And scene…

At the beginning of the semester I started a forum and created a poll on Quizilla.com about problem novels.  The purpose was to gather data from young people, as I know they visit the site often, and gather their opinions about problem novels.  It was to be my Coup de Grâce for those that thought problem novels were bad.  Well, the project failed miserably.

The forum ran easily enough at first.  I simply started a thread asking, “What do you think about problem novels?”  I got a few responses and then I began to ask a few more probing questions like, “Have you read any in school?  What books do you read in school? etc.”  They could smell the academia from a mile a way and ran for the hills.

The poll wasn’t much of a success either.  My goal was to see how much teens read problem novels, if they think they help and parent or teacher opinions of them.  I just couldn’t compete with polls involving the future of American Idol.

However, collecting the few paltry research results as well as my own personal digging, I did come up with some conclusions.  Teens like problem novels and teens don’t like problem novels.  Some teens really like them because they deal with real issues and help them negotiate through the world by reading about similar people with similar issues.  Some teens don’t like them because they feel they are too “preachy,” and their only purpose is to be used as propaganda to scare kids away from drugs and sex.  I also got a few people saying that they didn’t like the idea of some “old” person writing about teen issues like they actual knew about them.  I think that’s a valid point, but I could easily say I don’t like reading books with female characters written by male authors.

Parents and teachers are split on these books too.  Some schools are implimenting some into the curriculum while some are afraid they will corrupt the future of America.  In my poll I asked, “Have you ever gotten in touble for reading a problem novel?”  I gave a couple options and one student answered “yes.”  I do notice that on many of the books there is a little age disclaimer.  Many say 11 and up.

As far as my meager poll results, everyone that took the poll listed that friends were the person they talked to when they had problems.  Well, no surprise there.  But, when teens are dealing with serious issues, like rape, depression or violence, they need to get help.  Help that friends can’t provide.  I think there is a great disservice in the “counseling” division of our schools.  They don’t do much.  At least none of mine did.  I saw every counselor and social worker at my school from elementary through high school.  Some I saw on my own accord and some pulled me into their office.  Not one did a thing for me.  Oh, wait, one did say to me, “If you think you’re going to cry, just blink real hard.”  I’m not joking.  In my quest of “what am I going to do with the rest of my life,” I was neck and neck between English Ed and School Psychologist.  I understand the need for available and helpful resources in the school system.  It took me almost a year to finally pick a career path and obviously I chose the English route.  I did this for two reasons; I love books and I can still help kids being a teacher.  Even more so since I actually get to see students on a regular basis.  Plus I get to deliver the gift of literature to their fertile little minds.

But, I digress.  The idea of problem novels appeals to both the english teacher in me as well as the psychologist.  I think they can be very usefully not only on a personal level, but also when used in the classroom.  The social issues can be so attainable and internalized that they helps students understand the same themes in the classical cannon.

All in all I think Kevin said it best when he said after hearing the Smack podcast, “So many people think problem novels glorify things like drug use.  There was nothing glorifying about that.”

I have had a blast reading all these YA books.  Ideally, I would like to keep this blog updated.  I also want to continue reading YA books.  But, I know that things will cool down for a bit.  I still have a lot of the “classic canon” to conquere yet.  And one of these days I will read Ulysses whether my brain likes it or not.  But, I take comfort in knowing that after draging my brain through Naked Lunch, I will be able to find solitude in a YA book.  Maybe I will find one about a girl reading the world’s most obscure book and how she refuses to let some non-sensical jargon get the best of her.