1. Which of the novels that we've read so far had a character you found most likeable? What are the traits that drew you to that character?

H.F., from Finding H.F., was my absolute favorite character from any book I've read in a while. She reminded me a lot of my friend Teresa from high school... very upfront and funny about her sexuality and personal style. It was also so sweet to read her and Bo's hilarious exchanges. It made me wish I had friends that funny, or that I was that funny. Yes, she misunderstands Wendy's intentions, but in general I feel that she is a good role model in the book.

2. What do you think you are discovering about the world of literature written for young readers, i.e., what do you know now that you did not know when the course began?

I didn't realize how important genres were (historical fiction like Crispin, poetry like Make lemonade, the bildungsromans). In fact, one of the things that drew me to the course was my belief that YA Lit lacked the same big barriers between genres. However, I suppose that what I may have been thinking of when I took the class was the fact that many YA Lit novels are coming-of-age stories that maybe would not fit into an adult genre. (The only possible exception I can note is the Chick Lit - "woman goes through divorce/death, meets new friends, cheats on somebody, learns something" category).

P.S. Katy I'm sorry I'm posting this late, I'm trying to get caught up in all my classes.

What are your feelings about a book for teenagers that features a lesbian protagonist, like Finding H.F.?

I was always raised to know that if I were gay, it would be fine, and that gay people weren't "freaks," but as several of my lesbian friends have confirmed, a lo of families aren't like that. Coming of age novels are essential to young adult literature already, as adolescence is precisely the time to know that people can get through what you're going through. But for gay and lesbian teenagers, it's often even more vital to know that kids like them exist, and their feelings are universal. Relatable, funny characters like H.F. can serve as role models or at least examples.

I think that, similarly to parents who feared that Harry Potter would turn their children into witches and wizards, some parents may fear that a book with a lesbian character will inspire their children to try to be gay. However, sexuality is a hard thing to fake. I'd be hard-pressed to find a straight person who could really pretend to be gay for a major length of time.

Views on Children's and YA Lit - then and now:

"When you compare your views about literature written for children and young adults before this course began to what you are thinking now, what would you say has changed for you?"

I think I have always had respect for children's literature, but I had definitely tended to make value judgments very easily. For example, A Wrinkle in Time seemed far more respectable and valuable than, say, Gossip Girl. However, I do think I'm joining the "As Long As They're Reading" bandwagon. The most important thing about a book is how it relates to the readers, because reading is far more active than, say, watching TV. It doesn't just have to be entertaining enough to stare at, it has to be entertaining enough to make you turn a page.

However, this class does give me a more hopeful outlook for the genre, in that I see that all the creativity didn't end with the classics. Just because they get less press in the internet age doesn't mean that incredible books like The Invention of Hugo Cabret aren't being written and read all the time. I think I had forgotten that as I grew older and spent less time in the YA section than previously. It seemed for a while that the only books any middle schooler read were Twilight, but now I see that, just as when I was in 7th grade, there are still creative and unique books that aren't being turned into movies and franchises.