FSYALit Discussion Recap

8/18/2019 FSYALit Discussion Recap

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• To facilitate a discussion about the

ways various faiths are (or are not)represented in YA literature.

• To examine specic titles and createlists of titles that those wanting to

look for titles with diverserepresentations of faith can add totheir collections (or buy for the teensin their lives)

• To include a wide variety of voices onthe topic of the spiritual lives of teens

ro!ectgoals


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0ome parameters&

-e purposefully sought in our disclook beyond books that were specwritten by a faith based publisher.

5ondervan or Tyndale #ouse. #ow6oogle 78udaism and Teen 4iction9 and Teen 4iction91 you can nd listspublishing houses that specicallyniche.

;ur focus was on representation a

bigger publishing houses to discuswhich this aspect of teen life is incinto both contemporary and more

YA literature.

-e also actively sought the outsidparticipation of people who identi

member of a faith group to discussre resentation and titles in that fa


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-hat d

we me

by faith


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0ource& http&''www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu'enhance,your,wellbeing'purpose'spirituality'what,spirituality

4ait h1 /eligion and 0pir it ualit y =ean AiB er ent T hings t o AiB er ent eople

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spiritualityhttp://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spirituality


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-hao Teen

76ood young adult literaturecomes at a story with

unCinching honesty. #owelse can you honor the>uestions that teenagers

live@9 D %ryan %liss


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-hy@• 7-hen discussing the spiritual lives of teens the

%arna 6roup notes that1 7Teenagers areconsistently among the most religiously activeAmericans1 with nearly 6 out of every 10 teensengaged in some type of group spiritualactivity in a typical week .9

• EF of all decisions 7for 2hrist9 happens in theteenage years. This is a huge period of

investigation into and adoption of a personal beliefsystem.

• 7;n most of the measured criteria1 =ormon youthsG whose church runs daily high school religionclasses G were the most engaged in practicingtheir faith1 followed in order by evangelicalrotestants1 black rotestants1 mainline

rotestants1 2atholics and 8ews.9 (0ource& http&''www.nbcnews.com'id'H*IJ'ns'us news't'stud ,mo

https://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/403-how-teenagers-faith-practices-are-changinghttps://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/403-how-teenagers-faith-practices-are-changinghttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/7019023/ns/us_news/t/study-most-us-teens-serious-about-religion/#.VwPSq-ZvvYghttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/7019023/ns/us_news/t/study-most-us-teens-serious-about-religion/#.VwPSq-ZvvYghttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/7019023/ns/us_news/t/study-most-us-teens-serious-about-religion/#.VwPSq-ZvvYghttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/7019023/ns/us_news/t/study-most-us-teens-serious-about-religion/#.VwPSq-ZvvYghttps://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/403-how-teenagers-faith-practices-are-changinghttps://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/403-how-teenagers-faith-practices-are-changing


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According to avid %arrett et al1 editors of the NWorld Christian Encyclopedia: Acomparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 22001N there are *I ma!world religions which are subdivided into a total of H large religious groups1 anmany smaller ones. JO1 separate 2hristian groups have been identied in theworld. NOver half of them are independent churches that are not interested inlining !ith the "ig denominations#N (source&

http&''www.religioustolerance.org'worldrel.htm) T he T ak eaway

:f we want t o t r uly ser v e our t eens1 we

must r ecogniPehow many diB er ent f ait h sy st em

s t her e a

Additional resources&

/esearch 0tatistics on /eligious and ubife ro!ect

http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm#wcehttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://religions.pewforum.org/reportshttp://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm#wce


10/28http&''www.pewforum.org'*+'**'J'u,s,

% e c a u s

e y o u

g o t t a

h a v e

f a i t h @• /eligion slightly more

important for E Th gradersthan *th graders

• /eligion is more

important among femaleadolescents than amongmale adolescents.

• /eligion is moreimportant among blackhigh school students thanamong white high schoolstudents.

0ource&http&''www.childtrends.org'wp,content'uplo, , ,

http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Spirituality-and-Religiosity-Among-Youth.pdfhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Spirituality-and-Religiosity-Among-Youth.pdfhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Spirituality-and-Religiosity-Among-Youth.pdfhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Spirituality-and-Religiosity-Among-Youth.pdf


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-h

About%ook7The worst thing a storyabout religion can do is

turn honest >uestions into

simple plot pieces. 7 D%ryan %liss


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)

*))))

())))

J))))

O))))

+))))

R))))

H))))

Marious /eligions 0earched in -orld

0%3%

70%

3%

9%

15%

Holdings

Atheism %uddhism 2hristianity#induism :slam 8udaism

0earch Terms&atheism ;/ atheist ;/ agnosticism ;/agnostic& I books

buddhism ;/ buddhist& 1JH2hristianity (without NchristianN because itsearches for the name1 also)& RR1*ERhinduism ;/ hindu& J1I*islam ;/ muslim& E1HO 8udaism ;/ 8ewish& *O1O*

hats ;ut There@-e searched -orldcat to se

books were being publi 8uvenile'Youth 0ervices mark

we found.


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hat if :m an Atheist@Seidman notes thatadult Americans ha(so 3 million !lus self-declared atheisu! less than 3% of !o!ulation'


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%uddhism This one was the hardest ones for us1 repeated caguest blogger came up empty and searches fountitles

A ca !udge


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2atholici

sm

7A power,hungry1 corrupt priest is astereotype1 no >uestion. :s there

corruption in the priesthood@$nfortunately yes D theyre humans

!ust like us. %ut that seems to be theonly role they play in stories (:m

looking at you1 an %rown)1 and its

become a tired trope.9 D


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2hristianity ,

rotestant

0ome common topics&


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#induism-orldwide1 the #indu population is pro!ectedper cent over the period1 from a little over * b*.O billion1 roughly keeping pace with overall growth1 the report noted. D 0ource& The #indu

7%elieve it or not1 impleDand :!ould believe itD: am !ust a regularperson who has decided to be who :

am in life. Thats all.9S

-hen : was a teen1 : wouldhave given anything for

characters who looked like7me with names like mine1who grew up in the -estbut with #indu rituals andbeliefs shaping our lives in

overt and subtle waysGso :would have known : wasokay and important1 too. 7

D 0hveta Thakrar

l i li

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindus-to-be-worlds-3rd-largest-population-by-2050-says-a-religious-report/article7064897.ecehttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/79170.Tanuja_Desai_Hidierhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/79170.Tanuja_Desai_Hidierhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/79170.Tanuja_Desai_Hidierhttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindus-to-be-worlds-3rd-largest-population-by-2050-says-a-religious-report/article7064897.ece


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70o1 are there any bookslike you that you could re

7 . . . there was

myacknowledged

there was an emshelves wh

m7:slam1 particularly in recent years1 has and warped by the representation it receone of the worlds largest religions1 but wconversation with an average stranger (started oB the phrase1 7Arent you hot@9 make you wear that@9)1 :m always saddknow little to nothing about my faith beybelieve it is about1 thanks to the actionsuse it for their own evil agendas.

:m rmly in the camp that bad represenno representation at all. :ve been facing

entire life. :n YA representation1 we haveof hardly being represented at all1 but :v

:slamic'=uslim

/epresentation

d i


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8udaism Things to the look for&%ooks that portray contemporary life1 there tends to bfocus on #olocaust ction


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=ormon

/epresentation Today there is no shortage of =ormon authorspublishing young adult books for mainstreamaudiences. 0ome of these are best,sellingauthors and well,known names& 0hannon #ale.


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7And1 let me !ust be >uitt her e is no one lik e me inev er r ead. T her e ar e v er ybook s w it h ;r t hodox chaespecially in Y A.W And in tinst ances w her e ;r t hodoxt ends t o be por t r ay ed as amy st er ious r eligion1 st uck r iest s ar e of t en descr ibedcr ow s1 or as being s

car y an=aur een 3ichner

hodox /epresentat These two books make m;rthodox faith1 but our g=aureen 3ichner found tinade>uate representati

6"%TX T i / li


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6"%TX Teens in /elig

4iction

7ovels of reconciliation are those in which the was able to nd a way to make their >ueerness t framework of 2hristianity1 which novels of a$an

often rely on a rhetoric in which 2hristianity is a pol

to >ueer identity and the two can never be a part ofidentity construct.9 D /obert %ittner

% t it th


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%ut wait1 theres mor4aith and

4eminism

4aith in 4antasy

A life of faithacknowledged ina book not aboutfaith.


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-hat -e o

"ibrari

-h t :f :t 4 ith :


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-hat :f :ts a 4aith : <

Uothing About@Devorah is a consummate good girl !hochallenged the !ays of her strict %asidic

This is the book that started the discussion for me. :found this to be a moving and feminist story about ateen girl trying to balance her faith beliefs with herdesire to act in ways that may be outside of her faith

system. The >uestion for me was& :s this an accuraterepresentation of the #asidic faith@

)hat * did+/ead reviews (more than normal)Asked other readers who practice this faith on socialmedia

So ,hat ha!!ened: ot mixed feedback. 0ome eo le thou ht it was a

The Tak-e need due dilige

also ha

recogniPe t

-hat Are =y 2oncern


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-hat Are =y 2oncerna "ibrarian@• 4inding YA titles that avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes• 4inding YA titles that authentically represent a faith : may not be familiar

with• 2reating a collection that represents the diversity of faiths that teens

practice• Uoting any personal bias so that : may keep it in check when building

collections or interacting with teens

=otto& :ts Uot Ab=e• -hen working with teens1 it is the teens needs1 wants and beliefs

mine.• As a public or school librarian1 my !ob is to be a neutral party that

to information. (Though a private religious school is probably the e• This is not the time or place to proselytiPe or 7convert9.

• -hen asked respectfully by teens1 : do answer >uestions about mywhen a ro riate.

:nvest


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.ractice /onscious /ollection evelo!menteriodically check to make sure you have titles in your

collection to represent A"" faiths1 including atheism#ave a well developed collection development policy to

guide staB in selecting titles"ook for professional reviews by members of the faith

community discussed in a book to see if there are anyproblematic stereotypes1 tropes or biases

evelop relationships with A"" teens in yourcommunity and ask themV/reate safe s!aces

#ave a code of conduct for staB and patronsost your code of conduct so that expectations are

clear Train staB about the issues and how to respond if

complaints are made3nforce your code of conduct. :f any derogatory

remarks are made1 follow your librarys protocol tomake sure teens feels safe in your library/onsider .rograms and is!las Am : alienating a part of the community@

Am : providing balance and representation@

:nvest

#elp You-alk in 0o

3lses 0

3mpowei

•Diversity 101: Religion in YA

http://www.cbcdiversity.com/post/76251960183/diversity-101-religion-in-yahttp://www.cbcdiversity.com/post/76251960183/diversity-101-religion-in-ya


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Diversity 101: Religion in YA•The Hub: Though Shalt Not – Religion and Teen Boos • Are You There! "od# The $ysterious Disa%%earan&e o' Religion in YA (i&tion •)ntervie*: Sara +arr on YA (i&tion and adoles&en&e as a &risis o' 'aith •The Bro*n Booshel': (aith in (i&tion •YA High*ay: The )nterse&tion o' (aith and (i&tion • A,AN: S%iritual The-es in YA (i&tion

•.hy Are .e A(raid o' Religion in YA Boos# •The Reading Shel': Dis&ussion: Religion in YA•Don/t Tal About .hat# Religions la&e in YA (i&tion T,A2

•ratt icks& Teen 0pirits& Uovels About 4aith•.hy Aren/t There $ore Teens Reading 3hristian (i&tion# •Slate: Ho* 3hristian YA Novels are 4''ering a Sur%risingly 5-%o*ering "uide to Adoles&en&e

Thank you to all our guest blogger
http://www.cbcdiversity.com/post/76251960183/diversity-101-religion-in-yahttp://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2011/07/11/thou-shalt-not-religion-and-teen-books/http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/04/are-you-there-god-the-mysterious-disappearance-of-religion-in-ya-fictionhttp://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://thebrownbookshelf.com/2008/05/09/faith-in-fiction/http://www.yahighway.com/2011/06/intersection-of-faith-and-fiction.htmlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring96/mendt.htmlhttps://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/https://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/https://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/https://readingshelf.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/discussion-religion-in-ya/https://secure.txla.org/secure/events/handouts/2014/316DontTalkAboutWhatHandout.pdfhttp://www.prattlibrary.org/booksmedia/picks/index.aspx?lst=1590http://christiswrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-arent-there-more-teens-reading-ya.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2010/06/are_you_there_god.html?wpisrc=newsletterhttp://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2010/06/are_you_there_god.html?wpisrc=newsletterhttp://christiswrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-arent-there-more-teens-reading-ya.htmlhttp://www.prattlibrary.org/booksmedia/picks/index.aspx?lst=1590http://www.prattlibrary.org/booksmedia/picks/index.aspx?lst=1590http://www.prattlibrary.org/booksmedia/picks/index.aspx?lst=1590https://secure.txla.org/secure/events/handouts/2014/316DontTalkAboutWhatHandout.pdfhttps://readingshelf.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/discussion-religion-in-ya/https://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/https://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/https://rektokross.com/why-are-we-so-afraid-to-read-about-religion-in-our-fiction-books/http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring96/mendt.htmlhttp://www.yahighway.com/2011/06/intersection-of-faith-and-fiction.htmlhttp://thebrownbookshelf.com/2008/05/09/faith-in-fiction/http://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://confirmnotconform.com/blog/interview-sara-zarr-ya-fiction-and-adolescence-crisis-faithhttp://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/04/are-you-there-god-the-mysterious-disappearance-of-religion-in-ya-fictionhttp://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2011/07/11/thou-shalt-not-religion-and-teen-books/http://www.cbcdiversity.com/post/76251960183/diversity-101-religion-in-ya

FSYALit Discussion Recap

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