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What's New in YA Literature

Teaching Wonders


NCTE 2004 What's New in Young Adult Literature


A note before we get started:

I left the previous session because it was killing me; therefore, I was unable to attend all of the YA literature session.~ja

  • Vote for Larry-resources in the back of the book about how kids can get involved and get out the vote.
  • Behind You-the sequel to If You Come Softly. Miah dies. People talk about him and his spirit is behind them.
  • Playing in Traffic-A must for all high school teachers. No one loves Skye. She's in an awful situation and emails Matt. They have a sexual relationship that taps into/exploits his compassion. She lies about the whole situation.
  • The Beat Goes On-set in England. One character is diagnosed with HIV
  • So Hard To Say-set in middle school--issues of homophobia
  • Luna-Reagan tells the story of her brother Liam, who is really a girl. A novel about transgendered teens. Reagan is the younger sister who accepts Liam as is.
  • Death by Eggplant-Bully book. Bertie loves to cook and is assigned to care for a 5 lb bag of flour who is a girl-Cleo. Funny.
  • The Blue Girl-Urban fantasy...where fantasy meets the real world. Imogene gets to move, and she meets Maxine. It's a sneaky bully book. Supposed ghost, kid who committed suicide because of bullying. Alternating chapters represent different view points. Complicated.
  • Burying the Sun-Leningrad. 880 day siege. Set in Russia; they burn the books for fuel.
  • Trickster's Choice-Ally gets kidnapped and sold into slavery. Trickster god makes her a deal. Sequel is Trickster's Queen (Harry Potter effect...the new one is longer)
  • Raising the Griffin-Alex is in a British prep School. Doesn't want to be the king. Acts like a spoiled brat.
  • Yankee Girl-set in 1964 Mississippi.
  • Cosmos, Coyote, and William the Nice-issues of liberalism, fundamentalism, needing to understand how.
  • Godless-kid invents a religion where they worship the water tower.
  • No Laughter Here-About female genital mutilation. Hard to read/hard to find an audience.
  • Travel Team-for reluctant readers.
  • Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle
  • Fattening Hut
  • Can't Get There From Here

Last Updated April 11, 2011

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