The easy answer: literature written for, about, or by people from the
Appalachian Mountain region of the Eastern United States. Materials must
be chosen with care, for just as with any ethnic or regional genre, the
potential pitfalls of stereotypes, racism and ignorance are a constant
danger.
To define Appalachian Literature one should use the same criteria as for
other regional genres.
"Regional literature is ideally the primary means for regional self-expression and self-identity. In preserving a history of the collective experience of a people, regional literature should provide an understanding of the characteristics of the people and forces that shaped their lives and made the region's experience unique. Regional literature, in addition to allowing those from outside the region to share a region's experience, should give those native to the region a sense of how they became who they are today..."(2)
"In summary, regional literature: (1) is free of stereotyping, (2) deals
in-depth with individuals, showing those individuals involved in universal
conflicts or learning some universal truth, (3) deals with the land as it
impinges on humans, and (4) provides a heightened sense of place."(2)
As with any regional or ethnic genre, one should be alert to negative uses
of dialect to embarass or ridicule, stereotype characters (both
protagonists and antagonist), and outright misrepresentations of the
region or people.
What is the appeal to children?
Choosing literature that fits these criteria for Appalachia is a must for
any library in the region. Students enjoy reading and hearing stories
about folks like them. Students will be more inclined to read books with
stories they can relate to and understand. Parents and grandparents may
be more inclined to read aloud books to the children that are about their
lives. The best books will be familiar, even if new to the students, at a
subconscious level through the rhythms and tempo of the story. The
characters will face situations that the students will know, or at least
have heard of, and react in ways the students can understand.
It is my belief that at-risk children especially benefit from this
literature. For children that find little in school that interests them
or from their perspective relates to them, this literature acts as an
awakening. "There is a difference between being talked to and being
talked about."(3) For some, this is the first time they have read in
school anyone who speaks like them. It reveals the possibilities and
shows the benefit of succeeding at school. Here is a person who started
like them being published! A solid reading base can be achieved that will
allow the young reader to build successful early reading experiences into
lifelong reading enjoyment.
Appalachian Literature for children encompasses a wide range of materials:
from traditional tales (Jack Tales) to contemporary authors such as
Cynthia Rylant and George Ella Lyon. Huston's My Great Aunt
Arizona and Naylor's Shiloh also shine as examples of
contemporary Appalachian writing.
For the more adventuresome librarian or teacher, the ballads and folk
songs are a treasure trove of rich stories and adventure. (4) During any
thematic unit on the region, make available photographic collections such
as the Doris Ulman Collection from Berea College. One might invite
students to document their lives with photographs and perhaps use old
family photographs for comparing and contrasting. The Foxfire
books, a must for the reference section of any Appalachian region library,
should be prominently displayed.
(1) Hinson, Carolyn Matthews. ALAN Review from Appalachian
Literature for Youth. WWW site:
http://funnelweb.utc.utk.edu/~estes/appalach.html
(2)Sims, Rudine. Shadow and Substance (from Appalachian Literature
for Youth. WWW site: http://funnelweb.utc.utk.edu/~estes/appalach.html
(3)See Youth Literature Bibliography.
(4)See Music in Appalachia Bibliography.
Return to:
Appalachian
Literature
Elementary Resources/Children's Lit
Middle & Secondary Resources/YA Lit
