Taboos and Trends in Literature for Children and Young Adults

In this course we will examine groundbreaking works of literature for children and young adults. From Mark Twain to contemporary authors such as Lowry, Myers, and Farmer, writers for young people have pressed hard on societal notions about what is acceptable for young readers. We will look at taboos that have existed and been broken, as well as current trends in the field. We will pay particular attention to developmental issues in youth and sociocultural mores, including censorship.