Promoting Young Adult Literature: The Other "Real" Literature

Getting students to read is a common problem in many secondary English language arts classrooms. Many teachers continue to assign only classic literature with novels that have been traditionally used in English language arts classrooms because of the belief in timelessness. There is evidence that the use of young adult literature in the secondary classroom can increase the chances that students will participate in satisfying literary experiences, read more, and become lifelong readers. In addition, young adult literature can better prepare students for the appreciation and understanding of classic literature.