Young Adult Literature
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Course Objectives:

Designed for undergraduate students who wish to expand their knowledge of Asian Pacific American culture and literature, and education majors who want to learn methods for incorporating such literature into the history, social studies and English classroom, this course includes the following goals:

• To examine the various ways Asian Pacific Americans are portrayed in mass media and literature.
• To consider varying perspectives of the Asian American canon and the young adult genre's place in this canon.
• To better understand immigration and assimilation experiences of Asian Pacific Americans by engaging in a cultural studies approach: students in this course will engage with interactive digital classrooms, view digital archives, study expository essays, conduct independent research, and discuss how cultural themes are illustrated in Asian Pacific American literature.

Course Introduction:

While Asian Americans only comprise approximately 5% of the total United States population, this ethnic group has been present on American soil and in American culture since the mid 1800’s. Not large in number, Asian Americans have nonetheless contributed greatly to American politics and academia, cuisine and cinema, literature and visual art. By the mid-1960’s, in fact, the image of Asians in America was expressed best by the term, “model minority.” Procuring degrees from prestigious universities, securing top-paying positions, and earning more than any other racial or ethnic group, the Asian Americans seemed to represent the ultimate champions of the “American dream.”

If success can be measured with statistics, then perhaps this dream was a reality. However, by examining the Asian American immigration experience, one realizes this “dream” does not come without tremendous struggle. This course is designed to raise awareness of the entirety of the Asian American experience, specifically of Asian Pacific Americans, by studying literture produced by this group.

Drawing on historical materials, digital archives, and the contribution of contemporary Asian American scholars and citizens, this course will conduct an interdisciplinary study of the evolving labels or stereotypes placed upon this ethnic group: from “Aliens Ineligible for Citizenship,” to “Yellow Peril,” to “Model Minority,” to what current labels we can find. Alongside this historical data, the course will examine how such labels are manifested or subverted in Asian Pacific American young adult novels.

Students will approach these novels from a reader-response perspective, engaging in personal reflection and conversation with peers electronically. Students will be “connected” outside of class through a class blog. The digital format allows dialogue concerning the literature and historical material studied to continue outside the classroom. Additionally the blog, as an online journal, is a genre well suited for students to keep an ongoing record of their thoughts, feelings and reactions to literature and comments of peers.

Within the classroom students will have many opportunities to engage in discussion through literature circles, presentations, and panel discussions. Though I will prepare and facilitate some in-class activities, I firmly believe in student-centered learning.

Finally, students will engage in scholarly research by examining differing perspectives regarding the “Asian American Canon,” considering the bildungsroman or “Coming of Age” genre which prevails in young adult literature, and using a cultural studies approach to determine Asian Pacific American themes present in these texts. Such research will be used to support essay assignments, panel discussions, and presentations, culminating in a semester project. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in “field research” by completing a cross-cultural experience.

Required Reading:

1. Asian American young adult literature:

• Brainard, Cecilia Manguerra, ed. Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults. PAHL, 2003.
• Houston, Jeanne (Wakatsuki) and James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment. Laurel Leaf, 1983.
• Lee, Gus. China Boy. Plume, 1994.
• Lee, Marie G. Finding My Voice. Harper Trophy, 2001
• Na, An. A Step From Heaven. Puffin, 2003.
• Tan, Amy. Joy Luck Club. Penguin, 2006.
• Uchida, Yoshiko. Picture Bride. Tandem Library, 1999.
• Yep, Lawrence. The Amah. Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.

2. Secondary sources:

• Chin, et al. The Big Aiiieeeee! Plume, 1991.
• Leonard, George J., ed. The Asian Pacific American Heritage: A Companion to Literature and Arts. Garland Publishing, 1999.
• Extensive online sources, such as digital archives, blogs, and educational websites.

3. Selections from the following (which I will provide as handouts):

• Hong, Maria, ed. Growing Up Asian American: An Anthology. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1993.
• Kiyama, Henry. The Four Immigrants Manga: A Japanese Immigrants Experience in San Fransisco, 1904-1924.
  
  Tunnell, Micheal O. and George W. Chilcoat. The Children of Topaz: The Story of a Japanese American Internment Camp Based on a Classroom Diary. Holiday House, April 1996.

Course Assignments:

• Weekly responses on your class blog (20%)
• Daily participation in class activities and panel discussions (10%)
• Essay assignments (15%)
• Semester project (30%)
• Literature Circle presentation (10%)
• Cross cultural experience/presentation (15%)