Informed by theories of reading as transactions and new literacies, the authors discuss the powerful possibilities of reconsidering reader response with contemporary nonfiction children’s literature.
CARL HIAASEN'S FLUSH (2005) addresses one of the key issues of our time: environmental degradation. His story offers children opportunities to think about how to act and behave in the face of environmental challenges and serves as an argument against prioritizing capitalism over the environment and humanity (Klein, 2014; Lewis, 2015). Flush is funny and irreverent, and it positions children in complex situations as both agentive and lacking control as they contend with family and environmental problems in the Florida Keys. Current theoretical and media representations of environmentalism advocate for understanding the human side of environmental issues in addition to ecological impacts (Buell, 2009; Garrard, 2004; Heise, 2008; Klein, 2014; Lewis, 2015). Geologists have argued for the declaration of a new Anthropocene epoch due to the clear evidence that humanity has forever altered our planet (Carrington, 2016). Research in children's literature must consider lenses that keep people in the foreground when exploring environmental issues. Researchers and educators must consider what children's books can and should mean for children fighting for their futures.Environmental collapse poses one of the most serious threats to modern life the world has seen. Historic and ongoing disregard for land and human life (Klein, 2014; Lewis, 2015) have led to what are known as "sacrifice zones" (Lerner, 2010)-those people and places impacted by environmental or economic devastation, sacrificed to outside environmental and economic interests. People in sacrifice zones are often unheard or silenced by those not experiencing the effects or living within the zones. Traditionally, people in relatively stable economies, such as many in the United States, understand these zones as far away, removed from their experiences of economic and physical safety. However, with anthropogenic climate change posing increasing challenges to the globe, those living in sacrifice zones are becoming more vocal and visible-spurred by focused activism against indifference to environmental and economic disaster. We see examples of this in the number of nations who agreed to the Paris climate accord in 2015 (Davenport, 2015), and perhaps even more so in the grassroots support for the Indigenous activists at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in 2016 (Skalicky & Davey, 2016; Treuer, 2016).The definition of sacrifice zones has become fuzzier as people not traditionally living in these areas begin to recognize that such places and people exist close to home, too. Major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 have taken many lives and devastated communities. In 2012, deadly Superstorm Sandy crashed into the global economic capital. In addition, governments continue to sanction infringement on Native lands (e.g., Treuer, 2016), and there is ongoing and continual degradation of urban spaces like Flint, Michigan (e.g., Smith, 2016), and natural spaces like the Gulf of Mexico (e.g., Mouawad, 2010). Those with historic privilege stemming from skin color, economic standing, and geographic locale, among other things, can no longer lean on conventional conceptions of what counts as a sacrifice zone to deny adverse impacts on human lives and the environment both near and far. While experienced differentially across locales, sacrifice zones do not have discrete boundaries; those with historic privilege, too, are living in sacrifice zones.Children's Literature in Sacrifice ZonesPopular today in children's literature, and perhaps even more so in young adult literature, are futuristic tales of dystopian wastelands, stories that spring from either Orwellian fears, as in Piers Torday's The Last Wild (2013), or government collapse, as in Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower (1993). Hammer (2010) describes such dystopian stories as a means of confronting ecological futures; disaster fiction and refugee journeys of a future society offer not so fantastical voyages that create cultural pressure and imagined futures for young readers. …
CONSIDERING THE CONTINUED lack of diversity in children's literature (Cooperative Children's Book Center, 2014; Low, 2016; Myers, 2014), Jane Addams Children's Book Award (JACBA) is important in that it supports high-quality books that effectively engage children in thinking peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all (Jane Addams Peace Association, n.d.). This mission distinguishes award from other high-profile prizes for children's literature. Originally a single award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award for Books for Younger Children was added as a separate category in 1993, with a focus solely on picturebooks.In this article, we examine correlation between JACBA's selection criteria as of 2016 and corresponding selections awarded between 2005 and 2015. Mickenberg and Nel (2011) argued that the proliferation of awards-and booklists-focusing upon of marginalized groups, social issues, or social has had some impact on production of children's literature, although their impact on both sales and literary quality is debatable (p. 447). Though there are many literary awards and distinctions that might address issues of social justice, studying JACBA enabled us as researchers to analyze content, evaluate trends, and identify gaps. Our research started with general question: Which trends exist among recent winners of JACBA? However, as we investigated book set further, our question became focused on how well these books correlate with selection criteria and mission of award.About Jane Addams Children's Book AwardThe JACBA is administered by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's educational affiliate, Jane Addams Peace Association. Established in 1953, award serves to engage readers in contemplation and dialogue issues related to peace, social justice, community, and racial and gender equality. As Griffith (2013) noted, award acknowledges books about struggles for social past and present, stories people who devote their lives to fighting injustice, and stories importance of working together collectively and nonviolently (p. 49). Even though award has been around for over 60 years, it is not as well known as prestigious honors administered by American Library Association (ALA) and other professional organizations, perhaps because of its focus on social justice.As Caponegro (2014) pointed out, most other awards for multicultural books promote and appreciation rather than peace and social justice (p. 217). The Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of International Literacy Association's Notable Books for a Global Society recognizes books that enhance student understanding of people and cultures throughout world (n.d.), while National Council for Social Studies honors books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups, and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences (n.d.). An award with a similar focus on role of women is ALA's Amelia Bloomer Project list, which is administered by Feminist Task Force on Social Responsibilities Round Table and focuses on books with significant feminist content (Amelia Bloomer Project, n.d.). Compared to these other awards, JACBA is broader in scope and focuses more intentionally on social and peace.Currently, JACBA committee selects two winners each year, one in each of following categories: Books for Younger Children and Books for Older Children. The committee selects up to four honor books, generally two in each category. The submission guidelines, updated in 1994, indicate seven targeted themes and five overarching questions used to frame discussions during book evaluation process to consider issues of democracy and social action (Griffith, 2013). Griffith explained that award highlight[s] conception of peace as an approach in life and connect[s] it to struggles of social justice (p. …
