Call for Manuscripts

Winter 2012 Theme: Reading YAL’s Past, Writing YAL’s Future

Jean Rhys, West Indian novelist, argued that reading “makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.” Young adult literature helps readers both see themselves and see themselves differently. The theme of this issue asks us to consider the influences of young adult literature since Hinton’s pivotal novel The Outsiders . What was young adult literature? What is it now? What could it be like in the future? What are the books in the canon of YAL that stand the test of time? What are the possible forms and formats for future YAL novels? Who are the dominant authors in YAL’s past? Its present? Its future? This theme is meant to be open to interpretation, and we welcome manuscripts addressing pedagogy as well as theoretical concerns. General submissions are also welcome. Submission deadline: July 1, 2011.

Summer 2012 Theme: Exploring Identity and Identities in Young Adult Literature

James Baldwin argues that all “roles are dangerous” and that the “world tends to trap you in the role you play.” Too often, teens feel trapped by the role they think they must play. The theme of this issue asks us to consider the influences and intersections of race, class, gender, culture, and sexual identity in young adult literature. What roles do adolescents feel trapped in or empowered by? How are issues of race, class, gender, culture, and sexual identity explored or challenged in YAL? Who is silenced or marginalized by an aspect of their identity? Which novels help students explore or try on different identities? This theme is meant to be open to interpretation, and we welcome manuscripts addressing pedagogy as well as theoretical concerns. General submissions are also welcome. Submission deadline: November 1, 2011.

New Section

Got a story about young adult literature you’d like to share? We are starting a new section featuring brief vignettes (no more than 300 words) from practicing teachers and librarians who would like to share their interactions with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators around YA literature.