Young Adult Literature and the 2017 CEE Summer Conference

The 2017 CEE conference was a rejuvenating event. It was well organized and plenary sessions were inspirational.  Thanks to all involved. There so many that help behind the scenes, but a special thanks goes to Mollie Blackburn and Kristen Suchor. The fact remains that the small nature of this conference makes a big difference. I learned something new from every discussion session or panel presentation. The side conversations at meals and between sessions are important for my work and for the opportunity to expand my thinking about ideas both old and new.

It was rewarding for me to connect with others who have an academic interests in literacy education that are different from mine. I need the infusion of new ideas as I plan a new methods class or work on a new syllabus for a graduate course. I appreciate the intellectual stimulation.
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It is also a place to make connections with people who do similar work. I loved the discussions at the two commission meetings on the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature.  A host of ideas were discussed and we have a new Facebook page to help us stayed connected between conferences. If you have a new article, a new book, an academic book review, or a call for proposals, we want to hear about it and post it on this page. The commission is doing what it can to sponsor new work, report on projects, support collaborations, and to invite practicing teachers and librarians into this academic space. 

Conference Participants Who Have Contributed to this Blog

Among the people at the conference were a large group of people who have previously contributed to this blog. I am going to list their names here with a link or links to their previous contributions. I appreciate their work, their ideas, and their willingness to share with others. I hope you take a few minutes to click on a few links. I think you will still find what they had to say worth revisiting; especially if you are planning a YA course this fall.
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Mark Letcher, Alan Brown, Crag Hill (2nd), Myra Infante-Sheridan, Sharon Kane (2nd and 3rd), Patricia Dunn, Gretchen Rumohr-Voskuil (2nd and 3rd),  Sophia Sarigianides, Mark Lewis, Marshal George, Michelle Falter, and Rob Petrone.

YA Books Mentioned and Session Titles

The number of discussion and breakout sessions focused on YA literature was rewarding. It was a great time and wish I could have been at every session. I thought it would be interesting for readers to see how academic types are thinking about Young Adult literature. This hints at various studies, pedagogies, and theoretical approaches.
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Some of the books I heard discussed during these sessions and other conversations are the following:

Wonder                                              R. J. Palacio
March                                                 John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
All American Boys                            Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Still Life with Tornado                     A. S. King
The Hope U Give                             Angie Thomas
Ghosts                                               Raina Telgemeier
Probably Still Nick Swanson          Virginia Euwer Wolff
13 Reasons Why                              Jay Asher  
Out of My Mind                                Sharon M. Draper
Shine                                                  Lauren Myracle

Titles of Conference Presentations

Understanding Ourselves in Relation to Others through Young Adult Literature
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A large body of young adult literature helps adolescents to be aware of the challenges that many of their “atypical” peers face, and the related discussions and reflections about the literature equip learners to move away from stereotypes and gain deeper and nuanced understandings of the lives some of their peers lead. The session invites discussion about the power of YA narratives to foster empathy

Stephanie Thompson, Kaplan University
Ashley Boyd, Washington State University
Janine Darragh, University of Idaho
Crag Hill, University of Oklahoma

​Literary Characters Who Demonstrate Compassion and Critical Consciousness Can Mentor Readers
 
Stories can help readers investigate issues of diversity and equity as characters grapple with social issues and injustices in their fictional worlds. Panelists will discuss how they help students apply principles of powerful literacy and critical literacy while analyzing literary characters who show compassion and/or critical consciousness.
 
Sharon Kane, SUNY at Oswego
Anne Fairbrother, SUNY at Oswego
Tania Ramalho, SUNY at Oswego

The Role of English Educators in Fostering Critical Approaches to Reading, Defining, and Approaching YAL
 
This panel provides a frame for young adult literature (YAL) involving market-based, reader-based, and content-based definitions. We argue that content-based definitions are most useful in establishing (com)passionate interpretive practices in the classroom that allow students’ intersectional identities to be taken up as a resource for literary interpretation.
 
Mark A. Sulzer, University of Cincinnati
Amanda Haertling Thein, University of Iowa

​Analyzing and Complicating Children’s and Young Adult Literature
 
Presenters in this combined session will review methods for and affordances of incorporating multicultural children’s literature and pop culture into K-12 classrooms. Specifically, presenters will consider the potential for such pedagogical approachers to welcome and value students’ diverse experiences, identities, and cultures in schools.
 
Margaret Robbins, University of Georgia
Chaz H. Gonzalez, University at Buffalo
Nichole A. Barrett, University at Buffalo

I hope that all of these presentations end up as a blog post in the near future. It would be great to share their power point presentations and highlight the books they referenced in this space. All of these presenters are people worth following. I am sure that many of them will be doing something interesting at NCTE in St. Louis in just a few mont

From Advocacy to Activism: Using YA Literature as Vehicle for Civic Engagement

Dr. Briana Asmus, Aquinas College,
Dr. Gretchen Rumohr-Voskuil, Aquinas College,

Thanks for following.