Meeting Notes
Young Adult / African American Fiction
Young Adult / African American Fiction
Street Lit vs. Literary is a strange dichotomy in African American Fiction
History of the Genre
YA as we know it goes back to the 70s and 80s. There are many classic novels that have coming-of-age themes that predate this, but are still taught.
African American Fiction has its roots in black experience
1980s: Literary authors were popular: Sharon Draper, Walter Dean Myers, Jacqueline Woodson
“the Problem Novel”—about serious issues like abuse, drugs, mental problems. They are frequently depressing, realistic, gritty. They are often morality tales (Go Ask Alice)
YA fiction in the 1980s had very few black teen characters
Street Lit Resurgence
Mid-late 1990s—resurgence in adult publishing
Gritty voice, about scandal & crime
By and for African Americans
Large teen audience
Several teen street lit series:
Bluford High—school stories; lots of boy characters
Kimani Tru—romance
Drama High—school
Hotlanta—squeaky clean, two middle-class girls
White authors writing black characters:
Virginia Euwer Wolff
Chris Crutcher
E.R. Frank
Coretta Scott King Award is a good list to look up for RA questions about African American fiction for teens.
Title: Harlem Summer
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Myers, Walter Dean
Brief Summary: In the Summer of 1925, 16-year-old Mark Purvis meets many or the important people in the Harlem Renaissance and gets involved with a missing shipment of bootleg liquor while he pursues his dream of playing saxophone with Fats Waller
Thoughts on Appeal: An easy introduction to the personalities and ideas of the Harlem Renaissance.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Anyone interested in the Harlem Renaissance.
Title: Feathers
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Woodson, Jacqueline
Brief Summary: Set in 1970's, a white student joins Frannie's all African American 6th grade class, and his experiences affect how everyone involved looks at themselves and the future.
Thoughts on Appeal: Newbery Honor Book. Good connection to Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope"
Who I Would Recommend This To: Read-aloud to 4th-6th graders.
Title: Copper Sun
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Draper, Sharon
Brief Summary: 15-year-old Amari is forced into slavery after her village is destroyed. As a slave she makes an uneasy friendship with Polly, a white servant, who aids her in her quest for freedom.
Thoughts on Appeal: An award-winning book, Copper Sun graphically depicts the Middle Passage, life on a Southern plantation and the journey to free Colonial Florida. Recommended for 9-12th graders.
Who I Would Recommend This To: This is an excellent book for older or more mature teens, as violence and rape are depicted in this book.
Title: Copper Sun
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Draper, Sharon
Brief Summary: 2 15-year-olds, one recently taken from her village in Africa, the other an indentured servant, escape from their (horrible) plantation in Carolina and make their way to Fort Moses, in Spanish territory in Florida
Thoughts on Appeal: Well-written, extremely tense, full of anguish and horrible occurrences, without explicit sex (although implied). Excellent historical novel!
Who I Would Recommend This To: Teens, anyone interested in slave history, no one too squeamish.
Title: Fire From the Rock
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Draper, Sharon
Brief Summary: 1957, Little Rock- 15-year-old girl is asked by her father to attend newly-integrated Central High when all she wants to do is be a cheerleader, talk to boys, etc. She wants to make history, goes, but after about a month, starts getting badly harassed. Jews, too.
Thoughts on Appeal: Book is dedicated to the famous 9 students who integrated the high school in Little Rock and told through her diary entries and her perspective, includes an author's note on the place and era; includes similar harassment the main character endured.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Anyone looking for "different cultures" or historical fiction, especially concerning civil rights and Black History Month.
Title: Time's Memory
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Lester, Julius
Brief Summary: Set during the Civil War, Lester tells the story of Ekundayo/Nathaniel, a slave boy's life on a Virginia plantation. Some harrowing events will make the reader ponder deeply slavery and its impact on African-Americans.
Thoughts on Appeal: In the beginning the story was a bit confusing, but later it became a page-turner. All of the characters were well-developed.
Who I Would Recommend This To: People who are interested in learning more about slavery and the U.S. civil war. Also, it's recommended for 8th grade and up.
Title: What They found: Love on 145th St.
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Myers, Walter Dean.
Brief Summary: A collection of loosely linked vignettes by master story-teller Myers. Authentic dialogue, situations facing the collection of adolescents- some misguided, some well-guided, all faced with challenging life issues.
Thoughts on Appeal: Great writing, truly accessible storylines, sympathetic and insightful perspectives.
Who I Would Recommend This To: All YAs, AA or not, parents of YAs
Title: Riot
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Myers, Walter Dean
Brief Summary: Set during the New York Draft Riot of 1863, this book follows 15-year-old Claire, who has a white mother and a black father. The time is violent and racially charged, with struggles among the working class Irish immigrants who are being drafted to fight in the Civil war.
Thoughts on Appeal: Like Monster, this book was written in a screenplay format, which makes for a quick read and makes the historical context accessible. This story may be difficult to grasp initially if readers aren't aware of this little-known historical event.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Readers who like historical fiction, or who need to read historical fiction for a school assignment.
Title: Somewhere in the Darkness
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Myers, Walter Dean
Brief Summary: Jimmy's mother is dead. His Father abandoned him at a young age and is now in jail. Jimmy lives with loving Mama Jean. Suddenly Crab, his Father, appears and takes Jimmy to Arkansas.
Thoughts on Appeal: Excellent reading for any YA person. Terse language. Newbery Honor book. Coming of age story. Realistic dialogue. Thought provoking.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Everyone- adults and young adult readers, especially good for boys.
Title: Bucking the Sarge
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Curtis, Christopher Paul
Brief Summary: Luther Farrell, 14, has a driver's license, a full time job, is taking care of elderly men, and trying to win the science fair. He also heads to escape from The Sarge, his mother.
Thoughts on Appeal: Funny, extremely well-written.
Who I Would Recommend This To: N/A
Title: Harlem Hustle
ReplyDeleteAuthor: McDonald, Janet
Brief Summary: 17-year-old Eric, a.k.a. "Hustle", is a dropout career shoplifter. He really wants to be a rapper. Through a girlfriend's grandmother he learns the value of an education.
Thoughts on Appeal: The Grandma shares stories of famous African-American poets. We see that "Hustle" grows and starts to see the value of education and staying out of trouble.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Anyone interested in rapping and young African-Americans into ethnic talk. 9th grade and up because of profanity and sex innuendos.