What is literacy? The simple answer, the ability to read and write. But if you actively think about what literacy is, it is so much more than that. I was fortunate enough to have some great professors while finishing my undergraduate degree at UGA. They helped open my eyes a bit to the multi-faceted meaning of literacy. It IS about reading and writing, but it is more than that, it’s about creating, understanding, communicating, interpreting. Literacy stretches beyond reading and writing.
Adolescent literature is tough to define. Again, in a simple definition it is literature that is meant to be read by adolescent readers. YA novels are the perfect example of adolescent literature, but that genre is quite broad. We have books like Twilight, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, all of which are adolescent literature, but so are books like the Hatchet and The Outsiders. This is a broad range of novels that fall under the YA or adolescent literature umbrella. If you would have asked me a decade ago, what are some examples of adolescent literature, I would have named things like the novels above. All of these novels have value, teach lessons, and entertain. But I wouldn’t have considered novels that deal with tougher topics or deeper meanings. I wouldn’t have included novels like The Fault in Our Stars or Dear Martin or even Legendborn. I would have argued that they deal with heavier topics, deeper issues, that adolescents can’t handle reading about.
Let me let you in on a little secret, I would have been wrong. Adolescent literature is every book that adolescents have access to, yes there are novels that target the adolescent reader. For the most part, those novels ALL deal with deeper issues and heavy topics. All of which, adolescents can relate to. The way Legendborn points out issues of race within the South, adolescents pick up on that, they understand that, they can relate to it because they see it. The idea of searching for the truth, the idea of finding yourself (I’m referring to Legendborn again) every teenager can relate to that. There is so much going on with their minds and bodies and hormones and emotions, they most certainly want to find themselves just like Bree.
Maybe I don’t have the perfect definition for literacy or adolescent literature, but I think that is sort of the point. Let each author and reader decide for themselves what it means to them.
Jason's Thoughts 
Jason,
I couldn’t agree more that literacy is about reading and writing, but also creating, understanding, communicating, and interpreting. Great adolescent lit teaches students all this at the same time — interesting narrative structure, complex characterization, and also heavy ideas like America’s history with race, oppressive governments (The Hunger Games), self assuredness and friendship (Harry Potter), and class struggle (The Outsiders).
I want to add to your idea that “There is so much going on with their minds and bodies and hormones and emotions, they most certainly want to find themselves just like Bree.” While main characters should be relatable, compelling protagonists also can function as windows that allow the reader to see a different perspective than their own. I grew up with little awareness of just how horrid the slave experience was and how it plays a part today. Had I read “Legendborn” when I was young, questions would have been sparked that would have led me to learn at an earlier age about America’s history with race.
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Jason,
I’m glad you stretched your definition of literacy beyond just reading and writing. I think this is crucial to include and acknowledge that literacy is beyond written communication.
I wholeheartedly agree that adolescent literature can be defined as any books that adolescents are accessing and relating to. Perhaps even, we cannot define what their literature is because we are not within it. Who am I to say what belongs to the experience of a 15 year old boy? That is not my place in life or identification. One of the great trials of adolescence is others constantly defining who they should be and what they should do.
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^ My comment was supposed to just say “Maggie Perkins” but it auto filled to include James as well, from my shipping address…
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Hey Jason,
First of all, you’re a great writer and your post was fun to read! I loved your definition of young adult literature as anything that adolescents have access to. I also like how you mentioned these books, The Fault in Our Stars, Legendborn, and Dear Martin, being heavy and therefore, not for an adolescent. My favorite aspect of these books is that they are heavy and they deal with things that a lot of adolescents may not have been through! However, they have the ability to introduce these heavy things to a reader that could maybe happen to them. They can give the young reader a chance to make up a story in their head of “what if this happened to me? What would I do?” Which gives the reader a chance to prepare for and be aware of these heavy things that happen.
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Yes, adolescents are trying to find themselves and they need access to a wide variety of literature! I learned this firsthand when I started working at a high school library. One thing that I found at my library is that there were not enough lower-level books that also fit a younger maturity level. I think it was assumed that teens need more mature content and I found that many were not ready. Students were asking for books that are popular middle and even elementary reads. I decided to purchase these books rather than insist they fall in line with someone else’s expectations. Just like adolescent literature, adolescents are at so many different places in their lives. I have actually been surprised by the number of nonfiction book requests the students have. Of course, I purchase whatever they ask for. I try to purchase more sensitive topics in ebook format too to aid with privacy.
Your description of literacy is wonderful and I’m glad you had such good professors to help you expand your thinking. Your post was very enjoyable to read!
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