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Cover of Adaptation in Young Adult Novels

Adaptation in Young Adult Novels

by Dana E. Lawrence

Book Details

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Published:2020-09-03
Pages:255
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

Adaptation in Young Adult Novels argues that adapting classic and canonical literature and historical places engages young adult readers with their cultural past and encourages them to see how that past can be rewritten. The textual afterlives of classic texts raise questions for new readers: What can be changed? What benefits from change? How can you, too, be agents of change? The contributors to this volume draw on a wide range of contemporary novels – from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series

Our Review

This insightful literary analysis explores how contemporary young adult authors are reimagining classic literature and historical settings to engage modern readers with their cultural heritage. Drawing from popular series like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books and other notable YA adaptations, the book demonstrates how these reworkings bridge generational gaps while encouraging critical thinking about tradition and transformation. The contributors examine how updated narratives make timeless themes accessible to today's youth without diluting their complexity, creating meaningful connections between past and present storytelling traditions.

What distinguishes this critical work is its focus on empowering young readers to become active participants in literary interpretation rather than passive consumers. By analyzing how adaptations question what elements benefit from modernization and what core themes endure, the book provides valuable frameworks for understanding narrative evolution across generations. Teen readers and educators alike will appreciate how these insights reveal the dynamic nature of storytelling and inspire readers to consider their own role in reshaping cultural narratives for future audiences.

Themes

Literary Criticism

Subjects

Literary Criticism