Humor in Young Adult Literature: A Time to Laugh

by Walter Hogan

Overview

Celebrates the accomplishments of YA authors acclaimed for producing high-quality comedies, who have not yet been treated in a book-length bio-critical study. Simultaneously, it reminds readers that no matter how funny an author of fiction may be, if he shows off his wit in ways that fail to play a natural role in advancing his narrative, he is not writing good fiction. To demonstrate this, humorous passages are presented to illustrate the contribution a sense of humor can make to a work of fiction. The book is arranged topically to facilitate a comparison of distinctive treatments by various authors of adolescent life events, such as sibling rivalry, bullies, and first dates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810850729
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/20/2005
Series:	Studies in Young Adult Literature , #14
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Walter Hogan is an associate professor and librarian at Eastern Michigan University. He is the author of The Agony & the Eggplant: Daniel Pinkwater's Heroic Struggles in the Name of YA Literature.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Family Chapter 3 Friends Chapter 4 Bullies Chapter 5 Authorities and Adversaries Chapter 6 What's Wrong with Me? Chapter 7 Could This Be Love? Chapter 8 The Ironic Perspective Chapter 9 Coming of Age: Who Am I, and What Am I Going to Do about It? Part 10 Bibliography Part 11 Index Part 12 About the Author

What People are Saying About This

D. Jane Miller

An excellent selection tool, Humor in Young Adult Literature will prove invaluable for both English or language arts teachers, as well as public and school librarians. Recommended for professional collection.

Editorial Reviews

An excellent selection tool, Humor in Young Adult Literature will prove invaluable for both English or language arts teachers, as well as public and school librarians. Recommended for professional collection.

D. Jane Miller

Hogan's observations are commendable, and he makes generous use of examples from hundreds of YA novels; moreover, with the bibliographies at the ends of chapters, readers have at hand a nice collection of recommended YA 'readings lists.'

Choice Reviews

Hogan's resource is an energizing tour de force through the writings of dozens of YA authors...If readers are well familiar with this body of literature, they will feel as if they are enjoying a good laugh with old and dear friends. Those new to the field will find themselves frantically scribbling down titles and authors, as Hogan entices with summaries and snippets of seemingly countless books....as a reader's advisory tool, this book is invaluable, paving the way for many laughter-filled hours to come.

Silive.com

This professional resource is excellent for those who are looking to catch up on titles they may have missed, and can help build reader's advisory skills.

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

The frequent association of young adult literature with angst-ridden characters and complex seriousness is challenged in this through examination of the role of humor in works for adolescents. Young adult titles that tackle 'the challenges of adolescence with wit and humor' are in fact numerous, and this remarkably solid text offers a topical discussion of many such examples....Readers will come away from this solid offering with a firm appreciation of the richness of humorous offerings; those organized enough to take notes will also have an extensive list of books to read and recommend for a laugh.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Hogan...has ably taken on the formidable task of writing the first book-length exploration of humor in YA fiction....The book is especially helpful for looking at Joan Bauer, Eoin Colfer, Diana Wynne Jones, Ron Koertge, and Gordon Korman. It will be welcomed by juvenile librarians, teachers of YA literature, and possibly by librarians who will use it as a selection tool for their YA collections.

Booklist

Hogan (librarian, Eastern Michigan U.) sets out to prove that comedy in young adult literature can address the same concerns as books focusing on teen angst, heartache and serious life lessons. He takes his examples from the treatment of adolescent life events by authors such as Daniel Pinkwater, Vande Velde and Joan Bauer. The organization of the text follows the stages of adolescent development and ends with a discussion of the coming-of-age novel.

Reference and Research Book News

Hogan's observations are commendable, and he makes generous use of examples from hundreds of YA novels; moreover, with the bibliographies at the ends of chapters, readers have at hand a nice collection of recommended YA 'readings lists.'

Choice

An excellent selection tool, Humor in Young Adult Literature will prove invaluable for both English or language arts teachers, as well as public and school librarians. Recommended for professional collection.--D. Jane Miller, Brewer HS Librarian/WSISD Library Coordinator

Hogan's observations are commendable, and he makes generous use of examples from hundreds of YA novels; moreover, with the bibliographies at the ends of chapters, readers have at hand a nice collection of recommended YA 'readings lists.'--CHOICE

Hogan's resource is an energizing tour de force through the writings of dozens of YA authors...If readers are well familiar with this body of literature, they will feel as if they are enjoying a good laugh with old and dear friends. Those new to the field will find themselves frantically scribbling down titles and authors, as Hogan entices with summaries and snippets of seemingly countless books....as a reader's advisory tool, this book is invaluable, paving the way for many laughter-filled hours to come.--Silive.com

From the Publisher

Hogan's observations are commendable, and he makes generous use of examples from hundreds of YA novels; moreover, with the bibliographies at the ends of chapters, readers have at hand a nice collection of recommended YA 'readings lists.'

CHOICE

Hogan...has ably taken on the formidable task of writing the first book-length exploration of humor in YA fiction....The book is especially helpful for looking at Joan Bauer, Eoin Colfer, Diana Wynne Jones, Ron Koertge, and Gordon Korman. It will be welcomed by juvenile librarians, teachers of YA literature, and possibly by librarians who will use it as a selection tool for their YA collections.

Booklist

This professional resource is excellent for those who are looking to catch up on titles they may have missed, and can help build reader's advisory skills.

Young Adult Library Services

The frequent association of young adult literature with angst-ridden characters and complex seriousness is challenged in this through examination of the role of humor in works for adolescents. Young adult titles that tackle 'the challenges of adolescence with wit and humor' are in fact numerous, and this remarkably solid text offers a topical discussion of many such examples....Readers will come away from this solid offering with a firm appreciation of the richness of humorous offerings; those organized enough to take notes will also have an extensive list of books to read and recommend for a laugh.

Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books

An excellent resource for librarians wishing to balance their YA collections with humor. At a time when so many titles are about teenage angst, abuse, and tragedy, it is refreshing to have books that entertain as they enlighten. Hogan knows his subject well and pulls authors into multiple categories while discussing plots and characters. Following the stages of adolescent growth, chapters begin with family, friends, and bullies and move to "What's Wrong with Me?," love, and "Coming of Age." Chapters have extensive endnotes with bibliographical and explanatory information. Most of the titles date from the 1990s or later. Topics will help in preparing thematic displays and booktalks. Many excerpts are included with page numbers. Hogan reinforces the benefit of humor to handle "obstacles that need to be faced" or "lighten a troubled heart." The drawbacks are that the format is not conducive to easy scanning to locate specific titles and the index is inconsistent. Chris Crutcher is mentioned in several categories but indexed in only one while there are 15 references to Gordon Korman. Also, given the wide range of maturity levels in adolescence, it would have been helpful to rate titles for upper elementary, middle, or high school. Still, it's well worth taking the time to read the book, highlight sections, and take notes.-Kathy Lehman, Thomas Dale High School Library, Chester, VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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