Are the Kids All Right?

Are the Kids All Right? by Bj Epstein

Are the Kids All Right? by B.J. Epstein is the first survey of English-language children's literature that features lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise queer characters. It explores how LGBTQ characters are portrayed and what this says about contemporary society and it covers picture books, middle-grade books, and young adult fiction. Epstein explores why sex, sexuality and gender non-conformity is something that many writers and publishers of children's and young adult lit appear to shy away from. She passionately demonstrates that the information children get from literature matters, and that so called 'difficult' topics can be communicated in entertaining and informative ways. Are the Kids All Right? uses ideas from queer theory and other research to interrogate the ways LGBTQ characters are portrayed in books for children and young people, and to analyse what messages readers of such books might receive. This book brings together literary studies, sociology, queer studies, and other academic fields in an accessible manner, where the research supports the detailed analyses of over fifty books for children and young adults. In Are the Kids All Right?, Epstein looks at a range of topics, such as the lack of diversity in many of these works, how same-sex marriage is portrayed, the relative absence of bisexual and transgender characters, the way that many of these books are marketed and intended as issue books, and more. Are the Kids All Right? is a practical and informative book that will inspire writers and publishers to produce better LGBTQ literature for young readers. About the author: B.J. Epstein is the author of over 150 articles, book reviews, personal essays, and short stories. She is lecturer in Literature and Public Engagement at the University of East Anglia, and she is also a translator from the Scandinavian languages to English.

Literature representing LGBTQ experiences will be part of any inclusive school curriculumOf course. Epstein takes that crucial next step, though, and establishes some criteria for selecting and using these books. She weaves her own opinions in with those of other experts, comments from authors, and the voices of the characters themselves. From picture books to young adult literature, she helps us understand the value of these works, but also reveals some of the unintended messages teachers might want to avoid or compensate for. This book will be a good place to start for anyone new to LGBTQ children’s literature or food for thought for the experienced practitioner.

* Renée DePalma Ungaro *

What world is created by the LGBT/queer stories found in current children’s literature, and what world would we like to create going forward?  With this book, B.J. Epstein shares a vivid map of the present, and a bold atlas for the future.

-- Marcus Ewart, author of 10,000 Dresses

B.J. eloquently explores all aspects of our journey to inclusivity. Inclusive literature is key to eradicating discrimination, reflecting the real lives and families of our young readers.

-- Elly Barnes * Schools Out *

B.J. Epstein is Senior Lecturer in Literature and Public Engagement at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Her work focuses primarily on literary translation, queer studies, and children's literature, and intersections between them. She is the author or editor of several books and over 160 articles, book reviews, personal essays, and short stories.

Robert Gillett is Reader in German and Comparative Cultural Studies at Queen Mary University of London. He has published widely on modern German-language literature and film and on all things queer, and is co-editor of Queer in Europe and a special issue of Sexualities on European Queer.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780956450739
ISBN 10	0956450733
Title	Are the Kids All Right?
Author	Bj Epstein
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Intellect Books
Year published	2013-10-31
Number of pages	274
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.