Defending the Right to Read: Reality Literature for Teens and Tweens 7th National Conference of African American Librarians Birmingham, Alabama Sheraton Conference Center, Meeting Room D August 6, 2010 Presented by: Keisha Garnett Tamela Chambers K.C. Boyd

What is Reality Fiction?

What is Street Literature? Who defines it? What are the common labels?

Why do ‘tweens’ and ‘teens’ love it, why do some librarians loathe it?

Librarians Poor editing Is it really fiction/literature? Books are not returned to the library Public school librarians fear a book challenge According to the critics, the students should be reading the classics Librarians vs. Tweens/Teens Tweens/Teens The students can directly relate to the characters and empathize with their struggles. Avid readers that are looking for a challenge enjoy reading Street Lit. The stories are cautionary tales that can help students solve their problems. Some students are more mature than others and can handle the content.

Why should Street Literature be promoted, how should it be promoted and how can librarians defend it?

Library Bill of Rights

Schools must has a written selection and reconsideration policy that addresses written challenges to books.

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 Pattee Assistant Professor Graduate School of Library Science Simmons College

Six Steps to Meeting Urban Fiction Readers Needs by Megan Honig Respect the genre 2.Provide Satisfying Alternates 3.Provide Access 4.Collect Street Lit. books 5.Use Street Lit. in Library Programs 6.Broaden your collection

Promoting Street Literature? 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. Timeless themes such as peer pressure, violence, pregnancy, divorce, drugs and sex appear in the stories Students should be exposed to a variety of genres

Good Street Literature titles for tweens/teens?

Keshia Garnett Set in Atlanta and targeted to readers of such series as the Gossip Girl and The Clique novels, HOTLANTA introduces the beautiful and wealthy Duke twins, Sydney and Lauren—who, despite their identical appearance, couldn’t be more different. While Sydney does her part to save the world and conquer the Ivy League, Lauren dreams of being the next Beyoncè. HOTLANTA is filled with all of the drama of teen life, set against Atlanta’s most fashion-forward and privileged residents The Bluford Series is a collection of FIFTEEN young adult novels that focus on the lives of a group of high school students and their families. The series draws its name from the school which many of the characters attend: Bluford High, named after Guion "Guy" Bluford, America's first black astronaut. Set in contemporary urban America, each novel addresses complex topics relevant to the lives of today's students: family, friendship, trust, isolation, violence, and peer pressure, to name a few. In addition, the books feature male and female characters and include elements from many literary genres, such as mystery, suspense, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. In other words, the Bluford Series offers something for almost every reader.

Tamela Chambers Tyrell by Coe Booth

Tamela Chambers Kendra by Coe Booth

Tamela Chambers Hot Girls by Dream Jordan

K.C. Boyd The Keisha’s Drama Series by Earl Sewell

K.C. Boyd Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz