For Wednesday's assignment, we will be reading "The Power of Young Adult Fiction" from The New York Times' Room for Debate forum. In this forum, you will find a short introduction to the issue and then links to different authors' commentary on the issue. There are seven different authors, so make sure to click on each one and read each article, or click on the individual links here:
Patricia McCormick
Joel Stein
Emma Allison
Sharon G. Flake
Lev Grossman
Matt De la Pena
Beth Yoke
Each of these authors has a unique perspective on young adult fiction. Which author did you find most interesting or compelling? Why?
And finally, just for fun, here is a little e-card for Joel Stein :)
I found the author Joel Stein and his take on the debate "Adults Should Read Adult Books" very interesting. I find myself agreeing with him more than any of the other individuals, but I feel that he was a little harsh (which was also hilarious). Anyway, I could never see my dad reading a young adult book. If I ever did, I would think the world was ending. Maybe my dad is the reason I enjoyed this part of the debate more than the others. Does anyone else feel that you would never find your parents reading a young adult book?
ReplyDelete-Cailyn H.
My dad's the exact same way, my mom however loves young adult books!
Delete- Bryson M
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ReplyDeleteI think that young adult fiction books are really helping other relate from what is going on in the book to their own personal lives. Not just teens but adults as well. Why do you think young adult fiction has attracted such a wide age group of readers?
ReplyDeleteDylan, I agree. That is exactly why so many readers are reading young adult fiction. It is something that they can relate to and it keeps them entertained. I know that is one reason why I read it.
DeleteKaylee C
I think that since popular young adult books cause such a commotion, everyone wants to be a part of it. Adults can relate to them just like younger people can, but maybe in different ways.
ReplyDelete-Cailyn H.
I agree! It's fun to be part of the excitement over, say, the Harry Potter books, even if you're well beyond your Hogwarts years :) Also, I think the articles failed to point out a major reason why adults are reading young adult novels: many parents pick these books up to read along with their children so they can talk about the books together. My 10-year-old loves Percy Jackson and the How to Train Your Dragon books. I never would have read those series on my own, but I wanted to share the experience with my son.
DeleteI agree with you. The Young adult books were written by adults and because of that they are relatable to adults. What young adult book series do you think is one that adults are most likely to pick up?
DeleteMadeline Meyer
I liked Matt De La Pena's article the most. I've never read a book that has made me emotional at all. After reading his article, I plan to hit the library sometime this week to see if I can find a book I could relate to.
ReplyDeleteParris S
I liked De La Pena's article as well--I have always wanted to be that author who wrote life-changing novels for young adults. Let me know if you find a good book, or if you end up reading one of his novels!
DeleteI have been touched by only a few books in my life. My favorite being The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Although it is fantasy I connect with the book just the same. The main character had a great family as a child and abruptly lost everyone he knew and had to grow up rather fast. I have had the same life. I strongly suggest the book.
DeleteI liked De La Pena's article the best as well. The books I have the best memories of are the ones I felt an emotional connection in. Whether it was that I felt I could relate to a certain character or I just felt empathy for them.
DeleteI also enjoyed De La Pena's article. Books to me are one of the best therapy sessions one can have. First of all, It's cheaper then therapy, it helps us to feel different emotions that prepares us for reality and allows us to find different perspectives and solution to problems. Does anybody else find therapy in books?
DeleteAs I was reading each article I found that I agreed with a lot of what they were saying. Yet, when I came to the article "Adults Should Read Adult Books" I found myself disagreeing with him. I found him to be rude and pessimistic. Did anyone else get this impression?
ReplyDelete-Hope F.
I felt the exact same way. Joel Stein was harsh with his words, and I couldn't disagree with him more. I feel that people who don't read at least one young adult book aren't going to get the ecstatic feeling that they can give you.
Delete- Jake R.
I agree--Stein's article was such a sharp contrast to the others because of its negativity. The other authors were so positive and even emotionally moving, that Stein came across as very abrasive.
DeleteI thought he was absolutely hilarious. Sure, I disagreed with his main argument to an extent and he was very rude, but none of the other articles made me laugh out loud. I didn't see the article negatively at all and I respect his opinion.
Delete-Cailyn H.
"holding teens to a standard that most adults don't adhere is not reasonable or productive" - Beth Yoke. I found this sentence particularly gripping. I honestly did not enjoy half the books we had to read in my high school English classes. In fact I didn't enjoy reading in high school until I took Mythology my senior year. Towards the end of the class (after we finished discussing Greek, Egyptian, Norse, etc.) we discussed fantasy as well as science fiction in literature and media. The majority of the books we read were young adult novels. I can only say that I'd much rather read the "Lord of the Rings" (which is one of the most critically acclaimed trilogies) than "The Scarlet Letter." Not that it isn't a good book, but as a young adult, it's not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeletesorry this was Alex P.
DeleteWow--the Mythology class sounds awesome. And I agree, I would MUCH rather read Lord of the Rings than The Scarlet Letter. Why make students hate to read by forcing books on them just because we think they *should* read them? I remember reading Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in high school and not wanting to ever read Shakespeare again. (Luckily, a class in college changed that attitude!)
DeleteI just have to respond to this just to say that "The Scarlet Letter" is absolutely awful in my opinion and I can't believe we had to read it in high school. That was one of the only books I had to read in high school that I despised.
Delete-Cailyn H.
I liked how Lev Grossman wasn't afraid to admit that the literature that older adults are encouraged to read can be boring at times, and that he enjoys reading young adult fiction books that grab his attention. Do you guys think it's ok for older adults to read young adult fiction?
ReplyDelete- Bryson M
Lev Grossman talks about the increasing number of young adult novel readers. I propose this is because the quality of the books are better than so called adult books. I feel this way because it is the reader who decides literary quality and it seems they have spoken. Agree or disagree? Why?
ReplyDeleteI really liked how Matt de la Pena talked about more young people are able to connect with young adult fiction because most of them are living those stories. I have also found that reading books with similar situations to mine grab my attention more. I can connect easier, then I'm hooked. Anybody else agree?
ReplyDelete- Melanie H.
I really enjoyed reading what Patricia McCormick had to say about adults reading young adult fiction because I believe it to be true. Does everyone else agree that it is okay for adults to read books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games?
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Mifflin
I thought it was a good article but personally do not like young adult fiction books. I read a lot but mostly non fiction books. The only fiction books ive been reading lately are the game of thrones books. I much rather read a good biography on a great historical figure. Anyone else prefer non-fiction books over fiction books?
Delete-Saurab Deepak
Personally, I just really enjoyed that e card about The Hunger Games, Ha ha very puny ;)
ReplyDeleteKaylee C