Categories were developed inductively by the authors
These specific dimensions were selected to help answer the research question, What are the characteristics of YA books currently being published The categories genre, subject matter, and treatment of subject matter have long been used in content analyses in children’s and YA literature (see, for example, reviews by Beckett, 1997; Galda, Ash, & Cullinan, 2000; Galda & Cullinan, 1991) to understand publishing trends of particular eras, thus providing an indication of the “content” of books. Culture/ethnicity, religion, GLBTQ factors, and representation of disabilities Cartier Replica were included because of the significance of diversity in current discussions of literature and literacy education (Henderson & May, 2005; Lehr, 2008; Temple, Martinez, & Yokota, 2006).
The inclusion of point of view, writing style, and organization stemmed from impressions of a change in these dimensions of YA books over the past few years, impressions gained as a result of the authors’ wide reading and from published reviews of YA literature (sources such as Booklist, The ALAN Review, and www.bookspot.com). Noticeable to us was increasing experimentation with point of view, the inclusion of unique organizational features, and the embedding of digital communication technologies into narrative text. Therefore, to gauge the extent to which these features are characteristic of current YA literature, we included these dimensions to facilitate systematic analysis.
Categories were developed inductively by the authors, and once determined; definitions were adopted from respected textbooks Cartier Replica Watches in the field of YA literature. Definitions for genre categories were taken from Bucher and Manning’s (2006) Young Adult Literature: Exploration, Evaluation, and Appreciation; definitions for the culture/ethnicity and role of religion categories were adopted from Norton’s (2005) Multicultural Children’s Literature: Through the Eyes of Many Children; and definitions for point of view, writing devices, subject matter, and organization were developed from Lukens and Cline’s (1995) A Critical Handbook of Literature for Young Adults. Categories and their definitions were reviewed by the two recognized experts, and subsequent codlings and analyses were completed by the authors. We believe that the final categories represent the range of information depicted in current YA books and provide a solid basis for analysis.
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