| Abstrakt: |
Young adult literature (YAL) is a relatively new and developing field both as an art form and as an educational tool. Although it has grown in popularity and recognition over the past 50 years, YAL still struggles for academic legitimacy. To raise its status, scholars argue that research should focus more on understanding student learning outcomes rather than textual analysis. By examining how YAL affects student engagement and understanding within the classroom, educators and researchers can demonstrate its value as a meaningful subject within educational research. Additionally, as the body of high-quality YAL develops, there is significant potential for professional development for educators, allowing them to connect with adolescent experiences and concerns. This article encourages schools to implement book review programs that use YAL to foster conversation around important topics such as body image, relational aggression, and sexual identity. Such discussions deepen teachers' empathy and insight into the challenges facing today's adolescents and foster an environment where students feel understood and supported. By embracing YAL not only as literature, but as a tool for understanding adolescent development, academic institutions can further legitimize its place in education and in the classroom. YAL has evolved to include contemporary themes such as technology, social media and online interactions that resonate with today's teenagers. Since the 1990s, YAL has increasingly incorporated computers, the Internet and digital communication into its storylines, reflecting the changing ways young people communicate and connect. Interestingly, many of these novels mix digital themes with the supernatural, including ghosts and otherworldly figures, underscoring the complexity of online relationships. The "ghost" in cyberspace often symbolizes the twin desires for both freedoms from physical limitations and the need for real, embodied connections. These supernatural elements are seen metaphorically, capturing the tension between distorted digital communication and the desire for real human connections. Although dystopian undertones sometimes accompany these stories, YAL is often optimistic, portraying technology as a powerful tool for inclusiveness, tolerance, and fostering community. This optimistic outlook on technology, despite its challenges, holds that digital communication has the potential to create positive relationships and includes spaces that reflect and embrace the diversity of modern adolescent experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
