Critical Approaches to Young Adult Literature

by Kathy H. Latrobe, Judy Drury

With today's digital natives, educators face new challenges in guiding young adults to discovery of the critical thinking and enjoyment that comes from lifelong literacy not to mention simply reading simply for pleasure. For anyone seeking to hone their skills as a guide to YA reading, Latrobe and Drury give you a theoretical basis for your programming with cogent explanations of eight critical theories of New Criticism/Formal Criticism; Psychological Criticism; Sociological Relationships in Context; Historical Criticism; Gender Opposite Sexes or Neighboring Sexes; Archetypal/Mythological Criticism; Popular Culture and Criticism; and, A Unique Literary Event. "Critical Approaches to Young Adult Literature" is for librarians in school and public libraries (plus their colleagues across the curriculum) who strive for collections and programming that elicit thoughtful responses and build higher-level literacy skills across grades 6-12. In this book and CD ROM set, the authors explore all facets of creating a vibrant YA reading community such as inquiry-based learning, promoting and motivating reading, collection management, understanding multiple intelligences, accepting diverse beliefs, and acting as a change agent to name a few. Latrobe and Drury also provide basic questions designed to involve young people, activities to encourage critical responses and bibliographies of YA books with annotations. Time-saving author, title, and subject indexes round-out the work, along with appendices so you'll have reviewing media, YA awards and YA magazines at your fingertips.

Genres: Teaching

311 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a possible textbook choice. I really liked the first two sections of this book. The discussion of YA lit and YAs was informative and would help my undergrads. The resources regarding genre are great! However, The third section regarding critical theories isn’t quite what I am looking for, though.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

very happy

[Cricket Muse · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and those interested in promoting young adult literature. Authors Latrobe and Drury recognize the impact literature has on teens. They have provided a resource that is a combination of textbook, classroom lesson plan guide, and bibliographic reference for books of interest for young adults. The research-based material aides in selecting books for teens, which is not always an easy matter. Critical Approaches to Young Adult Literature is a top contender in providing in exceptional input in YA literature selection be it for programs, libraries, or curriculum.
The recommendations have a theoretical base drawing from experts such as Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson, among others. The eight areas covered in the book are: New Criticism/Formal Criticism; Psychological Criticism; Sociological Criticism: Relationships in Context; Historical Criticism; Gender Criticism: Opposite Sexes or Neighboring Sexes; Archetypal/Mythological Criticism; Popular Culture and Criticism; and Reader-Response: A Unique Literary Event. The book provides lesson plans and examples, suggested books for various genres, and a thorough index. For those striving to enrich their young adult literature collections and programming, this book is one to seek out.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text provides a solid introductory foundation for the study of Young Adult literature. Its breadth is more impressive than its depth, but as an introductory text, it’s quite good.

The authors organize the book into three sections: the first addresses young adults and young adult literacy as theoretical concepts; the second section contains an overview of various YA genres such as historical fiction, mysteries, and speculative fiction; and the final section contains chapter-length analyses of various critical approaches such as New Criticism, Psychological Criticism, Gender Criticism, Reader Response Theory, etc. What makes this text especially useful are the clear guides that the authors provide (each outlining insightful questions that students can use to examine a YA text from a given critical perspective), the sample analyses of YA texts that follow the discussion of each critical perspective, and the annotated bibliographies of YA texts that conclude each chapter—each one focused on texts that would be particularly appropriate to examine from the critical perspective being addressed in the chapter.

For preservice teachers studying YA lit, this book should provide a valuable starting point.

[BookChampions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Applicable, accessible, and thoroughly engaging, too. This is a great place to start if you want to introduce students to literary criticism and its different branches and offshoots; plus, the book's insights on analyzing YA lit are invaluable. I appreciate that it doesn't dumb things down either; "close reading" is the ultimate goal here.

It was a pricy buy, but it was well worth it. I'll definitely be using this in the upcoming semester.

[Bant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a few typos. But it is very good at analyzing YA lit in a way that is both scholarly and accessible.

[EvaLovesYA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brugt til speciale om Young Adult-litteratur (2017)