Literature in adolescents’ world

by Paola Vellere

Is literature out of fashion in the adolescents´ world? Could classics stir adolescents’ interest in the technology era? It is common knowledge that adolescents read less and less (at least they do not read from books). They may read short texts from the Internet or television if they are really interested in a particular matter. But what would happen if they come up against a really literary classic text as “Dead Men Working In The Cane Fields” which does not belong to their generation. This classic short story of horror and fantasy could be a matter of interest of any adolescent because fantasy allows them to dive in a parallel universe.

According to Donelson and Nilsen Young Adult Literature (YAL) is defined as “anything that readers between the approximate ages of twelve and twenty choose to read either for leisure reading or to fill school assignments” . Following this idea “Dead Men Working In The Cane Fields” could be classified as a YAL piecework. This YAL classic short story dating back to the 1900s could have been interesting for adolescents in those days just as it is for adolescents nowadays. Thus, time is not a matter. Throughout time, adolescents have been sharing the same characteristics as well as likes and dislikes. Fantasy is the driving force which leads them to get involved in this story. Therefore, literature is timeless as well as adolescents´ characteristics are timeless too. Adolescents need to identify with their partners; they have a voracious appetite for life and for answers about their own identity. Many of these needs are met through literature where the key themes are developed. Contrary to adults, young people escape from reality easily and they also enjoy it. The unreal world of zombies, wolves and vampires that this YAL short story provides is a suitable journey to the imagination world, a journey to keep adolescents far away from their controversial life.

In terms of adolescents´ fashionable life, classics are never out of fashion since they gather the answers they are looking for and fulfil their expectations. YAL literature consists of any kind of literary text (contemporary works as well as classics) provided that young adults feel like reading them. Under the line of the authors Donelson and Nilsen “Dead Men Working In The Cane Fields” is a clear example of YAL.