YA Wednesday: World History Through YA, Alternate History, Political YA Reads, Is Political Dystopian YA Bad for Teens

With the political conventions going on this week and next week, social gatherings are a lot more complicated. Coupled with the humidity, heat, and a drink or two, differences of opinion can rapidly escalate into shouting matches. Personally, I’m searching for some Adele songs as from that infamous Saturday Night Live episode to bring to the next family event, because we are way past the point of changing minds. But political and historical fiction can change minds.

Young adult fiction isn’t typically thought of as political but teens are just starting to figure out who they are and the stories they read can help shape who they become.

 

 

  • Sometimes looking at the past can help you understand the present. World History Through YA Fiction features young adult books that go from 336 BC all the way through the future.
  • If ‘what if’ scenarios keep you awake at night, check out Alternate History in Young Adult Fiction for books that feature ‘what if’ scenarios such as: what if there was no American Revolution or what if Hitler won the war?
  • Passionately held political opinions can drive us a little nuts, but they’re better than apathy. These 7 YA Reads That Will Sweep You Up in Politics feature teens who get caught up in some interesting political dramas.
  • Looking for more political YA novels? This blogger who just became old enough to vote shares Five Political YA Novels “to accompany this stranger-than-fiction election.”
  • Are Young Adult Novels Too Political? suggests that political themes in dystopian YA are boring to teens. Boring? Given how wildly popular this genre is, I wonder about that. Along the same lines, this pre-Brexit piece from The Guardian asks Why are YA books about politics always dystopian? and suggests that dystopian fiction may influence how young adults “perceive politics” in a negative way. Considering what some are calling the post-Brexit dystopia, the whole thing feels a bit ironic.

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