Understanding Representation in Young Adult Literature Through the Voices of Young People

Fictional characters and worlds depicted in Young Adult (YA) literature help young people understand the world and their place within it. This paper explores secondary students’ perspectives on popular YA literature framed by Bishop’s mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors metaphor. Focus groups with 16 secondary students suggested that mirrors were familiar contexts and daily practices; windows were books featuring others’ experiences and personal challenges; and sliding glass doors were books allowing students to consider the hypothetical. The metaphor could help librarians to develop students’ critical thinking skills and foster an ability to imagine different ways of being and living.