Exploding the Myths

...this provocative collection of speeches and previously published essays challenges those who work with teenagers and their reading to shift paradigms, shatter illusions, and examine the essence of young adult literature...Librarians, teachers, students and professors of adolescent literature, publishers, editors, and authors need to read and contemplate this worthy companion to Michael Cart's excellent From Romance to Realism: 50 Years of Growth and Change in Young Adult Literature (HarperCollins, 1996). * VOYA *
This collection of essays gives the reader a banquet for thought when exploring significant issues about the young adult reader. The author has done his homework and makes a convincing case that challenges librarians, teachers, and parents...interesting suggestions to help us deal with problematic categorizing....Anyone who has been alarmed by the content of YA novels should read this book and be prepared to find some new truths that may somewhat alter existing opinion. A thought-provoking book for professionals. This would be an excellent choice for a book talk among teachers and librarians in middle school and high schools. * Shylibrarian.Com *
...will be of interest to librarians, teachers, writers, and parents...this thought-provoking collection should not be missed. * School Library Journal *
This book would be valuable as a professional reference and discussion starter for small groups and classes. * The Book Report *
...thought provoking and informative... Exploding the Myths is a useful addition to resources on teenagers and their reading. * Orana *
As a YA publisher, editor, writer, and critic, Aronson is an eloquent, passionate advocate for high-quality YA books. The collection comprises 13 of his speeches and articles from the past six years, including "The Challenge and the Glory of YA Literature," which originally appeared in Booklist. He opens up the intense arguments about censorship, audience (how adult is young adult?), authenticity, popularity versus quality, and more. He talks about demographics (the huge rise in the teenage population, with fastest growth among Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans), YA publishing history (how the YA novel started, where it's going now), the criteria for the Michael L. Printz Award, and how to reach teen readers. His style is clear, chatty, and tough. Whether talking about the graphic novel, poetry, magic realism, or gritty contemporary fiction, he shows that teenagers today are often more open to challenge and diversity in narrative and format than their adult guardians are. What many librarians think is "popular" is often condescending. Whether you agree with Aronson or not, you'll be caught up in issues that matter. A great starting place for YA literature classes. * Booklist, 3/15/2001 *
Erudite and intellectually challenging. Aronson uses anecdote and felt experience to inform highly sustained arguments which are innovative and arresting. * Viewpoint On Books For Young Adults *
Gives an important orientation to the issues and questions that have concerned those who have been interested in young adult books over the last decade...Aronson makes the case that YA literature is as valuable to young readers as "Literature," with the capital L, is to adults. * Children's Literature Association Quarterly *