the curricular decisions regarding text selection and instruction. James Banks argues that “Literate citizens in a diverse democratic society should be reflective, moral, and active citizens in an interconnected global world. They should have the knowledge, skills, and commitment needed to change the world to make it more just and democratic.” Without knowing more about the world, its countries, cultures, and citizens, our students would be ill-equipped to change it. This is why our students should be reading world literature: to both broaden and deepen their understandings of cultures and recognize that social issues such as poverty, inequality, injustice, violence, terrorism, and oppression require global solutions, according to Tom Bean, Judith Dunkerly-Bean, and Helen Harper.
World literature prompts readers to question, consider, and reflect on cultures and identities. Which stories are being told, and who are the storytellers? In what ways are identities, geographies, and cultures privileged or stigmatized? And how do young adults connect with, critically reflect on, and carry forward stories from around the globe?
World literature prompts readers to question, consider, and reflect on cultures and identities. Which stories are being told, and who are the storytellers? In what ways are identities, geographies, and cultures privileged or stigmatized? And how do young adults connect with, critically reflect on, and carry forward stories from around the globe?
Some FavoritesI’ve been reading more globally and gathering titles that I share with my students who are teachers. Many are thankful to have found new, engaging, diverse books and authors to bring into their classrooms. A few of our favorite titles are:
The Astonishing Color of After, Emily X. R. Pan
From the Kirkus review: Grief, regret, and loneliness form the backdrop of a family’s life following a suicide, but a path for healing reveals itself in the form of a magical red bird.
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
Balcony on The Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine, Ibtisam Barakat
From the Kirkus review: This intense memoir paints a dark picture of growing up in Israeli-occupied Palestine, where “we are made to live with no land, no country, no rights, no safety, and no respect for our dignity.”
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
Diamond Boy, Michael Williams
From the Kirkus review: In this sprawling, messy but compelling epic, a teenager and his family join other desperate Zimbabweans seeking a future in Marange’s diamond mines.
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
The Astonishing Color of After, Emily X. R. Pan
From the Kirkus review: Grief, regret, and loneliness form the backdrop of a family’s life following a suicide, but a path for healing reveals itself in the form of a magical red bird.
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
Balcony on The Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine, Ibtisam Barakat
From the Kirkus review: This intense memoir paints a dark picture of growing up in Israeli-occupied Palestine, where “we are made to live with no land, no country, no rights, no safety, and no respect for our dignity.”
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
Diamond Boy, Michael Williams
From the Kirkus review: In this sprawling, messy but compelling epic, a teenager and his family join other desperate Zimbabweans seeking a future in Marange’s diamond mines.
here is a link to the Kirkus Review
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Join Us at NCTE
This November at NCTE annual convention in Baltimore, I’m fortunate to be presenting alongside dear colleagues, Lois Stover and Cheryl North at our world literature-centered session:
Eastern Literature for Middle Grade and Young Adult Readers: Inquiry into Cultural Knowledge & Experience.
Acclaimed authors Cynthia Kadohata (A Place to Belong), Padma Venkatrama (The Bridge Home), and S.K. Ali (Love from A to Z) will be discussing their new MG and YA books. We hope that you’ll join us for great discussions on heritage, culture, family, and belonging.
Eastern Literature for Middle Grade and Young Adult Readers: Inquiry into Cultural Knowledge & Experience.
Acclaimed authors Cynthia Kadohata (A Place to Belong), Padma Venkatrama (The Bridge Home), and S.K. Ali (Love from A to Z) will be discussing their new MG and YA books. We hope that you’ll join us for great discussions on heritage, culture, family, and belonging.
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