Diversity in Adolescent Literature Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009 Adapted from Beth...

Diversity in Adolescent Literature

Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009Adapted from Beth Brendler 2008

“The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you; they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.”

Wade Davis

What does multicultural or culturally diverse mean?

About all cultures• Race and Ethnicity

MultiethnicInternational

• Gender

• Sexuality

• Exceptionalities

• Values, attitudes, customs, beliefs, ethics

• Religion

What does multicultural mean?

Race and Ethnicity • The Heart of a Chief – Joseph Bruchac• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-

Time Indian – Sherman Alexie• Before We Were Free – Julia Alvarez


Race and Ethnicity • Born Confused - Tanuja Desai Hidier • The Skin I’m In – Sharon G. Flake• Baseball in April – Gary Soto• Habibi – Naomi Shihab Nye


Gender• Fat Chance – Leslea Newman• Inexcusable - Chris Lynch• Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson• A Northern Light – Jennifer Donnelly


Sexual OrientationLuna – Julie Ann Peters

Hard Love – Ellen Wittlinger

Annie on My Mind – Nancy Garden

Totally Joe – James Howe

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun – Jacqueline Woodson


ExceptionalitiesStuck in Neutral – Terry Trueman

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime – Mark Haddon

Invisible – Pete Hautman

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy – Sonja Sones

Joey Pigza books – Jack Gantos


Values, attitudes, customs, beliefs, ethics• Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli• Whale Talk – Chris Crutcher• Feed – M.T. Anderson


ReligionArmageddon Summer – Jane Yolen & Bruce Coville

Godless – Pete Hautman

Leaving Fishers – Margaret Peterson Haddix

Blind Faith - Ellen Wittlinger


International LiteratureHalinka and Malka – Mirjam Pressler

True Confessions of a Heatless Girl – Martha Brooks

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope – Beverly Naidoo

Why multicultural literature?

If children never see themselves reflected in literature, they receive the message that they are not important to society.

If children never see other cultures in books, they get the message that people with differing worldviews are not valuable.


If we understand people of other cultures and other nations, it is difficult to view them as being “on the other side” in times of conflict.


Illuminates similarities of problems around the globe while demonstrating the value of difference as well

Universal themes:Fear, love, grief, faith, injustice, peer relationships, independence, family relationships, coming-of-age


Approximately 12% of children’s books published in the US are by or about people of color (2008 statistics)

Less than 1% of children’s books published in the US have been translated from another language / culture(Children’s Cooperative Book Center)


Statistics represent only quantity, not quality or authenticity

(Children’s Cooperative Book Center)


In 2007-2008, 44.2% of all public school students were students of color (National Center for Education Statistics)

In 2004, more than 88% of public school teachers were White(National Center for Education Statistics)

Evaluating Multicultural Literature

“The best books offer an experience that is more like looking through a window as light slowly darkens. At first one sees clearly through the window into another’s world – but gradually, as the light fades, one’s own image becomes reflected too.”(Lee Galda)


Look for books that:

avoid / challenge stereotypes

portray the values and the cultural group in an authentic way

use language that reflects cultural group usage


Look for books that:

validate reader’s experiences while also broadening vision and inviting reflection

Cultural Authenticity

What is cultural authenticity?

Who decides?

Why does this matter?

Consider …

Insider / outsider status for author and illustrator

Whose understanding is presented?

Variation of experience, beliefs, and values within cultures

Cultural Appropriation

Was the author careful to research and acknowledge the help of insiders?

Who gets published? What is the publisher’s responsibility?

Show examples of what you consider to be authentic and inauthentic

Explore stereotypes in those examples

Reveal the complexities of the issue

How can teachers address authenticity and accuracy?


Question – be a critical reader

Acknowledge that you can’t know everything

Ask insiders for input on cultural nuances


Use good review sources

Look at cultural award winners

Use trusted authors


Consider the artistic quality of the writing as well as the cultural quality

Is it good literature if it is culturally accurate but artistically poor?


Worry less about individual books and more about the diversity of the entire collection

Balance the differences and similarities

Multicultural Book Awards

Américas Award

presented annually for outstanding books, written in English or Spanish, that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States.


Mildred L.

Batchelder Award

presented annually to the publisher of the most outstanding children’s book originally published in another language and later translated into English and published in the United States


Pura Belpré Award

presented biennially to a Latino/Latina author and illustrator whose work best celebrates the Latino cultural experience


Coretta Scott

King Award

presented annually for the most outstanding book by an African American author and by an African American illustrator


Jane Addams Children’s Book Award

presented annually by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Jane Addams Peace Association to the children's book that most effectively promotes the cause of peace, social justice and world community


Asian Pacific American Award for Literature

for outstanding books by and about Asian Pacific Americans

Children’s Africana Book Awards

presented to the authors and illustrators of the best

children's books about Africa


Carter G. Woodson Book Awards

presented by the National Council for the Social Studies for the most distinguished social science books depicting ethnicity in the United States

Diversity in Adolescent Literature Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009 Adapted from Beth...

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