1. Students will learn about the historical development of and the main issues and controversies in young adult literature in Western cultures.
2. Students will have a deeper understanding of young adulthood and young adult literature as a social and political institution.
3. Students will examine a range of genres within the field (including historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy fiction, etc.) and improve their ability to read various kinds of young adult texts critically.
4. Students will develop more clearly articulated standards for selecting and evaluating young adult texts.
5. Students will develop strong reading habits and improve their analytical and rhetorical skills.
6. Students will independently research a young adult author and present their findings to the class.
7. Students will write regular journals in which they reflect critically on their reading of young adult texts.
8. Students will be responsible for presentations on one aspect of a YA book read over the course of this semester.

1. Students will learn about the historical development of and the main issues and controversies in young adult literature in Western cultures.
2. Students will have a deeper understanding of young adulthood and young adult literature as a social and political institution.
3. Students will examine a range of genres within the field (including historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy fiction, etc.) and improve their ability to read various kinds of young adult texts critically.
4. Students will develop more clearly articulated standards for selecting and evaluating young adult texts.
5. Students will develop strong reading habits and improve their analytical and rhetorical skills.
6. Students will independently research a young adult author and present their findings to the class.
7. Students will write regular journals in which they reflect critically on their reading of young adult texts.
8. Students will be responsible for presentations on one aspect of a YA book read over the course of this semester.

This course aims to introduce students to Young Adult (YA) Literature which makes up a large part of children’s literature as a whole. This course gives a short history of YA Literature in Britain. Students will also try to define what YA Literature is and discuss its many forms and manifestations. The main focus of the course is to read a selection of British YA novels to better understand the variety within this tradition. Students will learn to approach YA Literature critically and at the same time strengthen their skills in reading, analyzing and discussing works of Young Adult Literature. Students will also engage in an author project that they will present to the class.

This course aims to introduce students to Young Adult (YA) Literature which makes up a large part of children’s literature as a whole. This course gives a short history of YA Literature in Britain. Students will also try to define what YA Literature is and discuss its many forms and manifestations. The main focus of the course is to read a selection of British YA novels to better understand the variety within this tradition. Students will learn to approach YA Literature critically and at the same time strengthen their skills in reading, analyzing and discussing works of Young Adult Literature. Students will also engage in an author project that they will present to the class.

Almond, David. My Name Is Mina. London: Hodder Signature, 2010; 2013.

Blackman, Malorie. Noughts and Crosses. London: Corgi, 2001; 2012.

Burgess, Melvin. Junk. London: Penguin, 1996; 1997.

Chambers, Aidan. Breaktime/Dance on My Grave. London: Definitions, 1992; 2007.

Almond, David. My Name Is Mina. London: Hodder Signature, 2010; 2013.

Blackman, Malorie. Noughts and Crosses. London: Corgi, 2001; 2012.

Burgess, Melvin. Junk. London: Penguin, 1996; 1997.

Chambers, Aidan. Breaktime/Dance on My Grave. London: Definitions, 1992; 2007.