Exploding the Myths: The Truth About Teenagers and Reading [Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature, No.4] (Hardcover)

by Marc Aronson (Author), Bruce Brooks (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This collection of articles and speeches will be of interest to librarians, teachers, writers, and parents. One theme in many of the essays is how YA literature has evolved from its inception in the 1960s to the present day, not only surviving but exceeding critics' expectations as literature in its own right. Aronson examines the most common myths-that teens don't read, that they only read adult books, and that they don't have time for recreational reading. To dispel these beliefs that govern the publishing world, he calls on college professors, editors, and other researchers who have found evidence that reading is alive and well. A personal anecdote about the late Michael L. Printz and some insight into the creation of the award bearing his name are included. The last chapter is a wonderfully honest dialogue with Jacqueline Woodson in which she talks about breaking the traditional parameters of the YA novel in terms of voice, form, and access. Fully indexed, this thought-provoking collection should not be missed.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
As a YA publisher, editor, writer, and critic, Aronson is an eloquent, passionate advocate for high-quality YA books. The collection comprises 13 of his speeches and articles from the past six years, including "The Challenge and the Glory of YA Literature," which originally appeared in Booklist. He opens up the intense arguments about censorship, audience (how adult is young adult?), authenticity, popularity versus quality, and more. He talks about demographics (the huge rise in the teenage population, with fastest growth among Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans), YA publishing history (how the YA novel started, where it's going now), the criteria for the Michael L. Printz Award, and how to reach teen readers. His style is clear, chatty, and tough. Whether talking about the graphic novel, poetry, magic realism, or gritty contemporary fiction, he shows that teenagers today are often more open to challenge and diversity in narrative and format than their adult guardians are. What many librarians think is "popular" is often condescending. Whether you agree with Aronson or not, you'll be caught up in issues that matter. A great starting place for YA literature classes. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.; 1st edition (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810839040
• ISBN-13: 978-0810839045
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #649,561 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploding the Myths, February 23, 2006

By	L. Flanagan "bookcrazy" (napa, california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fanstastic book that has a diverse range of articles dealing with young adults and their literature. Highly recommended for library school students!