ABSTRACT
This chapter defines contemporary young adult literature and describes its early history. It explores changes in the content and structure of contemporary literature and in the way it is marketed to young adults. The chapter discusses some characteristics of contemporary young adult readers and concludes by highlighting key elements of a contemporary literature classroom: teaching with diverse literature; encouraging a critical perspective; and incorporating graphic texts, technology, and film effectively. In the literature classroom, diverse literature certainly helps young people to understand people and places in worlds that differ from their own. Diverse literature should highlight the unique attributes of a character or community while also illuminating universal experience. Literature for young adults is always evolving, constantly changing. Young adult readers, too, are constantly changing. The possibilities for using technology to enhance the study of literature may seem endless, but some teachers have yet to integrate these resources into their classrooms.
