The Value Of Using Biracial Young Adult Literature In The Secondary Classroom

This thesis argues for the inclusion of biracial young adult literature in the secondary classroom because of the value it can add to students', teachers', and communites’ lives. As the population of biracial young adults grows, as does the need for them to see themselves in the classroom for the development of their identity. By including biracial young adult literature in the secondary classroom, it provides a tremendous learning experience for students who are biracial and non-biracial. For students who are biracial, it allows them to connect with another who faces similar problems to themselves. For non-biracial students, these novels provide them the opportunity to learn about the issues their classmates may face and also provides a platform for these issues to be discussed. For teachers, it provides the opportunity to teach about issues of social justice, bullying, and advocating for others. By examining multiple biracial young adult novels and the issues discussed within, this thesis defends and asserts the value of using these novels in the classroom.