Criteria for Selecting Adolescent Literature
Criteria to consider when selecting adolescent literature are as follows:
- Quality
Teachers select from recent literature that is highly recommended by those knowledgeable in the field of Young Adult Literature, as well as time-tested classics.
- Variety
Middle school students use literature to broaden their worlds. Multi-ethnic and multicultural literature, as well as literature focusing on individual needs, offer students an awareness of worlds beyond their own and increase their ability to empathize with the unknown.
- Diverse Genres
Students are drawn to literature of different genres—the adventure story, science fiction, sports, biographies, mysteries, fantasy, romance, or horror. Teachers should introduce them to poetry and nonfiction that they might not choose for themselves.
- Themes
The themes of self-discovery, including gender issues and adolescent problems, should be considered when choosing literature. But this does not mean that teachers choose books that reflect only the superficial problems of young adults. Any book whose core theme deals with the developmental and psychological needs of young readers should be included. Most of all we need to provide middle school students with books that help them find a place in the world, build their self-esteem, and assist in establishing a healthy sense of identity.
- Curriculum Connections
It is important to choose literature that addresses standards while also looking for literature that directly relates to the curriculum outside of Language Arts. We need to make learning whole and help students make connections to social studies and science.
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