Studies in Young Adult Literature

Reflections on Young Adult Historical Fiction

By: Joanne Brown, Nancy St. Clair

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8 December 2005

At a Glance

No. of Pages
224

Dimensions(cm)
22.81 x 14.86 x 2.08

RRP $140.00

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Young adult historical fiction brings the past alive through stories of adventure, suspense, and mystery. The genre is both complex and controversial, encompassing novels that range from romance and fantasy to stark historical realism. The book examines the various approaches to young adult historical fiction and explores the issues that it has engendered.

Part One focuses on the broader issues spawned by the genre itself, including its various subgenres - the line between fiction and fact; to what degree must an author adhere to historical accuracy?; time boundaries; the diary format; the protagonist as the outsider; who is entitled to write what?; and literary concerns such as the relationship between accuracy and readability. Part Two explores issues of contemporary interest, such as race, class, gender, the immigrant experience, religion, war, and nationalism. Thought-provoking discussions of how these elements are treated in historical novels, with emphasis on how current cultural values have shaped the fiction, are presented. Finally, the question of whether novels in this genre are bound by anything other than their respective period setting is posed, and it is contended that there are features common to YA historical novels that not only set the genre apart from other YA fiction, but also contribute something unique to the larger genre.

The genesis for much classroom debate, suggestions for class discussions and writing assignments as well as sample written responses of these debates from the authors' classes are included. Teachers, librarians, instructors of young adult literature courses, and teen readers will find this an insightful analysis of YA historical fiction.

Industry Reviews

...a wealth of information...An admirable effort for academia. * School Library Journal, July 1, 2006 *
...a thoughtful discussion of the many issues within young adult historical fiction....The research and discussion in this title is thought provoking, well supported, and present both sides of the issues. Writers, serious historical fiction enthusiasts, scholars, and instructors of young adult literature courses will find this volume an excellent overview of the many issues and trends in historical fiction for young adults. * VOYA *
Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
Aimed at teachers and librarians, this text examines various approaches to young adult historical fiction. Early chapters address broader themes, such as the genre's psychological appeal and the problem of historical accuracy. Chapters in the second part of the volume explore how particular issues such as race, class, gender, and war are dealt with in these novels. * Reference and Research Book News *

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