The Readers' Advisory Guide to Street Literature

by Vanessa Irvin Morris, Teri Woods (Foreword by)

Overview

Street lit, also known as urban fiction, addresses with unflinching grit the concerns and problems of city living. Controversial in some quarters, it is also wildly popular, and this readers' advisory by street lit expert Morris * Sketches out the rich history of the genre, shwoing why it appeals so strongly to readers and providing a quick way for street lit novices to get up to speed * Covers a variety of subgenres in terms of scope, popularity, style, major authors and works, and suggestions for readers' advisory * Serves as a tool to improve library customer service by strengthening the relationship between library staff and patrons who may be new to using public librarise Emphasing an appreciation for street lit as a way to promote reading and library use, Morris' book helps library staff establish their "street cred" by giving them the information they need to provide knowledgeable guidance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838911105
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	10/21/2011
Series:	ALA Readers' Advisory Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	446,491
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Editorial Reviews

Morris sets out to help public and school librarians gain an understanding of the content and history of street lit. In her introduction, she reiterates the need for this literature wherever there is demand, whether the collection is for teen or adult readers. She calls for librarians to be both knowledgeable about the genre and to be readers of it, and advocates for them not to judge or dismiss its fans. Morris sets the record straight that street lit is about more than drug dealers and domestic violence. It focuses primarily on African American characters and is about life and survival in inner-city, lower-income areas. She compares the genre to other early survival-story novels such as Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders and Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities. She suggests series titles, individual titles, both fiction and nonfiction, and lists a few Christian teen-friendly series. The book discusses the appeal, characteristics, the structure of the genre, and mentions themes and subgenres, YA recommendations, and tips for selection and readers' advisory. In this comprehensive book, Morris provides excellent input to aid in collection development and includes a list of publishers.—Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ

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