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Exploding the Myths: The Truth About Teenagers and Reading
We are in the midst of the largest teenage population boom since the nineteen sixties, and all of the media are scrambling to reach this alert, savvy, wealthy, and self-conscious generation. But for authors, editors, parents, teachers, and librarians this large group of readers poses a series of special what is too old, or too young for teenage eyes? Should there even be a literature for teenagers, or wouldn't they be better off skipping ahead to adult books? Do boys read at all? Can books offer moral instruction, role models, or guidance on the path to adulthood? Where do books fit into the ever-growing set of multimedia options that are this generation's birthright?
Marc Aronson, Ph.D. has won the LMP, the industry award for editing, and the Boston Globe Horn Book award for writing books for teenagers. Here, in a series of probing, innovative essays he marshals a decade of insights earned in practice as well as his knowledge as a scholar of publishing history, to pose and answer key questions about the true potential of young adult literature. As he revels in the passion of its readers he exposes the real problem with teenagers and adult myths, projections, and blind prejudices. Exploding the Myths is a provocative book that will be necessary reading for everyone who deals with this burgeoning generation of readers.
Marc Aronson, Ph.D. has won the LMP, the industry award for editing, and the Boston Globe Horn Book award for writing books for teenagers. Here, in a series of probing, innovative essays he marshals a decade of insights earned in practice as well as his knowledge as a scholar of publishing history, to pose and answer key questions about the true potential of young adult literature. As he revels in the passion of its readers he exposes the real problem with teenagers and adult myths, projections, and blind prejudices. Exploding the Myths is a provocative book that will be necessary reading for everyone who deals with this burgeoning generation of readers.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2001
78 people want to read
About the author
Marc Aronson
53 books84 followersAronson has won many awards for his books for young readers and has a doctorate in American history. His lectures cover educational topics such as mysteries and controversies in American history, teenagers and their reading, the literary passions of boys, and always leave audiences asking for more.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcar...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcar...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 4, 2015
I found myself skimming. The subject matter is really important, but I didn't always want to dedicate a lot of time on the details of which particular books were accomplishing which important task, I was focusing more on the larger picture of what needed to be addressed and if it was. I like Marc Aronson's writing and I value the subject matter. Recommend to anyone who has an interest in YA or in encouraging people to read.
January 26, 2010
Worthwhile for those involved with making selections or recommending books to teens. Challenges a lot of assumptions adults and publishers make about teens and reading. The titles he uses as examples are dated and some of the things he discusses have changed somewhat, but the substance of Aronson's essays is still very valuable - especially to librarians, teachers, and parents.
April 29, 2009
This book has been really good so far. The essays are short but really insightful and have put context and thought to teen life that even though I'd never would have been able to find these words for myself, as I read them I instinctively know they're spot on.
August 22, 2015
Insightful and I'd be interested in seeing an updated version of this book, especially as quite a few of the trends predicted have come true. But I definitely am glad that the YA books are no longer in the children's section...
February 8, 2021
Nearly all this is dated and covered more thoroughly elsewhere. Disappointing.
March 3, 2009
i will just cut & paste what i said for class:
I wasn't surprised with the content of Marc Arsonson's Exploding the Myths, but I did find the progression of the articles themselves to be incredibly revealing. I think that we take the post-Harry Potter/Gossip Girls/Twilight YA section for granted. I enjoyed reading about the process that brought acceptance for these titles forward from someone who was clearly on the outskirts of mainstream.
I chose this book in particular, because I was a teenager during the time he was writing. I found his insights into teenager readers, as well as those who fought against their existance, so spot-on. Many of these myths he talks about are self-fulfilling prophecies. I still argue that during the time I was a teenager, YA did not exist, merely because adults entrusted with placing those sort of books in the right hands believed they did not exist. I had fabulous English teachers in high school, all who pushed classics and adult authors above the titles aimed specficially for teenagers. I was also surprised by how much he talked about early twenty-somethings as YA readers. This was something that had caused me much friction when we spoke of it earlier in the semester, because I am a 25 year old trying to establish myself as an adult and it feels sort of demeaning to be told that despite my rent, undergraduate loan payments and annual wedding schedule I'm still grouped in with children as young as 12. It's like being told that you're on your 13th year of sitting at the kids table for Thanksgiving. I understand much clearer now that all of the above actually includes me, rather than separates me, from the group, as it is comprised of individuals who are learning to be who they are, who are still figuring things out.
It's amazing to see how quickly how much of what he wished for came to fruition, but also made me sad that so much of the "recent" research is outdated. The internet is mentioned frequently, but user generated content (a buzz word I've only been hearing on a daily basis since graduating college 4 years ago) is not. Aronson talks about giving teenagers access, but not about giving them ownership. I think the latter will become an interesting part of the trend going forward and I'm excited that now I know a name to always be on the lookout for in the future.
I wasn't surprised with the content of Marc Arsonson's Exploding the Myths, but I did find the progression of the articles themselves to be incredibly revealing. I think that we take the post-Harry Potter/Gossip Girls/Twilight YA section for granted. I enjoyed reading about the process that brought acceptance for these titles forward from someone who was clearly on the outskirts of mainstream.
I chose this book in particular, because I was a teenager during the time he was writing. I found his insights into teenager readers, as well as those who fought against their existance, so spot-on. Many of these myths he talks about are self-fulfilling prophecies. I still argue that during the time I was a teenager, YA did not exist, merely because adults entrusted with placing those sort of books in the right hands believed they did not exist. I had fabulous English teachers in high school, all who pushed classics and adult authors above the titles aimed specficially for teenagers. I was also surprised by how much he talked about early twenty-somethings as YA readers. This was something that had caused me much friction when we spoke of it earlier in the semester, because I am a 25 year old trying to establish myself as an adult and it feels sort of demeaning to be told that despite my rent, undergraduate loan payments and annual wedding schedule I'm still grouped in with children as young as 12. It's like being told that you're on your 13th year of sitting at the kids table for Thanksgiving. I understand much clearer now that all of the above actually includes me, rather than separates me, from the group, as it is comprised of individuals who are learning to be who they are, who are still figuring things out.
It's amazing to see how quickly how much of what he wished for came to fruition, but also made me sad that so much of the "recent" research is outdated. The internet is mentioned frequently, but user generated content (a buzz word I've only been hearing on a daily basis since graduating college 4 years ago) is not. Aronson talks about giving teenagers access, but not about giving them ownership. I think the latter will become an interesting part of the trend going forward and I'm excited that now I know a name to always be on the lookout for in the future.
May 15, 2008
(Essays) We read this book in my Library Materials for Teens Class. It is a collection of essays and speeches by Marc Aronson, who is an editor/writer/teen literature extraordinaire. I really like his upfront style. He essays were interesting and he taught me that teen literature shouldn't teach, but evoke questions instead. I dig it.
April 28, 2009
Great book of essays dealing with all the inherent issues and contradictions of YA literature. Aronson's essay, "The Power of Words" is the most eloquent and beautifully stated response to the misguided impulse adults feel to censor what teenagers read. This essay alone is worth the price of admission.
August 10, 2010
Essential professional reading.
January 30, 2011
Interesting set of essays. I wonder what he would say today since most of these essays were written in the 1990s.
March 20, 2011
Lots of good ideas, but the book is a bit overpriced.
December 3, 2015
How far we have come; how far we have to go.
Required reading for teachers who are involved with YA lit...
Yes, it is a bit out dated at times.
Required reading for teachers who are involved with YA lit...
Yes, it is a bit out dated at times.
Read
February 4, 2016Book editor expounds on aspects of YA lit, including its history, the importance of its art for teen readers, and the differences between it and children's and adult lit.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews