Defying Expectations: Representations of Youths in Young Adult Literature

Abstract

The authors used a youth lens to interrogate representations of adolescent characters and experiences that reinforce or contradict social constructions of youths across young adult novels commonly read in secondary classrooms. The authors found examples across all 10 examined novels of adolescent characters taking on adult‐like roles, exercising emotional discipline, and/or demonstrating agency and independence in ways that challenge traditional ideas about youths and disrupt socially constructed stereotypes of adolescent/ce. The authors suggest that the youth lens, especially when applied to young adult literature, can foster critical analysis and discussion of dominant discourses about adolescents/ce, and offer their own analytic template as a scaffolding tool for secondary educators to use with students.

Kapow! Bam! Wham!

“…These texts prepare adolescents for a future where . In examining my role, I understand that my role as a secondary educator would have an impact in how I viewed both the YAL, the characters, themes, and relationships within the text. However, I knew that my years in working closely with adolescents would help me see beyond constructs, agreeing with Silva and Savitz (2019) that YAL "holds the potential to disrupt socially constructed stereotypes of adolescents/ce while fostering a learning environment where each can feel valued and respected as an individual" (p. 324).…”

“…Moreover, researchers argue that these visually rich texts offer "an expanded and more flexible understanding of the narrative which is likely to enhance students' literacy" (Derbel, 2019, p. 54). In understanding the educative value of a carefully and appropriately chosen comic book for classroom use, educators can then evaluate the text using a YL, like Petrone Murfield, 2020;Petrone et al, 2015;Sarigianides et al, 2014;Silva & Savitz, 2019). A YL encourages readers to re-think preconceived notions and stereotypes about adolescence, adolescents, and their relationships with adults and situations in life.…”