What are pre-teens reading?

1. Discovering Urban Fiction for Middle School StudentsCompiled by:K.C. Boyd, MLSArea Library CoordinatorDepartment of Libraries and Information ServicesChicago Public Schools

2. What are pre-teens reading?

3. What is Urban Fiction? Urban Fiction is a popular yet controversial genre especially among young African-American and Hispanic patrons. The genre features characters living in large urban cities that are usually involved in drug dealing, gang violence, and/or prostitution. http://www.libsuccess.org/Urban_Fiction/

4. What is Urban Fiction? Urban Fiction is also identified as: Urban Literature Gangster Literature Ghetto Literature Hip Hop Literature Street Fiction Street Literature

5. What Are Some of the Characteristics of Urban Fiction

6. Characteristics of Urban Fiction • Often self-published or published by small, independent presses. • Generally published in a trade paperback format • Some are poorly edited and have weak storylines • Often not reviewed in mainstream publications • Some authors are or have served time in jail/prison • http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

7. Characteristics of Urban Fiction cont. • The genre is made up of young, first-time African-American authors. • Stories take place in large urban cities such as Richmond, VA, Chicago, IL, New York , Washington, D.C. and Newark, New Jersey. • Gritty and includes plenty of sex, drugs, and violence. Drug dealing, or “the game”, is a common theme. • Written in the language of the streets, with plenty of slang and four-letter words. • http://teenlibrarian.com/

8. Heavy references are made to designer clothing, jewelry and expensive cars. Female characters are often shallow and self-centered at the beginning, but learn valuable lessons through facing hardships. Characters may profit from drug dealing, enjoying their wealth, but eventually most pay the price. Many titles end in tragedy – violent deaths, prison. The cover art often feature photos of scantily clad women, men with guns, expensive cars, etc. http://teenlibrarian.com/ Characteristics of Urban Fiction cont.

9. The Pioneers of Urban Fiction

10. Pioneers of Urban Fiction Claude Brown 1965

11. Pioneers of Urban Fiction Robert “Iceberg Slim” Beck 1969

12. Pioneers of Urban Fiction Donald Goines 1971

13. Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular?

14. Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular? • The stories reflect a world that many young readers can relate to. • The stories give the reader an opportunity to escape their own difficult circumstance. • The stories are fast paced filled with taboo subjects such as sex, drugs and violence.

15. Why Is Urban FictionSo Popular? • Urban Fiction books are shared between family members. • Some school districts have integrated books from the genre into the school curriculum.

16. Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular? Universal themes/messages from rap/hip-hop music are present.

17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI2eLGZaGNY

18. Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular? Influence of Recording Artists • Tupac Shakur • 1999

19. Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular? Influence of Recording Artists • Ashanti • 2002

20. Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular? Influence of Recording Artists • Alicia Keys • 2005

21. Why Is Urban Fiction So Popular? Influence of Television • HBO’s The Wire • 2002-2008

22. What Are the Positive and Negative Characteristics of Urban Fiction?

23. Positive The stories are ‘cautionary tales’ – the overall messages conveyed in these stories are positive. Gets an audience of reluctant readers excited about reading Encourages young people to become authors. Gives hope to young people who need help.

24. Negative Reinforces stereotypes and encourages irresponsible behavior. Promotion of sex, drugs and violence. Negative references to women. Heavily commercialized. Strong use of explicit language.

25. Popular Adult Urban Fiction Authors

26. The Top Three Male and Female Adult Urban Fiction Authors

27. http://www.omartyree.com/

28. http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan

29. http://us.macmillan.com/author/shannonholmes

30. http://www.sistersouljah.com/

31. http://teriwoodspublishing.com/site.html http://www.bookvideos.tv/videoid/1033

32. http://www.nikkiturner.com/

33. Popular Adult Urban Fiction Authors Wahida Clark Kashamba Williams Deja King Omar Tyree Keisha Irving Zane Relentless Aaron Kiki Swinson Teri Woods Lisa Lennox Quentin Carter Treasure Hernandez Ashley JaQuavis Tu-Shonda Whitaker Ashley Antionette Sapphire Darrell Debrew Jihad Deborah Mayer Victor L. Marter Leo Sullivan Shavonn Moore

34. Critics of Urban Fiction

35. Dr. Gloria Wade GaylesIndependent Scholars ProgramSpelman College Urban fiction threw out African American family values and rituals, and it makes older people in the community invisible. There are exceptions, but most of this fiction is of the very brief now. It's not born to be read ten years from now. There are no James Baldwins, no Ralph Ellisons, no Toni Morrisons, no Ernest Gaineses. What is this genre‘s value, other than to make money?

36. Meeting the Needs of Your Students

37. Make sure your school has a written selection and reconsideration policy that addresses written challenges to books. If you don’t, you’re totally vulnerable. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6632974.html

38. Chicago Public SchoolsCollection Development Policy for School Libraries Librarians should make purchasing decisions based on their knowledge of the following: Students Communities Collection needs Other criteria set forth in the CPS Collection Development Policy for School Librarians

39. A Dirty Little Secret: Self-CensorshipSelf-censorship is rampant and lethalBy Debra Lau WhelanSchool Library Journal, 2/1/2009

40. Street Fight: Welcome to the World of Urban LitTeens love it. Some librarians loathe it. Welcome to the world of urban lit.By Amy PatteeSchool Library Journal, 7/1/2008

41. Do our collections reflect the needs and tastes of the young people we serve? Or do they just reflect our own literary preferences? Are we willing to challenge ourselves professionally and to open up to new forms of literary expression? Or are we set in our ways? As librarians who are committed to serving teens, it’s essential to embrace urban street lit—even if its stories occasionally clash with our values. Amy Pattee Assistant Professor Graduate School of Library Science Simmons College

42. Dr. Sandra Hughes-Hassell Director of the School Library Media Program University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Urban Teens in the Library: Research and Practice by Dr. Sandra Hughes-Hassell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzaXRLWLTkI 6:17- 8:53

43. Takin’ it to the Street: Teens and Street LitBy Megan HonigVoice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), August, 2008

44. Six Steps to Meeting Urban Fiction Readers Needsby Megan Honighttp://pdfs.voya.com/Vo/yaT/VoyaTakinItToTheStreets.pdf • Respect the genre • Provide Satisfying Alternates • Provide Access • Collect Urban Fiction books • Use Urban Fiction in Library Programs • Broaden your collection

45. Popular Urban Fiction Novels And Series

46. * Appeared on the 2008 Mayor Daley’s Book Club Choice List

48. Anne Schraff and Paul Langan The Bluford Series is a collection of 15 novels that focus on the lives of a group of high school students and their families. Each novel addresses complex topics relevant to the lives of today's students: family, friendship, trust, violence, and peer pressure.