Young Readers Research Articles

The Paradox of Historical Fiction

In light of the fact/fiction divide, this paper delves into the literary genre of historical fiction for young adults and re-examines the disputed boundaries between fact and fiction. Exploring Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, a work of historical fiction for young adults about life in Nazi-occupied Denmark, this discussion addresses the paradoxical nature of historical fiction: it is the fictional elements of historical fiction that play the crucial part in bringing historical facts closer to the young adult reader.

Love and Beauty on the Battlefield: Transcultural Influence and Transformation from Naoko Takeuchi’s <em>Sailor Moon</em> to Anglophone Young Adult Fantasy

Despite the considerable popularity of the 1990s animated television series Sailor Moon around the world, English-language research has largely neglected the original manga. Naoko Takeuchi’s major success with the girls’ manga series, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (1991-1997), launched her into the spotlight in Japan and, to this day, its eponymous 14-year-old protagonist remains the quintessential ‘magical girl’ character. To understand the success of the series and, in particular, how Takeuchi’s innovations with the adolescent female heroine and her narrative journey resonated with young female readers globally, a comparison can be made between Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and Takeuchi’s lesser-known companion work, Codename: Sailor V (1991-1997). This often-forgotten series was initially written as a one-chapter short story, whose success inspired Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, and was later developed into a prequel for the more successful work. In the extended version of Codename: Sailor V, Takeuchi’s original heroine undergoes a unique process of reversal, being progressively undermined until she is appropriate to serve as a secondary character in Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. Examining the two texts with a particular eye to each protagonist’s personal characteristics, supernatural abilities, social connections, and narrative arcs provides insight into the attributes of the heroine’s journey that Takeuchi considered essential for a true ‘chosen one’. These features persist in present-day magical girl stories, as well as related works produced around the world, including popular Anglophone YA fiction, and examining their origins can provide a richer understanding of the transnational connections between stories for girls around the world.

Avoiding the death of the newspaper industry in Indonesia and the transformation of the digital media business

The circulation of newspapers in Indonesia has been at its lowest point in the last 10 years. Print media companies have collapsed and closed, and most have shifted to online media businesses. What is the fate of various print outlets and media in Indonesia amidst the death knell of print media business in Indonesia? What is the ultimate strategy to save the print media business in Indonesia and can the business survive until 2030? The paradigm of this research is qualitative. The research took place from January 2023 to December 2024. Data collection techniques were via literature review, observation, and documentation. As a result, the circulation of various print media in Indonesia has decreased drastically by around 1 million copies per year. By the end of 2023, the circulation will be around 5 million copies. The researcher predicts that by 2030, the number of print media companies is estimated to be only 100 companies. Emergency rescue efforts for the print media business through: media transformation, attracting young readers; integration of print media, online media, and social media businesses; and maintaining content according to the needs of customers and potential readers.

The Meaning of the Palace on Fire Scene in Gulliver’s Travels and Its Adaptations in Selected English and Polish Abridged Versions of Jonathan Swift’s Novel

The palace on fire scene in the first part of Gulliver’s Travels, when the main protagonist extinguishes the flames by urinating on them, has become the symbol of Swift’s personal criticism of authority and the institution of monarchy. For obvious reasons, in children’s version of the novel, the scene is remade and reinterpreted in a multitude of manners to remove the embarrassing physiological element that both young readers and their parents might find outrageous or simply offensive. The aim of the present article is to discuss the critical meaning of the scene in relation to Jonathan Swift’s political views and to demonstrate the great miscellany of variants of the scene in selected abridged versions of Gulliver’s Travels in Polish and English.

Loss, Grief and Planetary Literacy in Informational Picturebooks for Children

Death is an inevitable part of life with philosophical, cultural and religious dimensions and its problematic emerges differently in the contemporary era, since it is not only perceived as a fundamental aspect of human existence, but also as a consequence of human-made disasters, as well as an urgent environmental concern. Today literary and, in general, artistic narratives and expressions often explore death beyond human exceptionalism; ecocide; the triple planetary crisis; and the mourning for humanity’s doomed relationship to nature. Several contemporary authors, with the help of the illustrators, write ironic and horrific stories addressed to children that alter the cultural significance of loss and death and propound dark ecological storyworlds, in which the ecological problems as well as the more-than-human vulnerabilities, aspire to make young readers aware of the functions of the pale blue dot they live in and perceive it as the true public space. This article examines how do informational picturebooks for children approach life and death in a more ‘ecosophical’ manner, proving that the planetary turn has made available to literary studies, aiming to make young readers aware of how humans and nonhumans are fundamentally enmeshed in and negatively interdependent with one another.

Multilingualism in Contemporary Sephardic Children’s Literature

This article explores the resurgence of contemporary Sephardic children’s literature, with a particular focus on its multilingual nature as a central feature. The study aims to demonstrate how the use of multiple languages within a book serves as a tool to keep young Sephardic readers connected to Ladino – their heritage language – which, nowadays, is considered severely endangered. The methodological approach is based on Jeffrey Shandler’s concept of post-vernacularity, positioning contemporary Judeo-Spanish children’s literature as a post-vernacular phenomenon. The selected books were published in Israel and the United States between 2010 and 2023. This research categorises these works based on the various configurations of multilingualism, which may manifest as direct translations or the use of different languages (and alphabets) in distinct sections of the text and in the pictures. The study concludes that multilingual children’s literature offers a meaningful way for young Sephardim to connect with their cultural roots and engage with Ladino culture.

För finlandssvenska unga läsare, på deras språk

For Finland-Swedish Young Readers, in Their Language: The Evaluation of Literary Multilingualism in Reviews of Finland-Swedish Young Adult Novels from the Early 2000s The article is a study of the evaluation of literary multilingualism in reviews of Finland-Swedish YA novels from the early 2000s. It investigates the evaluation of multilingualism in the literary field and, furthermore, contributes to the field of research into children’s literature reviews. The material consists of reviews of Annika Luther’s Ivoria (2005) and Brev till världens ände (Letters to the end of the world, 2008), as well as of Marianne Backlén’s Kopparorm (Copper snake, 2008), in Finland-Swedish newspapers and periodicals. The novels all feature literary multilingualism, for example instances of Finnish, specific Finland-Swedish linguistic traits, and/or multilingual slang, and these features are discussed in the majority of the reviews. With a theoretical background in literary multilingualism studies, children’s literature research, and studies of literary reviews, and by using textual analysis, the article shows that classic questions regarding literary multilingualism, authenticity, and comprehensibility, as well as different readerships, feature heavily in the material. There are also new elements to the discussion regarding the temporal durability of literary multilingualism and the age gap between author and readers. The reviewers’ evaluation of literary multilingualism is mixed; however, literary multilingualism is recognized as a valuable and multifaceted literary device in Finland-Swedish YA literature of the early 2000s.

Envisioning Ecofeminism and Youth Activism in Saving Sorya and Saving H'Non

Abstract Girl activism takes center stage in Trang Nguyễn and Jeet Zdung's comics Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear and Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant. The narratives follow Chang, a young conservationist, as she rehabilitates an orphaned sun bear and an abused elephant. The series diverts from conventional depictions of exceptional girl eco-heroes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration, grassroots initiatives, and environmental education. Moreover, the comics promote ecofeminist perspectives by highlighting the connections between environmental degradation, gendered violence, and social inequities. I explore how Nguyễn and Zdung use the multimodal comics form to promote ecofeminist values and educate young readers about global environmental issues. I also analyze how the comics invite readers to engage in transnational advocacy by modeling youth activism and providing resources.

From Girls to Children

Abstract In this article I investigate the transformation of transnational girlhood in a recent imprint of comics for young readers published by Danish comics publisher Forlaget Cobolt. Launched in 2021, the imprint encompasses a range of mostly translated comics, including Anglophone graphic novels, a number of Francophone series, and comics from other Scandinavian countries. Many of the titles seem to target an audience of girl readers. However, based on interviews conducted with the acquisitions editor responsible for the line and two translators, I demonstrate that the work of bringing the titles to a Danish audience was guided by attempts to provide quality reading for a range of genders. In this process, transnational girlhood is imagined as non-gender-specific, reflecting contemporary discussions of gender politics and comics reading.

“Because she can fly”

What makes a fictional character someone’s favourite? One of the factors scholars have explored is overlapping identity markers, for instance when boy readers favour boy characters. This article extends that discussion to age by discussing data gathered in individual interviews and focus-group conversations with 18 readers between the ages of 9 and 75. In the interviews, readers were asked about their favourite character in the children’s book Iep! (1996) by Joke van Leeuwen. Readers up to the age of 14 all selected younger characters as their favourites, whereas older readers selected favourite characters from a wider range of age groups, including younger characters. Younger readers named distinct traits as their reason for selecting a character as their favourite, such as “Because she can fly”, whereas adult readers also cited external factors for liking a character, such as a character reminding them of someone. Regarding the characters that readers did not like, readers up to the age of 11 were unable to select a character they did not like, whereas the majority of adults found this easy. Of these unpopular characters, only a small minority were children; in the main, adult readers disliked adult characters. Interestingly, several child readers defended adult characters disliked by adult readers.

Critical Religious Literacies and Opportunities for Alterity across YA Literature

This critical content analysis draws on a dataset of contemporary young adult texts receiving awards between 2012 and 2023 to examine opportunities for religiously informed alterity for readers, which we argue can be a productive experience for building critical religious literacy in young adult readers. We argue that young adult literature can serve as models of critical religious literacies when authors, characters, and historical figures engage in conflicted meaning-making as they experience slippages between their lived experiences and their religious and secular beliefs. The study aims to develop a framework for developing religious literacy that draws specifically on identity-laden and critical theories of literacy common within the English language arts. Furthermore, this study provides literacy scholars and practitioners with a robust set of textual resources that can be employed to support critical religious literacies.

The Implications of Digital Culture for Contemporary Literature: Navigating New Narratives, Forms, and Reader Engagement in the Digital Age

This research examines the impact of digital culture on contemporary literature, particularly focusing on narrative structures, reader engagement, and comprehension in digital formats. As digital media continue to reshape how literature is consumed, this study explores the effects of interactive and multimedia-rich digital texts on reader behavior and cognitive engagement. Using a quantitative approach, the research combined surveys with 500 participants and content analysis of 20 digital texts, including hypertext fiction and multimedia narratives. Descriptive statistics revealed that participants spent 32% more time engaging with interactive formats than traditional digital texts, with younger readers showing higher engagement levels. The analysis also found a significant positive correlation (r = 0.45, p < 0.05) between digital media familiarity and preference for interactive narratives. However, comprehension scores varied, with some readers finding it difficult to follow non-linear, branching storylines. Content analysis showed that 75% of the selected digital texts contained multimedia elements, while 65% included hyperlinks, reflecting the prevalence of these features in contemporary digital literature. The results support the hypothesis that interactive formats enhance engagement, but suggest challenges in comprehension, especially with complex, non-linear narratives. This study provides key insights for authors, publishers, and educators on the evolving landscape of digital literature and reader interaction. It highlights the need for more research on the long-term effects of digital reading on comprehension and cognitive development, as well as a deeper comparison between digital and traditional reading experiences.

My Friend, The Lake

In My Friend, The Lake, readers are introduced to Lake Erie as a cherished friend of the narrator. In the story, young readers are introduced to the colorful wonders of the world around them and to the importance of caring for the environment. Throughout the book, Lake Erie is gently anthropomorphized, emphasizing to the audience that she is a complex living entity rather than an inanimate body of water.The story highlights the beauty of Lake Erie while also drawing attention to her role in providing essential resources to those who depend on her, including fresh drinking water, food, and a home for many different species of wildlife. However, Lake Erie also faces challenges, such as toxic algae blooms, which the narrator and the audience confront together in the story. Through the narrator’s journey, readers are invited to reconsider how they engage with the natural world. They are encouraged to become stewards of the environment and are encouraged to take action by being a voice for their local environments.

Visual Stories as Educational Tools:

This study explores the efficacy of children's picture books in communicating complex environmental issues to young audiences, focusing on We Are Water Protectors and Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior. These books utilize the approach of Multimodal Discourse Analysis, to explore how pictures engage and educate about water protection. Through a detailed examination of interactions within these books and with readers, this article highlights how visual narratives can effectively evoke emotional responses and foster environmental awareness among young readers. The findings suggest that such visual narratives not only enhance understanding of sustainability challenges but also serve as powerful tools for social change, inspiring activism, and cultural engagement.

Translating idiomatic expressions in children’s literature: A case study of rendering Diary of a Wimpy Kid into Arabic

Idiomatic expressions are challenging for translators of different genres, especially children’s literature, as they need proper strategies to ensure an age-appropriate and easily comprehensible meaning. This study examined the strategies that the translators employed in rendering idiomatic expressions in Kenny’s children’s series Diary of a Wimpy Kid into Arabic. To achieve the purpose of the study, idiomatic expressions were collected from four books of the series, namely, Rodrick Rules, Greg Heffley’s Journal, The Last Straw, and Cabin Fever, and compared to their Arabic translations. The data were categorized according to Baker’s (1992) four strategies for dealing with idiomatic expressions, with a fifth strategy, literal translation, added to the analysis. The study found that there was a clear preference for paraphrasing when translating idioms from English into Arabic. English idioms were primarily used in informal contexts, which adds to the challenge of translating them, as standard Arabic, the variety used in the translated version, is generally more suited to a formal style in written texts. This study can be useful for scholars and researchers in the field of children’s literature to deepen their understanding of the challenges and strategies associated with translating idioms. It can also help educators and curriculum developers promote multilingualism and cross-cultural appreciation among young readers.

INTEGRATING INTERTEXTUAL AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE ANALYTICAL LENSES TO TURN SYAIR CENDAWAN PUTIH’S A CHILDREN'S STORY “THE ADVENTURE OF CENDAWAN PUTIH” INTO A SCIENCE LEARNING

This study explores the transformation of the Cendawan Putih poem into prose suitable for children's science learning, examining the adaptation process and public perception. Using a qualitative approach, the study employs intertextual theory to analyze textual transformations such as expansion, conversion, modification, and citation and community response theory to capture stakeholders’ views. The research investigates how the Cendawan Putih poem has been creatively adapted into the children’s story The Adventure of Cendawan Putih to enhance science learning while maintaining cultural and educational value. The findings reveal that adapting Cendawan Putih for children’s literature not only preserves core narrative elements but also integrates science concepts relevant to young readers. The adaptation utilizes techniques such as expansion and modification, enriching the original storyline to highlight nature, ecosystems, and environmental science in an accessible format for children. Public feedback, collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with cultural figures, educators, academics, and youth, shows broad support for this transformation. Stakeholders emphasize the story’s potential to foster cultural awareness and introduce foundational science concepts, making it an innovative tool for learning. This study highlights how traditional literary forms can be reimagined for children’s science learning, merging cultural heritage with modern educational needs. By presenting Cendawan Putih in a format that supports both cultural preservation and science education, this work positions the story as an intergenerational bridge and a valuable addition to literature-based science learning. It underscores the importance of community involvement in literary adaptation, providing new insights for literature, cultural education, and science pedagogy.

Recreational reading as a leisure activity: Perspectives from Georgian and Finnish hearing and deaf students

AbstractThe benefits of recreational reading for academic success are clear. However, the full potential of recreational reading for socialisation and well‐being remains untapped by young readers. Studies of young readers' recreational reading intentions and perceived barriers to translating intentions into reading are scarce. Deaf and hard‐of‐hearing students have been particularly excluded from research on leisure reading. Using a mixed methods approach, this study investigates Finnish and Georgian students' attitudes towards leisure reading and the relationship between their reading intentions and actual reading. Students' engagement in recreational reading is assessed through a quantitative survey, while their attitudes and intentions towards reading are revealed through focus group interviews. The results of this study suggest that students generally have positive attitudes towards reading, regardless of their country of origin and degree of hearing loss. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a wide range of barriers to reading, the most common of which are long school days, large amounts of homework, limited free time and preferences for other leisure activities. Some speculative findings from this study will be used as a basis for further research, focusing on reading during COVID‐19.

The Effects of Virtual Tutoring on Young Readers: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

In-person tutoring has been shown to improve academic achievement. Fewer studies have examined the impact of virtual tutoring and have focused on older students. We present findings from the first randomized controlled trial of virtual tutoring for young children. Students in grades K–2 were assigned to 1:1 tutoring, 2:1 tutoring, or a control group. Virtual tutoring increased early literacy skills by 0.05- SD for all students and 0.08- SD for a sample excluding English learners and students with disabilities (i.e., students not eligible for additional support services). One-on-one tutoring tended to produce larger gains, especially for students initially scoring well below benchmark (0.15- SD). Effects are smaller than typically seen from in-person early literacy tutoring programs but still positive and statistically significant.

How can AR-enhanced books support early readers? Exploring literacy development through AR design principles

Early readers go through critical literacy development that have a significant impact on their future reading, academic performance, and lifelong learning. Previous studies have found that AR books designed for literacy development are effective, especially with improved vocabulary and motivation (Cai et al.,2022). Much of AR-enhanced books are not designed with considerations for literacy development. This study extends previous studies by examining whether and how AR-enhanced books may support such critical literacy development through informal, recreational reading. Young readers were observed as they read a set of AR-enhanced books. Their literacy behavior consisting of literacy skills and motivation were analyzed in relation to AR design principles to explore how and when the design principles engaged literacy behavior. Findings show that AR books, even if they are not designed for literacy development, may provide opportunities for engagement and development of literacy skills and motivation. A pattern of relations between literacy behavior, including print concept, vocabulary, interest, and attentional control, and AR design principles were observed. The implications for design and implementation of AR design principles and AR-enhanced books to support different readers is discussed.

A LYRICAL EVOCATION OF CHILDHOOD Ottó Tolnai: Ördögfej

This work deals with Ottó Tolnai’s young adult novel, Ördögfej [The Devil’s Head], published in 1970. More than fifty years have passed since its publication; however the work’s reception has remained quite poor, and the literature has hardly mentioned it as if it had been forgotten by scholars, considering this early prose work by Tolnai irrelevant. Even so, published immediately after his first novel titled Rovarház [The House of Insects] (1969), Ördögfej is also an important work by the author. In this novel, written for young readers, Tolnai’s favorite motifs, metaphors, and typical small-town, quirky characters, which would often appear later, were already present in a rudimentary state. The study analyses the novel’s formative force and explores the secret of Tolnai’s literary process which is realized on the level of visual art.