There is a huge on-going debate on whether Young adult books have/ are becoming to dark. Several different authors and journalists and people online have voiced their opinions.
In this article Tanith Carey explained her opinion on YA fiction, and how "morbid" and disturbing young adult books are. She uses examples of these kinds of books in the article, as well as quotes from authors, children's books experts and psychologists. Carey explains both sides and tells the reader her claim and also the counter claim, or what people on the opposing "side" of the debate think and feel.
I think that in this article, Tanith Carey had great techniques and thought-provoking lines. She used words that in a way insult the authors and publishers of young adult books, as well as condescending lines. I believe that she does this to make the readers agree with her and her claim, and totally disagree with other people's ideas that aren't the same as hers.
When Carey introduced the people she was quoting in the article she used certain lines and words that may make readers trust some people's opinions, and not believe in what other people's opinions are. For example, when she is introducing someone who is also concerned that young adult literature has become too dark, she says "Children's book expert Amanda Craig", "Julie Elman, of the university of Missouri, who has studied teen sick-lit" and "Child psychologist Emma Citron". She makes these people sound trusworthy, smart, and like they are qualified to know what is "too dark" for teenagers. And this can cause readers to believe in their opinions.
However, when she introduced someone who doesn't agree with her, that young adult literature is too dark, she makes them sound less reliable. She says "Phil Earle, 39, author of Saving Daisy, in which the main character self-harms." This makes Phil Earle sound like just one of the the author's who writes these "morbid" novels that harm teenagers, by maybe causing them to go back to their old habits of self-harm or start to self-harm.
I believe that young adult literature is not too dark. I agree with what Phil Earle said about how these books can help young people going through tough times not feel alone. And that these novels can offer a sense of hope to these teenagers
I love your voice and tone, although you are very blunt with your opinion and it begins to show through toward the beginning of your response. I like how you used the format that we learned in class but also incorporated your own layout to fit your writing. This really helps the reader understand your ideas because they are organized so well. What do you think Earle was trying to do when he makes people seem certain ways besides for agree with the quoted peoples' opinions? What was the format of the piece?
ReplyDeleteThank you. And I think that when the author (Carey) made the people he quoted seem certain ways he was trying to convince and show the reader his opinion and why we, the readers, should also think YA literature is too dark. He does this by showing that other people who are reliable, and know a lot about teens and YA literature, have a similar opinion to him. He was also, in a way, presenting the two different sides of the argument more clearly by explaining opinions of both sides.
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