UMass Boston

Young Adult Literature

Course #: ENGL 126, Class #: 4154, Section #: 01

Description

Young adult fiction is a booming segment of the book publishing industry. This course investigates why, in our increasingly sophisticated storytelling culture, we turn to novels that are supposedly aimed at a "younger" audience. What attracts readers of all ages to young adult literature? We will examine how these novels use well-known plot structures and literary devices to create compellingly artistic stories. We will also examine how young adult literature tackles difficult topics, such as race, class, gender, and sexuality, in stories that mange to be both accessible and deeply thought provoking in their portrayals of diversity. Although this class features young adult literature, it has a heavy reading load and a fast-paced reading schedule.