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"Hey Kiddo." Goodreads,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37822650-hey-kiddo?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=QhatJYmx2N&rank=1
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021

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"Heart of Iron." Goodreads,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35181314-heart-of-iron?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=NCdZYBEPHK&rank=1
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021

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"The Fault In Our Stars." Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=rqst5uWH8T&rank=1
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021

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"Midnight Sun." Goodreads,  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53287484-midnight-sun?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JIc9fDlaeV&rank=2 Accessed 11. Apr. 2021

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"Are you There God? It's Me, Margaret." Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37732.Are_You_There_God_It_s_Me_Margaret?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=RYDT25gL9x&rank=1 Accessed 11. Apr. 2021

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Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

"Captain Siege had found her and Di in an escape pod in the wreckage of a cargo ship… No survivors- except for them. She didn’t even have pictures of her parents" (Poston, pp. 6)

Captain Siege took Ana into her family and raised her like she was her own child.

Ana and Di become apart of this new family, which is made up of different types of people, none of them are actually biologically related.

“She loved the crew of the Dossier, Captain Siege’s ship. They were her home” (Poston pp. 6)

Ana thought of the crew as her own family.

She grew up knowing nothing different than this as her normal so she's always accepted this ragtag crew of outlaws as her real family.

Research:
What is a Family You Choose?

A found family is a group of people that you feel close to and are not biologically related.

They provide the individual with comfort, which they are lacking from their biological family.

Usually does not fit into the typical nuclear family mold

Can be as large or small as you want it to be

The group will usually be connected through similar experiences and personal bonds to one another.

Chosen families are more relatable to readers in the LGTBQ+ community

Found Families for LGBT+ Readers:

Sometimes those in the LGBTQ+ community find themselves estranged or removed from their biological families after coming out.

Finding a group of people with similar experiences gives these readers a sense of community and acceptance.

Found Families support each other and choose to be an active part in each other's lives.

Found Family in Heart of Iron:

Band of outlaws that live together and treat each other like a family

Siege and Talle act as the mother figures, taking in new members and taking care of the crew.

None of the crew is biologically related, but they share a bond that is thicker than blood.

Ana finds home in the people she considers family. She knows she can rely on her family to always have her back.

Importance of Found Families in YA Lit:

Coming of age readers may struggle to find where they fit in with their family, or may be outright rejected by their biological family.

Themes of found families show readers that family doesn't just have to be who you are biologically related to

Author's communicate with their readers about the positives of found family and how the concept can provide a healthy look on family dynamics.

This trope shows readers that the traditional nuclear family might not be realistic for everyone, and that's okay. Readers are shown that they can forage their own families that will love and support them.

Works Cited:

Brooks, David. “The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 Mar. 2020, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/the-nuclear-family-was-a-mistake/605536/.

Nobel, Jeremy. “Finding Connection Through ‘Chosen Family.’” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 14 June 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-unlonely/201906/finding-connection-through-chosen-family.

Poston, Ashley. Heart of Iron. Balzer + Bray, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2019.

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So, why is family representation important to young adult literature?

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So, why is family representation important to young adult literature?

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All of these family structures exist

Why it is important in the classroom:

1. Exposes students to different family types

2. Helps students find a connection between their life and literature

In other words, some students will have empathy, and other students can relate to something other than the traditional nuclear family in Western society.

Larger issues and factors with family types

Race

Ethnic background

Socioeconomic status

Culture

Etc.

Students can learn more about the factors that create a successful family dynamic, no matter what type. They can analyze how family is affected by these larger factors that were previously mentioned, and they can analyze how family affects these larger factors.

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ohitsanina. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower title art." Deviant Art, 03 Dec., 2011, https://www.deviantart.com/ohitsanina/art/The-Perks-of-Being-a-Wallflower-title-art-272193258. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

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"The Outsiders." Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231804.The_Outsiders. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

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Introduction to Family Representation in YAL

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Introduction to Family Representation in YAL

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Middle school teacher Joanne Gillespie realizes the importance of teaching young adult literature, especially The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton in 1967

Students show more engagement with novels they can identify with

“One reason to read is ‘to discover how literature can capture the richness and complexity of human life’ (NCTE and IRA 15).” (Gillespie 46)

Since The Outsiders, many young adult novels have been written.

These recent novels offer a variety of family structures to analyze, but family is often overlooked as an important aspect of literature.

We aim to discuss different family types and how they relate to young adult literature, as well as educate you on the importance of incorporating a variety of models of family structures in your classroom.

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Structure and Prevalence

A father, a mother, and children (1 or more)

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B)

Of 10,700 children, 78% of them were from nuclear families (Mollborn et al. 396)

"Normative in many U.S. contexts" (Mollborn et al. 400)

“A month later, my sister met another boy and started playing happy records again. And my dad kept working. And my mom kept sweeping. And my brother kept fixing his Camaro” (Chbosky “August 25, 1991”)

Parental Roles in the Nuclear Family and The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Charlie is the youngest of three children

His father works, and his mother sweeps, as he stated in the novel (shown above).

Father: provider ("working")

Mother: homemaker ("sweeping")

According to research done by University of California sociology professors William and Denise Bielby, men and women tend to identify with both working and family roles, but the way they come to identify with these roles and the level of priority they place on their family role differs:

“…family is given priority in the distribution of role identities among working wives….a strong family identity obligates [husbands] to very limited responsibilities outside of the ‘provider’ role” (Bielby and Bielby 786)

A woman, even if she does work outside of the family structure, will place priority on her family, whereas a man in the provider role will not feel the need to participate in duties at home that a woman would "typically do," such as the sweeping in Charlie's household.

This does not mean that a father would not parent, but he would feel as though his main responsibility in the family structure is providing for them (income, material things, etc.).

Works Cited in this Note

Bielby, William T., and Denise D. Bielby. “Family Ties: Balancing Commitments to Work and Family in Dual Earner Households.” American Sociological Review, vol. 54, no. 5, 1989, pp. 776–89. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2117753. Accessed 18 Mar. 2021.

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Kindle ed., New Castle District Library Center, 2010.

Mollborn, Stefanie, et al. “Who Matters for Children's Early Development? Race/Ethnicity and Extended Household Structures in the United States.” Child Indicators Research, vol. 4, no. 3, July 2011, pp. 389-411, doi:10.1007/s12187-010-9090-2.

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Children Assuming the Role of the Parent

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Children Assuming the Role of the Parent

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Midnight Sun By Stephanie Meyer:

“I wish I could meet this woman who shaped so much of Bella’s character. Part of me would have preferred that Bella had an easier, more traditional childhood--that she could have gotten to be the child. But she...didn’t seem resentful in any way. She liked to be the caretaker...perhaps this was the real secret as to why she was drawn to me. Had anyone ever needed her more?”-Edward, page 293"It’s hard for her to stay in one place very long...I did what I could to free her from all the mundane stuff...I feel like kind of a bad daughter...she doesn’t have to stay in one place for me anymore. And then Charlie, I never thought about him needing me, but he really does. The house is too empty for him.”

-Bella, page 293

Importance of Quotes

Shows that Bella was the parent in the situation with her mother

Outlines several important personality traits that align with parentification: the need to take care of others, the independence, and the guilt of not doing enough

Takes Edward's viewpoint into account, shows that he understands what happened to Bella

Also shows the beginning of his dependence on her, which is a result of parentification with future romantic relationships

Research:
Parentification: "a form of emotional abuse or neglect where a child becomes the caregiver to their parent or sibling" (Lamote)
Maternal Parentification:

Occurs when your mother is the person you assume the caregiving role of

Children grow up to be withdrawn and uncommunicative, have a difficult time establishing a personal identity, and can suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem

Children develop a personality that is purely family-based

Children grow up to have a more difficult time forming close relationships with others

Paternal Parentification:

Occurs when your father is the person you assume the caregiving role of

Children grow up to be withdrawn and uncommunicative, have a difficult time establishing a personal identity, and can suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem

Attachment Types with Parentification

Two negative attachment types (avoidant and anxious) are mostly associated with parentification

Anxious and avoidant attachments are  known to have irrational jealousy in their romantic relationships and experience constant emotional ups and downs throughout their relationships

Avoidant also have a fear of both physical and emotional intimacy, leading them to often shut down and be unable to open up and become closer to people.

Parentification Influence in Adolescence

In childhood, parents need to outline the difference between parent and child roles in the family. Failure to do this causes a future lack of connection to the outside world

In adolescence, teenagers have a harder time forming close relationships to people around them, causing them to be at a greater risk to experience low self-esteem and loneliness

The blurred roles cause a lack of sense of self/emotional boundaries between themselves and others, lack of intimacy, and poor social adjustment

Parentification and Health Issues

Greater risk for the development of psychological disorders and substance abuse

Reduction of hippocampus which leads to reduced stress and emotional management, and memory regulation

Greater risk of chronic illnesses such as cancer

Parentification Impacts on Romantic Relationships

All of these aspects from childhood can cause negative impacts on romantic relationships, causing insecurity and a lack of satisfaction with your significant other

Stems from childhood: sole function is to support the family, so as an adult, you see yourself as only being valuable if you can be of use to others

See themselves as the sole provider of happiness for significant other

Often put their significant other's needs before their own, which can lead to being taken advantage of and a problem developing boundaries

Healing from Parentification

Can be done through self awareness and therapy to promote healthy change

Children who have gone through this are able to empathize on higher levels

Adaptive parentification: temporarily allows for the child to assume more parental-roles, which are usually due to a temporary illness of the parent. Allows for empathy, self competency, and social skills to develop in children, which helps with the cohesion of the family.

Sources:
Baggett, Emily, et al. “Father–Daughter Parentification and Young Adult Romantic Relationships Among College Women.” Journal of Family Issues, vol. 36, no. 6, 2015, pp. 760–783.

Lamothe, Cindy. “When Kids Have to Act Like Parents, It Affects Them for Life.” The Atlantic,  Atlantic Media Company, 29 July 2018, www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2017/10/when-kids-have-to-parent-their-siblings-it-affects-them-for-life/543975/.

Goldner, Limor, et al. “Mother-Adolescent Parentification, Enmeshment and Adolescents’ Intimacy: The Mediating Role of Rejection Sensitivity.” Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 28, no. 1, 2019, pp. 192–201.

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Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

“A drive, too, meant a chance to be with Dad and Mother. If you were so lucky, even to sit with them on the front seat. There were so many of us and so few of them that we never could see as much of them as we wanted.”
Cheaper by the Dozen
(Gilbreth and Carey, 13)

The children as a whole feel they are constantly fighting for attention from their parents.

This quote offers a sense of what the children from a 14-person household feel when they are neglected more than usual.

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. by Judy Blume

“My mother washed my hair at two o’clock… She set it in big rollers all over my head... Then she filed my nails with an emery board instead of just cutting them like usual.” (Blume, 93).

Margaret, and only child in a family of three, has her mothers undivided attention when she needs her assistance.

This shows that only children are more likely to have the attention and care that they need by being the center of focus for their parents.

Research:
Small Family Facts and Behaviors

Average amount of children in a small family ranges from 1-3 (varies due to opinion)

Children in small families tend to be more self-sufficient, mature and well-behaved, but can lack social skills

They receive an abundant amount of attention, love, and care

Parents tend to become overprotective of children

Risk of child becoming spoiled or coddled

Big Family Facts and Behaviors

Large family typically is 3+ children

Kids with siblings have better social skills, learn how to build relationships, respect diversity of other, and have built in friendships

Possible to receive little on-on-one attention from parents; older children often take on the role of parent

Parents are typically not overprotective of children

Children learn how to share and cooperate with siblings before entering grade school

Top Two Sources

“Pros & Cons To Big Families.” HomeSweetHomeMaker, 14 March 2019,

homesweethomemaker.org/2019/03/14/pros-cons-to-big-families/.

“Small Families.” HealthyChildren.org,

www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/types-of-families/

Pages/Small-Families.aspx.

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green:

“You are not a grenade Hazel, not to us. Thinking about you dying makes us sad, Hazel, but you are not a grenade. You are amazing. You can’t know, sweetie, because you’ve never had a baby become a brilliant young reader with a side interest in horrible television shows, but the joy you bring us is so much greater than the sadness we feel about your illness” (Green, 103)

Hazel feels that nobody has the capability of understanding her outside of the support group

Here, we see that nobody other than another parent of a cancer patient can grasp their love and sacrifices.

Her parent’s rebuttal was an example of how parents are to stay calm, but not hide their feelings from their child in this situation

Research:
Family Dynamic
Mother

In most cases, the mother is tasked with treatment related needs and the keeping track of hospital visits, medications, etc.

Studies have shown that mothers with strong support from family and friends substantially impact how a they face the challenge of having an ill child

Father

While the mother may have to cut back on work or quit completely, the father is usually tasked with providing for the family financially

Studies have shown that fathers tend to find solace in healthcare officials and extended family

Sibling(s)

Many times, the siblings of chronically ill children can be overlooked and mistreated, but not intentionally

Treatments can result in prolonged hospital stays and disrupt the home life. Parents then become preoccupied with the needs of their sick child and neglect those of their seemingly healthy one

Approximately 63% of siblings have adjustment issues following a diagnosis

Excessive anxiety, depression, academic issues, and social problems are prevalent in many siblings

Siblings of chronically ill children yearn to feel validated and important

Psychological Impact on the Chronically Ill Child

After the completion of treatment, children can experience a wide range of emotions from relief, to joy, to abandonment

Some children even find it hard to adjust back to “normal” life

Some children found that they experienced less attention post-treatment

Most children find the ability to return to school gives them a sense of normality and sense of being

Some children find themselves in a healthier state of mind and a “social butterfly” when in remission, while others struggle with increased anxiety and a sense of selflessness

The transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor looks different for each and every child

Top 2 Sources:
“Community Help: When a Family Has a Child with Cancer:
CureSearch.” CureSearch for

Children's Cancer, 26 July 2016, curesearch.org/Community-Help.

Wakefield, Claire E., et al. “Psychosocial Impact of Completing Childhood Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 3 July 2009, academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/35/3/262/1091072.

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Background information

At least one parent that is not biologically related to the child/children

Terminology: stepmom/dad, step-siblings, half-siblings

Grandparents can be considered for a blended family

Statistics

16% of children live in blended families

Since the 90s, the number of having blended families are increasing dramatically

children of Hispanic, black, and white and equally likely to live in blended families

6 out of 10 women's remarriage create blended families

Having more children with their new partner

Mental Health on Children with Blended Families

Children may be diagnosed with some sort of anxiety or depression.

Stress is completely normal for these types of situations.

The feeling of abandonment may be present for the child/children

Books like Hey Kiddo show a child's perspective on his mental health of dealing with family.

Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

“For the first time, I was seeing my father’s face. And also my brother and sister. They look just like me. The same eyes. The same hair. Turns out I have a brother and a sister...half-brother and half-sister through him.”
(Krosoczka, 267-270)

Jarrett was shocked at how his half-siblings have very similar facial features to him.

The feeling of having a new blended family with more members gave him happiness.

After spending nearly his beginning years of life, Jarret was able to find out a whole new family and feel complete.

Research

There has been a small scale on books involving blended families

The themes that are involved with blended families show how evil it is

There is a lack of coheiresses and interactions between the two families. It's being shifted to the both strengths and challenges of a blended family. The blended family is more in the media.

There is still a variety of unrealistic and negative perspectives of stepfamilies.

Top Sources

Bliss, Beverly. “Step Families.” Parenthood in America, 15 Oct. 1998, http://parenthood.library.wisc.edu/Bliss/Bliss.html.

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. “Chapter 8: Lost and Found.” Hey Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found
My Father and Dealt with Family Addiction, edited by David Levithan, Graphix, Oct. 2018, pp. 253–304.

“Making stepfamilies work.” American Psychological Association, 23 Aug. 2019, http://www.apa.org/topics/stepfamily.

Meleen, Michele. “Blended Family Statistics.” Love to Know; Family & Relationships, May 2020, https://family.
lovetoknow.com/co-parenting/blended-family-statistics.