Life Is Tough: Guys, Growing Up, and Young Adult Literature

Much has been written about the fact that teenage boys do not like to read, but reading is key to academic success. Sports, video games, television, computers, and movies draw boys away from time that could be spent reading. Young adult males need to be made aware of novels that can help them to navigate their coming-of-age. They need to know that they are not alone. In order to provide librarians, educators, and parents with the information they need to recognize the different kinds of young adult fiction available for boys, this book delineates the types of male protagonists found in the various genres of contemporary young adult fiction. Showing how these fictional characters can help teenage boys on their journey to adulthood, novels are examined thematically, based on adolescent issues such as coming-of-age, sexuality, and making choices. These books can then be suggested to young menas aids in navigating adolescence, pleasure (or free reading assignments) reading, and tools to imporve literacy. The annotated bibliographies are helpful to young adults looking for a good read.