I browse Buzzfeed throughout the day way more often than I would like to admit, but I stumbled upon this cool list of Young Adult novels…
Author Archives: Ilyanna Yates
Pure Escapism Response
In Maggie Stiefvater’s article of Pure Escapism For Young Adult Readers she explains her opinions on why the dystopian trend is so popular among teenagers and why it will continue to grow within the next several years. She explains that she doesn’t believe teenagers are reading dystopian novels because “the darkness of the subject matter” reflects their lives, but instead they find it interesting. She states that teenagers wouldn’t want to read dystopian novels if it actually reflected their lives because, “Would we be so enamored with dystopian fiction if we lived in a culture where violent death was a major concern?” Instead they read and follow the dystopian trend because it’s simply satisfying to them. Young adults like reading novels about what’s right and wrong, but while reading the novels they have to find where the good is.
I agree with the author that teenagers aren’t reading the dystopian trend because it reflects them but because they find it interesting. The whole purpose of reading is to have your imagination run free and to create an outlet of another world for yourself. I think young adults are able to relate to the characters in dystopian societies because, like the characters, the teenagers want to fight for what’s right; they want to take a stand, speak out, and change their community (or world) for the better. The connection I made with The Giver by Lois Lowry is the “black and white choices” Stiefvater mentions. Jonas was always perceived as different and that was made clear when he was named the Receiver. Jonas thought his society was “polite” and “acceptable” until the Giver gave him memories. He then learns that his community lives without passionate emotions, individuality, and creativity. His world fell on either side of the black and white spectrum but never in-between. We see that Lowry creates a story where finding the good or evil in a character is hard because he/she doesn’t know right versus wrong or good versus evil.
Picture Book Essay
The book I decided to choose for the picture book essay is, “The Spider and the Fly” written by Mary Howitt in 1829, but an illustrated version of the poem was published in 2003 by Tony DiTerlizzi becoming a Caldecott Honor Book. This book stood out to me because it’s a cautionary tale teaching children to be aware of those who use flattery and other trickery to get what they want. The illustrations by Tony DiTerlizzi brings an old time glamour to the haunting story.
Childhood Memory
My childhood was like many others; I grew up with a loving family in a suburban neighborhood and went to one of the best public schools in the district. With that being said, I know when I was younger my parents or siblings read aloud to me but I can’t recall any books that stand out besides Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes, The Little Engine That Could, etc. Although I do recall the first book I was able to read on my own. When I was in kindergarten the elementary school I went to didn’t teach kindergartners how to read. Sure we learned our ABC’s, colors, and whatever else a kindergartner learns, but we were never taught to read. My kindergarten teacher was amazing and I do remember her always singing to us while giving us several different story times throughout the day. After I finished kindergarten, my family moved to a different county and I had to switch schools. Once I started first grade I was tremendously behind, because I didn’t know how to read. Most of the first graders in my class were able to read basic children’s books by Dr. Seuss and books about Clifford the Big Red Dog. When my teacher and family realized that I wasn’t keeping up with the class I was put into a reading program through my elementary school. During this program I would meet with a high school senior about twice week during school for about one hour to practice my reading. I was in this program for a semester until I was able to read. When I “graduated” the program there was a ceremony for all the students who participated as well as their tutors. My tutor, Erin, gave me the first book I ever received as a gift. The book was called Babette by Clare Turlay Newberry. Babette is a story about a little Siamese kitten that gets lost from her actual home. A little girl ends up finding Babette and gives her a loving home until her real owners claim her. Although the little girl ends up giving Babette back that doesn’t end their loving friendship that was created. The little girl gets to see Babette grow up with time. I absolutely loved this book when I was younger especially because I had a slight obsession with Siamese cats back then. I would read it every night before I went to “bed” and I would always carry it around with me. This book is very fond to me not only because of the cute illustrations and that it’s well written, but because this is the first book I learned to read on my own.
-Ilyanna Yates