Read This Book Out Loud: A Critical Analysis of Young Adult Works by Artists from the Poetry Slam Community

Abstract

This article examines the efforts of notable authors from the poetry slam community who have published Young Adult works intended for the classroom. Numerous secondary educators have embraced spoken word poetry as an engaging art form for teenagers yet often express difficulty in finding age‐appropriate material to share in school settings. This literature review hopes to serve as an introductory reference for secondary educators and researchers, and differs from slam‐themed reviews in that it specifically highlights artists from the slam circuit who have transitioned into YA publishing. Since the featured authors hail from backgrounds in theatre and performance, the works discussed often incorporate characteristics of oral verse that seemingly transcend the print medium. Also examined is the inherent barrier between oppositional, profane narratives embraced by youth, and the expectations of educational institutions who use censorship to sterilize places of learning. Written by an educator and academic who has been a part of the slam community for over a decade, this article offers an insider’s perspective for secondary educators, researchers, and fans of spoken word poetry who wish to know more about integrating the works of prominent ‘slammers’ into their classroom curricula.