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Thursday 02 October 2014

Teenagers should read graphic novels not just 'worthy' novels

Young people should be encouraged to read graphic novels and film and TV adaptations, author Malorie Blackman says as books should be entertaining not just educational

Teenagers should read trashy books not just 'worthy' novels
Books should not be offered to teenagers only for their “educational merit” but should be seen as entertainment Photo: Alamy

Adults should stop pushing books onto children because they are “worthy”, the children’s laureate Malorie Blackman has said, as she claims literature has been given a “bad rep” in comparison with TV, film and computer games.

Blackman, the best-selling author, said books should not be offered to teenagers only for their “educational merit”, arguing they should be seen as entertainment instead.

Arguing it was time to “reposition” literature back into popular culture, she added: “Books should also be celebrated for their enormous entertainment value – they don’t need to be worthy.”

Blackman, who spoke at Britain’s first Young Adult Literature Conference (YALC) in London this weekend, also argued teenagers should be encourage to pick up books from British authors, as well as blockbuster American titles.

She said: “Books are sold to teens primarily on their educational merit.

“I believe this can give them a bad rep when compared with film, TV and computer games, which are a core part of popular culture and consumed primarily for pleasure.

“YALC is all about repositioning reading for teens. Books should also be celebrated for their enormous entertainment value – they don’t need to be worthy”

She added she would advocated “anything” that encouraged young people to read, including graphic novels, or film and TV adaptations.

“We need to reposition books back as a core part of the entertainment arena,” she said. “If you love films, computer games, TV, there’s a reason you can love books as well.”

She told the Telegraph she now hopes to highlight the “wonderful range” of British authors, whose work can often be eclipsed by bestselling American books adapted into films.

Blackman, who is half way through her two year tenure as children’s laureate, will appear alongside a host of British authors at the first YALC, where she intends to address her young audience partly in Klingon.

“We have a wonderful range of writers for teens, look at the wealth of talent in this country,” she said.

“Of the top 20 YA books in the last year, 16 or 17 of them were from American authors based in America.

“That’s not to detract from those books or be parochial, but to say if you love these, look at what else you can read: broaden your reading horizons.

When asked which authors she would recommend in particular, she named Holly Smale, Matt Haig, Phil Earle, Tanya Byrne, Catherine Johnson, and Sophie McKenzie.

Blackman has now appeared alongside 50 authors at the inaugural Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC), which took place at London Film and Comic Con, Earls Court, on July 11 and 12.

You can like Telegraph YA Books Facebook Page here

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