Young Adult Lit

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Harry Potter. The Hunger Games. Of late, many books written for a young adult audience have become widely popular with readers of all ages. What is Young Adult Literature (YAL)? What differentiates it from fiction written for adults and traditional coming-of-age stories? What’s the source of its appeal? Why are some YA novels immediately considered “classics” and others banned from public school districts? To answer these questions, this course examines the genre of Young Adult Literature from its mid-twentieth-century origins to its recent blockbusters. To ascertain the genre’s contours and defining characteristics, we will read novels, scholarly articles, and popular discourse on the topic. Assignments will center on the writing process (prewriting, drafting, responding, revising, editing, and publication) to develop critical thinking skills that can be used across disciplines.