YA Authors and Intellectual Freedom

By Terry Funk

CA 

Shoemaker, J. (2011). Nine YA authors talk about intellectual freedom. Voice Of Youth Advocates, 34(2), 122-129.

On one side of the intellectual freedom (IF) issue are readers. Do teens know that they are free to inquire about anything that interests them? Do they feel free to make such inquires?    

On the other side of IF are the authors of YA literature and for this article they respond to questions about their own experiences. In response to the question:  Have your books ever been challenged?  Several authors make the distinction between open challenge (which can be viewed as a badge of honor) and passive challenges – not acquiring their book(s). Sometimes the challenge comes from editors rather than the public who want the author to know that crossing certain boundaries (such as language, sex or drugs) will limit sales. One author had several invitations to visit schools rescinded when they found out more about his books. Using the F-word even once can change sales (especially when the audience is a middle school). The n-word is also an issue, even in Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. One author discussed not putting in anything too raw (content) although, reconsideration of a book is often focused on the choice of words rather than content, even when the content seems much more questionable. Another indicated that nothing is taboo in YA except perhaps intelligence – adults sometimes distrust an intelligent protagonist, such as the mathematical prodigy in John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines.

Evaluation: In the effort to write realistically for teens, authors may find that their works are not reaching the shelves for the intended audience because of the objections of adults who may disagree with the author about controversial topics or the language in the book. Some authors are more flexible about content and revision during the publication process while others are ready to defend their stand on issues or language as it is written. Also, librarians are choosing books that they believe have relatable characters and reflect the culture(s) of their students. While more publishers and authors are concerning themselves with diversity and including characters with many different backgrounds in their works, librarians may choose books that mirror students’ lives. Of course the case can also be made that we need books about all types of people not just those like us. Authors write for different reasons and their ideas of what is “best” is also varied. The discussion lends insight into the way different stakeholders play a part in deciding what teens are reading today.