Keywords

young adult literature, literary canon, English education

Abstract

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of ALAN, it seems only appropriate to celebrate the significant contributions of authors who have blazed a trail for the field of young adult literature (YAL) with poignant, raw depictions of the world of adolescents. This trail has evolved over the past 40 years into a multi-lane interstate, crossing borders into current social issues, accelerating to adapt to new technologies, and merging with other genres. While the future of YAL appears limitless, a tribute to these great authors speaks to the unique and powerful attributes that have propelled this field into scholarly debates concerning its relationship to the literary canon, its role in the English classroom, and its struggles against censorship. Before paying tribute to these individual authors’ contributions, however, we believe it is important to foreground the ongoing conversation about the place of YAL in secondary schools as we move toward a broader discussion of current and future classics in YAL.

Original Publication Citation

“The Look of Classic Young Adult Literature,” The ALAN Review 41.2 (Winter 2014): 6-14 (with Alan Brown, et al.).

Document Type

Other

Publication Date

2014

Publisher

The ALAN Review

Language

English

College

Humanities

Department

English

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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