Young Adult Literature
YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULT MALES
Sam D. Gill
In our experiences as teachers or media specialists, many of us have noticed the same phenomenon: adolescent males often tend to enjoy literature less than their female counterparts. Of course, as middle school and high school teachers and media specialists, we have no control over the early reading experiences or instruction a male child receives, and since the patterns of reading behavior have been established long before he reaches our classroom, it may seem impossible to help him become an avid reader. But it is not impossible. In fact, helping a male become an enthusiastic reader may be as simple as offering a kind of literature that will engage him with intriguing plots, fast-paced action, and characters who not only catch his interest, but who mirror the life that he is living.
Recent critical studies of the subject matter and themes of young adult literature have included focuses on the presentation of female gender roles (Hayn & Sherrill, 1996), readers ' responses to the portrayal of racial minorities (Chevalier & Houser, 1997), and literary attention to teens ' struggles with spirituality (Mendt, 1997). However, little direct, specific attention has been given to writers ' portrayals of adolescent male characters in fiction or non-fiction.
Nevertheless, the growing canon of adolescent literature has produced a rich base of fiction that both portrays and appeals to all types of males. Researchers have shown that introducing YA literature to males improves their reading ability (Ballash 1994). These findings, however, have also pointed out the bias that many teachers hold against YA literature. Since its inception, generally considered to coincide with the 1967 publication of Hinton 's The Outsiders and Zindel 's The Pigman, young adult literature has fought an uphill battle to be given some of the classroom space normally reserved for the classical canon. According to
Sam D. Gill
In our experiences as teachers or media specialists, many of us have noticed the same phenomenon: adolescent males often tend to enjoy literature less than their female counterparts. Of course, as middle school and high school teachers and media specialists, we have no control over the early reading experiences or instruction a male child receives, and since the patterns of reading behavior have been established long before he reaches our classroom, it may seem impossible to help him become an avid reader. But it is not impossible. In fact, helping a male become an enthusiastic reader may be as simple as offering a kind of literature that will engage him with intriguing plots, fast-paced action, and characters who not only catch his interest, but who mirror the life that he is living.
Recent critical studies of the subject matter and themes of young adult literature have included focuses on the presentation of female gender roles (Hayn & Sherrill, 1996), readers ' responses to the portrayal of racial minorities (Chevalier & Houser, 1997), and literary attention to teens ' struggles with spirituality (Mendt, 1997). However, little direct, specific attention has been given to writers ' portrayals of adolescent male characters in fiction or non-fiction.
Nevertheless, the growing canon of adolescent literature has produced a rich base of fiction that both portrays and appeals to all types of males. Researchers have shown that introducing YA literature to males improves their reading ability (Ballash 1994). These findings, however, have also pointed out the bias that many teachers hold against YA literature. Since its inception, generally considered to coincide with the 1967 publication of Hinton 's The Outsiders and Zindel 's The Pigman, young adult literature has fought an uphill battle to be given some of the classroom space normally reserved for the classical canon. According to
Cited: Avi. Wolfrider. Collier Books, 1986. Cormier, R. Tenderness. Delacorte, 1997. Cormier, R. The Chocolate War. Dell, 1974. Chambers, A. Dance on My Grave. Harper and Row, 1982. Cross, G. On the Edge. Holiday House, 1985. Crutcher, Chris. Ironman. Greenwillow Books, 1995. Hinton, SE. The Outsiders. Viking, 1966. Hobbs, Will. The Big Wander. Atheneum, 1992. Lipsyte, Robert. The Contender. Harper and Row, 1967. Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. Scholastic, 1988. Myers, Walter Dean. Hoops. Dell, 1981. Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. Viking, 1987. Philbrick, Rodman. Freak the Mighty. Scholastic, 1993. Rylant, Cynthia. The Islander. DK Ink, 1998. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin, 1965. Weaver, Will. Striking Out. Harper Trophy, 1995. Weisel, Elie. Night. Bantam, 1982. Reference Citation: Gill, Sam D. (1999). "Young Adult Literature for Young Adult Males." The ALAN Review, Volume 26, Number 2.