Subteen, preteen, tween: Preadolescent literature inside and out

<p>This thesis focuses on the inside and outside of preadolescent literature, a subgenre that has been widely neglected by literary scholars, educators, and book publishers. In Chapter 2, I analyze the themes within The Giver by Lois Lowry and use the developmental stage of preadolescence to define a subgenre of preadolescence, which has distinct characteristics that separate it from the other subgenres of children’s literature. In Chapter 3, I focus on the outside of preadolescent literature, using the results of bookseller and author surveys and research on the history of the tween retail market to uncover the subtle messages being communicated to tween consumers. I consider the liminal position of novels for preadolescent readers within the larger book-producing world by studying the publishing, marketing, and store placement of these novels. By comparing the preadolescents’ roles as implied readers and active consumers, I explore why these readers and their novels are being overlooked and offer some possible solutions for amending this great problem.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Language and Literature

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Fort, Bethany

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ramona Caponegro
• Annette Wannamaker

• Children's book covers
• Children's book marketing
• Children's Literature
• Middle grade literature
• Preadolescent literature
• Tween
• Arts and Humanities
• Children's and Young Adult Literature
• English Language and Literature

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/815

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2194