I’ve read several YA books in the last couple of years, due to the fact that my next novel falls into that category. Agents and publishers all want what they call “comps,” or books that might be comparable to the manuscript you are submitting. Most of them are good books that I’ve often passed along to some young people I know.
This week I read another YA book that I think relates well to what I’m trying to communicate both in this blog and in my next book. The book is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Thomas tells the story of Starr Carter, a young African American teenager living in a poor black neighborhood. The people in the fancy suburban prep school she attends have no idea what her life is like outside school. Thomas grew up in a similar neighborhood as her central character did, so she can portray Starr realistically.
Most of us as teachers, principals, and other administrators know little of what happens in the lives of many of our students. Books like The Hate U Give help us to get a glimpse of the many different situations our students face. The central character faces the same challenges all teens face, but she faces them in the context of specific situations that many of us have never experienced. Thomas depicts them with humor, love, and compassion for the family that is trying so hard to make life better in the future. It is important that the school community be able to help young people navigate their teen years, regardless of where they live or the families that nourish them.
No comments:
Post a Comment