In
January, a new National Representative of Young People’s Literature was
announced by the Children’s Book Council, the Library of Congress and the Every
Child a Reader foundation: Gene Luen Yang. This position was created “to raise
national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates
to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the
lives of young people,” according to its organizing bodies. This two-year
position was most recently filled by Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of WinnDixie. Other past ambassadors include Walter Dean Myers, Katherine Paterson,
and Jon Scieszka.
Unlike
the previous selections who were prose authors, Yang writes and illustrates
graphic novels (or comics) for kids and youth. This appointment reflects the
growing acceptance of graphic novels by the traditional literary world. As
someone who is a personal champion of the format, this validation of their relevance
and importance is very exciting! Yang’s books are excellent examples of how
graphic novels have been bridging this divide as they garner awards from both
the book and comic industries. American Born Chinese, published in 2006, is an
exploration of cultural identity and was a finalist for a National Book Award.
It won the Michael L. Printz Award and also received an Eisner Award, one of
the most prestigious honors in the comic book world. Since that time, he has
continued to produce critically acclaimed books like 2013’s Boxers &Saints, a fictionalized account of the Boxer Rebellion in China (also a
National Book Award finalist) and 2015’s Secret Coders, a juvenile graphic
novel mystery illustrated by Mike Holmes. Yang is also the current writer of DC
Comic’s Superman series.
Each
ambassador establishes a platform to promote while in the position, and Yang’s
is called Reading Without Walls. Developed with the book council and his
publisher First Second, this campaign hopes to encourage youth to read outside
of their comfort zones. Yang says, “Reading breaks down the walls that divide us. By reading, we
get to know people outside of our own communities. We gain knowledge others
don’t expect us to have. We discover new and surprising passions. Reading is
critical to our growth, both as individuals and as a society.” This platform
and message align closely with the current focus in the world of literature on
the importance of diversity and inclusion, as seen in the ever-growing
#WeNeedDiverseBooks movement. Yang recommends three ways to jump into reading without
walls: Firstly, read a book with someone on the cover who doesn’t look like you
or doesn’t live like you. Secondly, pick a book on a topic you find
intimidating. Yang suggests that new concepts can be taught using stories, as
in his own Secret Coders book which teaches children basic computer coding.
Finally, read a book in a different format. If you’ve only read prose, try a
graphic novel. If you’re strictly a comic reader, try something in prose or maybe
a hybrid novel.
Are
you ready to try Reading Without Walls? Yang suggests these personal favourites
for juvenile and teen readers: Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle, EsperanzaRising by Pam Munoz Ryan, El Deafo by Cece Bell, Ms Marvel by writer G. Willow
Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona, and The Last of the Sandwalkers by Jay Hosler.
You can find these suggestions and all of Yang’s own works in our collection at
TBPL.
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