Voices and Choices of Keen YA Readers, and What Creators Think

With all the attention on literacy and attracting boys to books, one group of young people is neglected by researchers: keen readers. This reader- centred study of Australian high school students, who read novels for pleasure, shines some light on this previously-ignored group. Writers'' and publishers'' views about the Young Adult market are considered in light of statements by these young people, whose sophisticated understanding of their leisure reading experiences included what they liked reading, how they found out about books, what made them choose one over another and where they obtained them. Adult power operates at every level of young adults'' lives, including the publishing, promotion and availability of their literature. Recognising that these readers - the neo-consumers of the future - perform vital roles as buyers, promoters, critics, book-providers and book-borrowers begins to redress the imbalance. This qualitative research identifies key considerations for writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians and teachers - in fact, anyone who cares about the future of publishing and connecting young people with books.

Autorentext

Sue Page, PhD, a former journalist, teaches children's literature and creative writing at the University of South Australia. She was awarded her PhD in Communication from the University of Canberra. Her key research interest is the representation of conflict and the Holocaust in fiction for young people.