Sex, Drugs, and Young Adults
An analysis of content creators' decisions regarding controversial books for adolescents
As a Master's student at Oxford Brookes University, it was required to produce a dissertation or major project that looks into major issues in publishing. I chose to look at young adult novels that have been successful in the U.S. and that have content that has caused controversy from significant parties.
My research had two main goals: first off, to prove that controversial content in young adult novels is worth more than just shock value, and that teens, despite what some parents think, can handle this type of content; furthermore, to determine if authors and editors have a moral responsibility to young readers - why do they include content that some parents and teachers consider inappropriate for young readers? Why do some authors find it necessary to go into vivid detail during sexual or violent passages, while other writers glaze over intimate or horrific scenes? And most importantly, should authors and editors be held accountable for the effects their stories have on young readers?
Many of the books I analyzed in my dissertation have either been listed in the American Library Association's Frequently Challenged Books list, have been challenged by parenting websites, or have caused a stir in the media. My research relied heavily on interviews with authors and editors of YA novels, as the main focus of the research is to look at the storytelling process from its creation, rather than from the view of the end user.
I interviewed two editors and two authors for my research:
Following is a chapter outline of my final dissertation:
If you have any questions regarding my topic or would like to view my final dissertation, please feel free to contact me.
My research had two main goals: first off, to prove that controversial content in young adult novels is worth more than just shock value, and that teens, despite what some parents think, can handle this type of content; furthermore, to determine if authors and editors have a moral responsibility to young readers - why do they include content that some parents and teachers consider inappropriate for young readers? Why do some authors find it necessary to go into vivid detail during sexual or violent passages, while other writers glaze over intimate or horrific scenes? And most importantly, should authors and editors be held accountable for the effects their stories have on young readers?
Many of the books I analyzed in my dissertation have either been listed in the American Library Association's Frequently Challenged Books list, have been challenged by parenting websites, or have caused a stir in the media. My research relied heavily on interviews with authors and editors of YA novels, as the main focus of the research is to look at the storytelling process from its creation, rather than from the view of the end user.
I interviewed two editors and two authors for my research:
- Sarah McCabe, Editorial Assistant at Simon Pulse
- Wendy McClure, Senior Editor at Alan Whitman & Company
- Melvin Burgess, author of Junk, Doing It and many other YA novels
- Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why, The Future of Us and What Light (out in October)
Following is a chapter outline of my final dissertation:
- Abstract
- Ackowledgements
- Introduction
- Terminology
- Literature Review
- Methodology
- Chapter 1 | Early Obscenity to YA Today
- Early days of 'obscenity'
- Pushing the boundaries
- 'Dangerous' trends
- What is acceptable in YA today?
- Chapter 2 | American Teenagers
- Fact or fiction?
- Generation Z
- Declining interests in reading
- What does this mean for publishing?
- Chapter 3 | Research Results
- Author and editor interviews
- Case Study | Thirteen Reasons Why
- Case Study | The Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Case Study | Looking for Alaska
- Case study analysis
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Primary Sources
- Secondary Sources
- Appendix A | Interview with Melvin Burgess
- Appendix B | Interview with Sarah McCabe
- Appendix C | Interview with Wendy McClure
- Appendix D | Interview with Jay Asher
If you have any questions regarding my topic or would like to view my final dissertation, please feel free to contact me.