what are pre-teens reading?
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Discovering Urban Fiction for Middle School Students Compiled by: K.C. Boyd, MLS Area Library Coordinator Department of Libraries and Information Services Chicago Public Schools. What are pre-teens reading?. What is Urban Fiction?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Discovering Urban Fiction for
Middle School Students Compiled by:
K.C. Boyd, MLSArea Library Coordinator
Department of Libraries and Information ServicesChicago Public Schools
What are pre-teens reading?
What is Urban Fiction?
Urban Fiction is a popular yet controversial genre especially among young African-American and Hispanic patrons. The genre features characters living in large urban cities that are usually involved in drug dealing, gang violence, and/or prostitution.
http://www.libsuccess.org/Urban_Fiction/
What is Urban Fiction?
Urban Fiction is also identified as:
Urban LiteratureGangster LiteratureGhetto Literature
Hip Hop LiteratureStreet Fiction
Street Literature
What Are Some of the Characteristics of Urban Fiction
Characteristics of Urban Fiction
1. Often self-published or published by small, independent presses.
2. Generally published in a trade paperback format
3. Some are poorly edited and have weak storylines
4. Often not reviewed in mainstream publications
5. Some authors are or have served time in jail/prison
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Characteristics of Urban Fiction cont.
• The genre is made up of young, first-time African-American authors.
• Stories take place in large urban cities such as Richmond, VA, Chicago, IL, New York , Washington, D.C. and Newark, New Jersey.
• Gritty and includes plenty of sex, drugs, and violence. Drug dealing, or “the game”, is a common theme.
• Written in the language of the streets, with plenty of slang and four-letter words.
http://teenlibrarian.com/
• Heavy references are made to designer clothing, jewelry and expensive cars.
• Female characters are often shallow and self-centered at the beginning, but learn valuable lessons through facing hardships.
• Characters may profit from drug dealing, enjoying their wealth, but eventually most pay the price. Many titles end in tragedy – violent deaths, prison.
• The cover art often feature photos of scantily clad women, men with guns, expensive cars, etc.
http://teenlibrarian.com/
Characteristics of Urban Fiction cont.
The Pioneers of Urban Fiction
Pioneers of Urban Fiction
Claude Brown1965
Pioneers of Urban Fiction
Robert “Iceberg Slim” BeckRobert “Iceberg Slim” Beck 1969 1969
Pioneers of Urban Fiction
Donald GoinesDonald Goines19711971
Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular?
• The stories reflect a world that many young readers can relate to.
• The stories give the reader an opportunity to escape their own difficult circumstance.
• The stories are fast paced filled with taboo subjects such as sex, drugs and violence.
Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular?
• Urban Fiction books are shared between family members.
• Some school districts have integrated books from the genre into the school curriculum.
Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular?
Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular?
Universal themes/messages from rap/hip-hop music are present.
Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular?
Influence
of
Recording Artists
Tupac ShakurTupac Shakur19991999
Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular?
Influence
of
Recording Artists
AshantiAshanti20022002
Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular?
Influence
of
Recording Artists
Alicia KeysAlicia Keys20052005
Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular?
Influence of
Television
HBO’s The WireHBO’s The Wire2002-20082002-2008
What Are the Positive and Negative Characteristics of
Urban Fiction?
Positive
• The stories are ‘cautionary tales’ – the overall messages conveyed in these stories are positive.
• Gets an audience of reluctant readers excited about reading
• Encourages young people to become authors.
• Gives hope to young people who need help.
Negative• Reinforces stereotypes and encourages
irresponsible behavior.
• Promotion of sex, drugs and violence.
• Negative references to women.
• Heavily commercialized.
• Strong use of explicit language.
Popular Adult Urban Fiction Authors
The Top Three Male and Female Adult Urban Fiction Authors
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan
http://us.macmillan.com/author/shannonholmes
http://www.bookvideos.tv/videoid/1033
http://teriwoodspublishing.com/site.html
http://www.nikkiturner.com/
Popular Adult Urban Fiction Authors
Wahida ClarkKashamba WilliamsDeja KingOmar TyreeKeisha IrvingZaneRelentless AaronKiki SwinsonTeri WoodsLisa LennoxQuentin Carter
Treasure HernandezAshley JaQuavisTu-Shonda WhitakerAshley AntionetteSapphireDarrell DebrewJihadDeborah MayerVictor L. MarterLeo SullivanShavonn Moore
Critics of Urban Fiction
Dr. Gloria Wade GaylesIndependent Scholars ProgramSpelman College
Urban fiction threw out African American family values and rituals, and it makes older people in the community invisible.
There are exceptions, but most of this fiction is of the very brief now. It's not born to be read ten years from now. There are noJames Baldwins, no Ralph Ellisons, no Toni Morrisons, no Ernest Gaineses. What is this genre‘s value, other than to make money?
Meeting the Needsof Your Students
Make sure your school has a written selection and reconsideration policy that addresses written challenges to books. If you don’t, you’re totally vulnerable.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6632974.html
Chicago Public SchoolsCollection Development Policy for School Libraries
Librarians should make purchasing decisions based ontheir knowledge of the following: Students Communities Collection needs Other criteria set forth in the CPS Collection Development Policy
for School Librarians
A Dirty Little Secret: Self-CensorshipSelf-censorship is rampant and lethal
By Debra Lau WhelanSchool Library Journal, 2/1/2009
Street Fight: Welcome to the World of Urban LitTeens love it. Some librarians loathe it. Welcome to the world of urban lit.
By Amy PatteeSchool Library Journal, 7/1/2008
• Do our collections reflect the needs and tastes of the young people we serve? Or do they just reflect our own literary preferences?
• Are we willing to challenge ourselves professionally and to open up to new forms of literary expression? Or are we set in our ways?
• As librarians who are committed to serving teens, it’s essential to embrace urban street lit—even if its stories occasionally clash with our values.
Amy PatteeAssistant Professor Graduate School of Library ScienceSimmons College
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzaXRLWLTkI6:17- 8:53
Dr. Sandra Hughes-Hassell Director of the School Library Media Program University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Urban Teens in the Library: Research and Practice
by Dr. Sandra Hughes-Hassell
Takin’ it to the Street: Teens and Street LitBy Megan Honig
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), August, 2008
Six Steps to Meeting Urban Fiction Readers Needs
by Megan Honighttp://pdfs.voya.com/Vo/yaT/VoyaTakinItToTheStreets.pdf
1. Respect the genre2. Provide Satisfying Alternates3. Provide Access4. Collect Urban Fiction books5. Use Urban Fiction in Library Programs6. Broaden your collection
Popular Urban FictionNovels And Series
* Appeared on the 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
Anne Schraff and Paul Langan
The Bluford Series is a collection of 15 novels that The Bluford Series is a collection of 15 novels that focus on the lives of a group of high school students focus on the lives of a group of high school students and their families.and their families. Each novel addresses complex topics relevant to Each novel addresses complex topics relevant to the lives of today's students: family, friendship, trust, the lives of today's students: family, friendship, trust, violence, and peer pressure. violence, and peer pressure.
* Appeared on the 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
Platinum Teens Series
Created by former Triple Crown Publications author, Kasamba Williams. This series is written by teens, marketed as teen friendly and comes with a discussion guide.
http://www.platinumteen.org/
http://www.eharlequin.com/
Monica McKayhan Earl Sewell
* 2009 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Spring Conference Gift
* Appears on the 2009Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
* 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Spring Conference Gift
www.earlsewell.com
* Currently appears on the 2009 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
* Appears on the 2009Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
* 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Spring Conference Gift
* Appeared on the 2008Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
* Appeared on the 2008Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
Urban Lit Books with an Edge
Drama High Series by L. Devine
Drama High is a series of books that focuses on the lives of teens struggling with peer pressure, acceptance and self-esteem.
http://www.dramahigh.com/index.htm
* Appeared on the 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List
Adult Books that Teens are Reading
Where can I find more information about
Urban Fiction novels?
Selection Tools
Book reviews from professional journals Booklist *School Library Journal Kirkus Reviews Horn Book Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books Voice of Youth Advocates
http://www.libraryjournal.co
Rollie WelchCollection Manager,
Cleveland Public Library
Vanessa J. MorrisAssistant Professor
Clarion Univ. of Pennsylvania
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/Word on Street Lit. #1-16
Selection ToolsUrban Fiction Book Reviews
1. American Library Association – YALSA Good Reads for Teenshttp://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/tenreading/recreading/recommendedreading.cfm2. Amy Pattee, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Sciencehttp://gslis.simmons.edu/blogs/yaorstfu3. Crazy Quiltshttp://http.campbele.wordpress.com/4. The Pinnaclehttp://urbanreviews.blogspot.com/5. RAWSISTAZ Reviewshttp://www.therawreviewers.com/index_sample.shtml6. School Library Journalhttp://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/7. Street Fictionhttp://www.streetfiction.org8. Teen Librarianhttp://www.teenlibrarian.com/streetlit/9. Teen Readshttp://teenreads.com/ 10. Teen Urban Fictionhttp://www.teenurbanfiction.com/
Urban Fiction Publishing CompaniesBlack Expressions – search under kidshttp://www.blackexpressions.com/ The Cartel Publishinghttp://thecartelpublications.com/Kessington Books – search under YAhttp://www.kensingtonbooks.com/Qboro Bookshttp://www.qborobooks.com/Terri Woods Publishinghttp://teriwoodspublishing.com/site.htmlTriple Crown Publicationshttp://www.triplecrownpublications.com/Urban Bookshttp://www.urbanbooks.net/ Urban Literaturehttp://www.urbanliterature.com/
Author WebsitesCoe Booth - http://www.coebooth.com/K’wan - http://www.kwanfoye.com/L. Devine - http://www.dramahigh.com/Sharon Draper - http://sharondraper.com/Sonia Hayes - http://soniahayes.com/home.php Shannon Holmes - http://us.macmillan.com/author/shannonholmesJanet McDonald - www.janetmcdonald.comDenene Millner - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3747285Mitzi Miller - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3747286Earl Sewell - http://www.earlsewell.com/Sister Souljah - http://sistersouljah.com/Nikki Turner - http://nikkiturner.com/ Omar Tyree - http://www.omartyree.com/Vickie Stringer - http://www.triplecrownpublications.com/Terri Woods - http://teriwoodspublishing.com/site.html
Urban Fiction Blogs and Wikispaces
Bluford Serieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bluford_Series
Crazy Quiltshttp://http.campbele.wordpress.com/
M. Doyle, MLK Middle School, San Francisco, Californiahttp://teenlibrarianblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/urban-fiction-for-teens.html
The Pinnaclehttp://urbanreviews.blogspot.com/
Urban Fiction Journal Articles
What teens are reading by Felicia Pride and Calvin Reidhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6620241.html
“From the Street to the Libraries” by Anne Banardhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/nyregion/23fiction.html?
_r=1&pagewanted=all
“Inner City Teens Do Read” by Vanessa J. Morris, August, 2007http://www.jahreinaresearch.info/VJMWebsite/urbanfiction/Inner%20City%20Teens%20Do%20Read.rtf
“Is Urban Fiction Appropriate for African-American Teenagers” by LaQuisha Hallhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/322469/is_urban_fiction_appropriate_foraafrican.html?cat=38
Urban Fiction Journal Articles
“The Real World” by Vanessa E. Joneshttp://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/11/03/the_real_world
“Street Fight: Welcome to the World of Urban Literature” by Amy Patteehttp://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573998.html
“Takin it to the Street: Teens and Street Lit” by Meagan Honighttp://pdfs.voya.com/Vo/yaT/VoyaTakinItToTheStreets.pdf
The Real World by Vanessa J. Morrishttp://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/11/03/the_real_world/
Online Hip-Hop Dictionaries
Hip Hop Galaxy Dictionaryhttp://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/
Rap Dictionaryhttp://www.rapdict.org/Main_Page
Urban Slang Dictionarywww.urbandictionary.com
Urban Slang Dictionary - www.urbandictionary.com
K.C. Boyd, Area Library Coordinator Department of Libraries and Information Services
Chicago Public Schools Facebook: K.c. Boyd