On the Shoulders of Giants: Celebrating African American Authors of Young Adult Literature

(Paperback)

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This first book in a three volume series celebrates and examines the work of four African American authors of young adult literature. They are Virginia Hamilton, Julius Lester, Walter Dean Myers, and Mildred D. Taylor; they serve as the foundation of young adult literature and provide robust stories that center and illuminate African American youth. In addition, this volume also examines the role of the Coretta Scott King Award in promoting access and visibility to authors and illustrators who shine a spotlight on African American youth and society. The chapter authors--librarians and established and emerging scholars in the field of young adult literature--survey the work of Hamilton, Lester, Myers, or Taylor; their accolades; and how audiences initially responded to their work. Each chapter highlights a single work and discusses how it might be taught, providing pre, during, and post reading activities or, in some cases, individual, small group, or whole class activities. This volume is a resource for classroom teachers, teacher educators, reading specialists, librarians, and other educators who study, research, and read young adult literature. This first volume supplements studies in the foundations of African American authors of young adult literature and explorations of critical works by these authors.

Reviews

A brilliant tribute to the evolution of African American Young Adult Literature with practical resources! An essential read for every culturally relevant educator! -- Shimikqua Ellis, graduate instructor, University of Mississippi
Bickmore and Clarks offer a comprehensive and pragmatic guide for teachers who want to make their classroom libraries and their classroom ELA instruction more inclusive. Specifically, this edited volume engages the teaching of African American young adult literature in our classrooms in ways that celebrate difference and that challenge students to consider how race has shaped American society! I can think of no better contemporary text for teachers that introduces the world of African American young adult literature. -- Ernest Morrell, Coyle professor, Department of English, University of Notre Dame
Bickmore and Clark have assembled chapters that focus on the purpose and longevity of the Coretta Scott King Award which makes books like the ones discussed visible; examine important themes in AAYA; discussing how Hamilton, Myers, Lester, and Taylor produced work that liberated readers. -- KaaVonia Hinton, Old Dominion University, co-editor, Racial Dimensions of Life Writing
Bickmore and Clark celebrate African American writers who trail blazed a literary path for adolescent readers. Their instructional activities for individuals, groups, and whole-class instruction, invite teachers and scholars to be critical readers. With 23 years of classroom teaching and as a National Writing Project director, I cant wait to promote the authors in this book in my University classes, our summer institute, and with professional development workshops in K-12 schools. We need more resources like this! -- Dr. Bryan Ripley Crandall, Associate Professor; Director of the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University

Author Bio

Steven T. Bickmore is an Associate professor of English Education at UNLV and maintains a weekly academic blog on YA literature (http://www.yawednesday.com/). He is a past editor of The ALAN Review (2009-2014) and a founding editor of Study and Scrutiny: Research in Young Adult Literature.

Shanetia P. Clark, Ph.D. is an associate professor of literacy in the Department of Early and Elementary Education at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland. Her interests include young adult and children's literature, the exploration of aesthetic experiences within reading and writing classrooms, and writing pedagogy.