IS "GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER" A YOUNG ADOLESCENT TEXT?

   Micheal Anthony "Green Days By The River" is a novel which expresses a young boy's experiences while going through puberty. The main characters Shellie, Rosalie and Mr. Gidharee are introduced in a small village in Pierre Hill Tobago where the novel is set. Shellie's childhood experiences has a tremendous effect on all his associates including his parents.
   Therefore, the novel will be examined to justify whether or not it is a young adolescent literature text by firstly examining its characteristics compared to the characteristics of adolescent literature and also according to the criteria for text selection. 
   According to Britspecher (2005), the characteristics of young adolescent literature are as follows:

1. YA authors write from the viewpoint of young people.
2. "I want the credit". In many YA novels the parents or other authority figures are absent. The characters are forced to confront their problems on their own.
3. The literature is face-paced, the stories told as a frantic pace with emphasis on powerful images. 
4. YA literature involves a variety of genres and subjects, with about half being contemporary realistic fictions.
5. It includes stories about characters from many different ethnic cultural groups. The characters are no longer all white, middle class characters. There are fewer taboos about what can be included.
6. YA books are basically optimistic with characters making worthy accomplishments. The characters are faced with challenges, which earn the reader's respect, even if they don't succeed. The characters show change and growth.
7. Successful young adult novels deal with emotions that are important to young people.

   Other characteristics of YAL may include; "1. Characters and issues young adults can identify with; those issues are treated in a way that does not invalidate, minimize, or devalue them;2. Is framed in language that young readers can understand; 3. Emphasizes plot above everything else and 4. Is written for an audience of young adults" (Blasingame).
   A number of those characteristics are portrayed in the novel Green Days by The River.It is clear that the novel  was written from the point of view of young adult since it was written in the first person point of view.This is evident through the use of the pronouns such as ' I, We, She, He' throughout the novel. In addition the protagonist, Shellie, speaks of his experiences and expresses his emotions in a way in which the readers are able to see the story through his eyes. From the beginning of the novel events and occurences are concise and face pace. In chapter one, Shellie introduces himself to Mr. Gihdaree and by chapter two he was already going to the plantation with him. Soon after the beginning of the story his life takes a tramatic turn. He moves from childhood innocence to a life engulfed in adult experience. Another characteristic which the novel contains is that it consist of a variety of genres and subjects. "Green Days by the River" is one which deals with a teenager growing to maturity  and during this period of self development, adolescents are faced with social and personal issues, thus, the novel can be categorized as a problem novel.  Some themes in the novel are love, friendship, growth and death of a loved one. Furthermore, characters from different ethnic groups are introduced in the novel. Since students are now leaving in a multicultural society, student are better able to relate to the treatment of persons of different ethnic backgrounds. The novel is also based on characters and issues that young adults can identify with, especially issues which do not invalidate, minimize, or devalue them as in Shellie's case. For example, Shellie finds himself in a situation which would change his future drastically. He "fools around" with Rosalie on boxing night and now he has to get married to her because he did such. In effect Rosalie's father Mr. Gidharee planned to teach him a valuable lesson by ordering the dogs to attack him while helping out on his plantation. This did not devalue him but it was an indication to him that his actions called for that of adult responsibilities. Most importantly the novel is framed in language that young readers can understand. It is written in Standard English with a few phrases and jargons which young adults would definitely be able to understand. Moreover, during this period in teenagers lives they are also faced with some of the most emotional aspects in life. As indicated in the novel, Shellie is going through a period of 'double emotion', where he had to deal with the his father's death and the inner pain caused by love. Therefore, from my point of view  the novel, "Green Days by the River"  is a young adolescent literature text since it consists of most and maybe all the characteristics of young adolescent literature.
   Furthermore, taking students interest, personalities, experiences and abilities into consideration  Micheal Anthony wrote this novel to suit the criteria of YAL selection. When selecting YAL it is appropriate to use the thematic approach which is advantageous and beneficial to both the students and teachers. The choice of themes in the novel include current cultural and personal issues pertaining to adolescence. A.P Nelson and K.L Donelson (2009) suggested a list of a few themes in chapter 7 of their book entitled " Literature for today's young adult." They are ' Fantasy;Choices; Friendship; Values; Love and What it is like to grow old?'  They further stated that using a thematic approach work well for these reasons:

1. They promote student interest.
2. Thematic unit integrate genre.
3. They provide for reading levels.

   The reading levels and developmental levels were also considered in the novel. Simple language was used throughout the novel. The connotations and use of  vocabulary  is appropriate for students of all reading levels. At this stage of development, students are involved in aesthetic reading, therefore, the writer's choice of words proved to be worthwhile. Finally, even at this level students are still impressed with the physical appearance of a novel. This novel's physical appearance definitely appeals to one's eyes with an urge to open the book to explore its content.    
   Therefore, according to the characteristics and criteria for selecting YAL, it is evident that "Green Days by the River" is truly a young adolescent text which will prove worthwhile in the teaching of literature to students in the classroom setting at school.

Source:
http://www.breitlinks.com/my_libmedia/adolescent_lit.htm
Literature for today's young adults F.A Nelson (2009)