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The Death of Genre: Why the Best YA Fiction Often Defies Classification

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The Death of Genre: Why the Best YA Fiction Often Defies Classification LoriScot Goodson Smith & Jim Blasingame The Death of Genre: Why the Best YA Fiction Often Defies Classification few years ago, I received a phone call from a adding a list called genre-busters, novels which do not desperate sixth grade reading teacher. “Help!” easily fit into a single category. The more I think about Ashe cried, “I have a literary mutiny on my my YA favorite titles of the past few years, the more hands. I need your help now!!” I immediately raced bewildered I become. Zusak’s The Book Thief— upstairs. historical fiction or fantasy? Anderson’s The Astonish- Our sixth graders read Louis Sachar’s Holes as a ing Life of Octavian Nothing—historical fiction or required novel. The teacher uses Holes as part of her science fiction? Rosoff’s How I Live Now?—realistic unit on fantasy. In a time where many middle fiction or science fiction? Shusterman’s The Schwa schoolers are steeped in Harry Potter and Paolini, Was Here—realistic fiction or fantasy? I have come to Holes just did not seem to fit into that the same the realization that genre might be dead, that many of category of fantasy. recently published YA novels no longer fit into the “Mr. Smith,” they argued, “It can’t be fantasy. It’s predictable categories we typically designate for too real.” books. Is it time to despair? I think not. Rather, let us What followed was a long discussion about the celebrate the innovative fashion in which today’s YA different types of fantasy. We debated over the effects authors are bending the traditional definitions of of rattlesnake nail polish, the existence of yellow genre. An exploration of early genre benders may spotted lizards, the role of coincidence, Sachar’s use of provide some illumination, as well as an investigation the legend of Kissin’ Kate, the folktale qualities of of how many of today’s best YA novels are further Madame Zeroni’s curse, and the quest for treasure. We blurring the lines between genres. even delved into the archetype of Young Adult literature has a the “hero” as we analyzed Stanley’s long tradition of authors whose character. Most students remained Is it time to despair? I works defy genre classifications. unconvinced of the classification of Francesca Lia Block represents a Holes as a work of fantasy. think not. Rather, let us genre unto herself with the frac- Sixth graders are not the only celebrate the innovative tured fairy tales that surround her ones who struggle with the stan- quirky protagonist Weetzie Bat. dard conventions of genre. As I fashion in which today’s Patrice Kindl’s Owl in Love mixes revise my genre lists each year for myth, fantasy, humor, and modern my graduate level Young Adult YA authors are bending realism in her critically acclaimed Literature class, I find myself the traditional definitions novel. With innovative stories like shifting books from fantasy to The Mind’s Eye, Whirligig, and historical fiction and realistic fiction of genre. Seek, Paul Fleischman has long to fantasy. I have even considered challenged the conventions of style, 43 THE ALAN REVIEW Fall 2007 g43_50_TAR_Fall07 43 10/2/07, 2:59 PM format, and genre. Elements of the supernatural run returned to that successful formula with his newest through the mysteries and suspense stories of Robert novel Clay. In the best works of magical realism, one Cormier, Lois Duncan, Joan Lowery Nixon, and—more cannot easily determine where reality ends and recently—Nancy Werlin and Kevin Brooks. fantasy begins. Popular chick-lit titles like Sarah For the genre enthusiast, historical novels offer a Weeks’ So B. It, Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries, and variety of complex issues. The kingdom-and-the-castle Ann Brashares’ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants story found in works like Megan Whelan Turner’s The can hardly be considered completely “realistic.” In So Thief, Gerald Morris’ The Squire Tales, and Kevin B. It, Heidi has developed a special touch with the slot Crossley-Holland’s The Seeing Stone blend medieval machines; she always wins. Only after she has settings with magic and completed her quest to uncover the secrets of her past legend. Donna Jo Napoli’s does her luck return to normal. The fairy tale quality Since the publication of retold fairy tales (Beast, of Mia’s rise from social outcast to crown princess is a Bound, Breath) borrow far cry from probable. The same can be for said for his critically acclaimed much from traditional those magical jeans in the Sisterhood series. Magical literature but abound with realism also plays a major role in numerous novels for Skellig and Kit’s Wilder- rich historical details. tweens. From Hiaasen’s Hoot to Hannigan’s Ida B., ness, David Almond has Napoli’s novels are clearly from many of the novels of Sharon Creech to the fantasy titles; they also allegorical works of Jerry Spinelli, elements of the blurred the lines between have much to offer to fantastic add a sense of mystery and wonderment to readers of historical many novels categorized as middle grade fiction. The fantasy and reality in a fiction. Time-slip and time- mixture of fantasy (the call of the sea, the seemingly genre that is often called travel novels present a supernatural powers of Mullet Fingers and Maniac similar dilemma—histori- Magee, the talking trees, anthropomorphic pigeons magical realism. cal fiction or fantasy/ and owls) with realistic stories appeals greatly to science fiction? Jane readers on the verge of adolescence. Yolen’s The Devil’s Numerous librarians and teachers have encoun- Arithmetic, Susan Cooper’s The King of Shadows, tered the adolescent reader who devours one fantasy Susan Price’s The Sterkarm Handshake, and Edward novel after the next but refuses to touch science Bloor’s London Calling are filled with history yet are fiction. On the other hand, there is the passionate sci- based on the premise of traveling back in time. One fi reader who dismisses every fantasy with the would be remiss to classify Philip Pullman’s trilogy statement “I don’t really like those types of books.” about Sally Lockhart and Eleanor Updale’s Mont- Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time provides one morency series as simple Victorian mysteries. One blueprint for a genre now labeled as science fantasy. cannot deny the historical qualities found in these Following in L’Engle’s innovative footsteps are authors novels. What about speculative fiction, those historical like Philip Pullman, Kenneth Oppel, and Joshua novels that ask the difficult question of what if? In The Mowll. In his masterfully plotted novels Airborn and Year of the Hangman, Gary Blackwood proposes the Skybreaker, Oppel begins with the premise of what if dilemma of what if the British had won the Revolu- the airplane had not been invented. The adventures tionary War. Finally, in which genre does one place that follow take readers into a world of airships, sky Aiden Chambers’ Postcards from No Man’s Land? pirates, flying felines, bat-copters, intricate diagrams, Chambers masterfully intertwines two narratives—one and high altitude monsters. Mowll’s Operation Red set in the 1990s and the other set during WWII—into Jericho and Operation Typhoon Shore are frequently his award-winning novel. Historical fiction or modern classified as adventure fantasies. However, the detailed realistic? Neither or both? diagrams will indubitably please even the most Since the publication of his critically acclaimed devoted science fiction reader. Acclaimed science Skellig and Kit’s Wilderness, David Almond has writers John and Mary Gribbin tackle the difficult blurred the lines between fantasy and reality in a concepts of string theory, the space-time continuum, genre that is often called magical realism. He has and quantum physics in The Science of Philip 44 THE ALAN REVIEW Fall 2007 g43_50_TAR_Fall07 44 10/2/07, 2:59 PM Pullman’s His Dark Materials. After reading the with an entertaining dose of fairies and pixies to help Gribbins’ book, teens (and adults) will begin to move the narrative along. Set during the Civil War appreciate the theoretical physics that provides part of between the Puritans and the Royalists, Nell is the foundation of Pullman’s exceptional trilogy. Then accused by the minister’s unwed pregnant daughter of there is the difficult question of Anthony Horowitz’s being a witch, an agent of the Devil. Hysteria reigns as Alex Rider series. These wildly popular novels touch Nell’s grandmother is dunked, and Nell finds herself many genres—spy novel, adventure story, mystery, condemned to hang. As the novel alternates between and—because of the abundance of high tech gadgets two voices and two settings, the reader comes to Alex employs in times of peril—science fiction. understand the conflicts that led to the Salem Witch Having suggested that the lines between genres Trials and the deaths of innocent women who were have been blurred in Young Adult literature, I will now healers and midwives. I, Coriander is much closer to look more closely at three distinct categories and the traditional fantasy than Witch Child and The Minister’s recently published novels which exemplify them: (1) Daughter. Nonetheless, London at the time of Oliver historical fantasy as it moves away from the traditional Cromwell springs to life in this award-winning story. medieval setting to different historical periods; (2) Coriander is the only historical fantasy with magical realism and particu- daughter of a successful larly the trend of narrators and characters “from merchant and a fairy- . in today’s world of YA beyond the grave;” and finally (3), science fantasy. I princess whom the locals will conclude with an analysis of why, in today’s consider a witch.
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