Exploring Young Adult Literature
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In Exploring Young Adult Literature, participants will have an opportunity to read and discuss some of the most influential young adult (YA) books that have been published, take a deep look at the themes and importance of YA books. We will study a variety of genres within the YA sphere and will cover the history of YA books in publishing and the current trends of YA literature. This colloquy will help participants gain a new appreciation of the genre as a whole.
Kendall Chapman is the Ruth Slaven Teen Services & Outreach Librarian and, starting in July, Communication Coordinator at the Blue Hill Public Library (BHPL). Before becoming a librarian, Kendall ran a blog and social media accounts where she reviewed young adult books from publishers like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Islandport Press, and more, after years of working for an independent bookseller. She has served as the GSA Librarian for 2023-2025, in addition to working at BHPL, from which she graduated in 2007. Kendall lives in Penobscot with her husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and an unhealthy amount of books.
Syllabus/Reading
Session 1: A Brief History of YA Literature – we will discuss the popular titles of the 2000s that started the boom in the YA genre and the trends we see today.
Books to read: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Session 2: Where We Are Now – An overview of the trends in YA literature and the increase in diversity of subjects/characters/perspectives among the genre and the importance of representation.
Books to read: Excerpts (provided) from Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo, The Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley
Session 3: Crossover Appeal – We will discuss the increase of adults being interested in YA literature and how that has developed into new genres that often get mistaken as YA. The impact of social media on reading and young readers in particular.
Book to read: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas
Session 4: Graphic novels, manga, and crossover books – How these books have expanded the YA genre, gotten more teens reading, the value of illustrations, and ways to bridge the gap to novels.
Book to read: Nimona, by ND Stevenson
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