Inclusive Young Adult Fiction : Authors of Colour in the United Kingdom

This book examines ‘diversity’, or the lack thereof, in young adult fiction (YA) publishing. It focuses on cultural hegemony in the United Kingdom and explores how literary culture aimed at young adults reproduces and perpetuates ‘racial’ and ethnic cultural hierarchies. Diversity is described by the We Need Diverse Books project as ‘all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities’. This study focuses on people of colour. While previous studies have looked at the representation of ethnic minorities in books for children and young adults, this book examines the experiences of ‘own voice’ cultural producers that create a counter-narrative. Specifically, this book will investigate the output and experiences of British young adult fiction authors of colour (BAME authors) published in the UK during the period 2006-2016, drawing upon semi-structured interviews with a sample of authors. This text examines 'diversity', or the lack thereof, in young adult fiction (YA) publishing. It focuses on cultural hegemony in the United Kingdom and explores how literary culture aimed at young adults reproduces and perpetuates 'racial' and ethnic cultural hierarchies. Diversity is described by the We Need Diverse Books project as 'all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of colour, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities'. This study focuses on people of colour. While previous studies have looked at the representation of ethnic minorities in books for children and young adults, this book examines the experiences of 'own voice' cultural producers that create a counter-narrative Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction: ‘In an Era of Fear and Division, Fiction Plays a Vital Role in Dramatising Difference and Encouraging Empathy’ (Melanie Ramdarshan Bold)....Pages 1-20 A [Brief] History of Young Adult Fiction (YA) (Melanie Ramdarshan Bold)....Pages 21-44 The ‘Diversity’ Status Quo in the UK Publishing Industry (Melanie Ramdarshan Bold)....Pages 45-91 The Construction of (Racialised) Author and Reader Identities (Melanie Ramdarshan Bold)....Pages 93-144 Conclusion: ‘Until There Are Enough People Like Us in Books, Writing Books, in the Industry, It’s Not Going to Change’ (Melanie Ramdarshan Bold)....Pages 145-150 Back Matter ....Pages 151-157