Am I the only one who has a problem with the YA lit for "Urban Teens" (Street Lit). Just look at some of the book covers on that page http://phatfiction.wikispaces.com/ It drives me crazy that most of the books aimed at African-American kids deal with crime, drugs, gangs, pregnancy ... so much of mainstream lit is "escapist entertainment" while the books for the urban market are "a gritty slice of what it's like to live in the hood." Why can't they "escape" as well? Personally I rather my kids read Percy Jackson.
Jerry: I agree with your comments. Yet, I have students who will read those books that are familiar to them. I don't steer them to Percy Jackson (which is much too "juvenile" for their tastes) but I do steer them to the Bluford series which tells stories realistic enough for my students ("This is a true story, isn't it?") but has positive characters and themes. It doesn't hurt that they cost only $1 each, come with teacher guides (although I don't "teach" them much), and never stay on my library shelf because students whip through them and recommend them to peers.
William Zimmerman
MakeBeliefsComix.com has published a special free printable for Women's History Month at http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Printables/print.php?category=Featu...
It asks: Imagine that you could talk with any woman in history whom you admire. Who would that be and what would you say to her.
You are welcome to print it out and also pin it on your Pinterest page. Hope you will share with your students.
Mar 12, 2013
Jerry Craft
Am I the only one who has a problem with the YA lit for "Urban Teens" (Street Lit). Just look at some of the book covers on that page http://phatfiction.wikispaces.com/ It drives me crazy that most of the books aimed at African-American kids deal with crime, drugs, gangs, pregnancy ... so much of mainstream lit is "escapist entertainment" while the books for the urban market are "a gritty slice of what it's like to live in the hood." Why can't they "escape" as well? Personally I rather my kids read Percy Jackson.
Dec 13, 2013
Shirley Durr
Jerry: I agree with your comments. Yet, I have students who will read those books that are familiar to them. I don't steer them to Percy Jackson (which is much too "juvenile" for their tastes) but I do steer them to the Bluford series which tells stories realistic enough for my students ("This is a true story, isn't it?") but has positive characters and themes. It doesn't hurt that they cost only $1 each, come with teacher guides (although I don't "teach" them much), and never stay on my library shelf because students whip through them and recommend them to peers.
Dec 13, 2013