Rodriguez Astacio, René M.
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Publication The challenges of engagement: The perks of young adult literature in the secondary English classroom(2016) Rodriguez Astacio, René M.; Irizarry Rodríguez, José M.; College of Arts and Sciences - Arts; Román Pérez, Rosa I.; Acosta Lugo, Maribel; Rivera, Rosita L.; Department of English; Valdés Diaz, DidierYoung adult literature is a literary genre whose popularity has risen over the years due to its portrayal of the teenage experience. Since the publication of the first young adult novel, writers have candidly portrayed real life issues pertinent to teenagers across decades. Paired with the marketing prowess of publishers who have contributed to the development of young adult literature, this genre has found its place in the lives of readers worldwide. Therefore, this research aims to argue that although a commercial genre young adult literature should be integrated in English secondary classrooms in Puerto Rico as means for students to not only comply in their academic expectations but also at an intrinsic personal level. Through the creation of lesson plans that incorporate reflective writing based on Louise Rosenblatt’s Readers Response Theory and Freire’s Critical Pedagogy, students will be able to make meaning of the issues the characters in young adult novels face, which are sometimes deemed inappropriate for discussion in a classroom setting. As such, this study presents a brief history of young adult literature as a genre and an analysis of three young adult novels: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Going Bovine. Additionally, this research presents the findings of an on-site study, which assesses students’ experience and stance regarding the inclusion of challenging topics and reflective writing in the classroom in order to assist in the creation of lesson plans.