This paper focuses on a specification of the wide topic “Sick Lit”, which is the abbreviated form of “sick literature”. It is defined as literature featuring sick children, written for children. With literary works – such as The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – gaining popularity, questions may arise. The relevance of this paper is to determine the impact of such books on their target readership. Due to the impossibility of covering every book under this subgenre, specific literature has been picked. Aside from the coverage of the subgenre’s history, experts and readers are cited. Additionally, the psychological theory of adolescents’ understanding and perceptions of death is provided. After months of research, it was therefore possible to state that even multiple experts’ opinions differ. While some appeal to the authors’ responsibility or are concerned about the literature being harmful for its readers, others view “Sick Lit” as a form of education.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical principles
3. Synopsis of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
4. History of the genre
4.1 History of the term ”Sick Lit”
4.2 Pioneer Lurlene McDaniel and her book Saving Jessica
4.3 Impact of The Fault in Our Stars
5. What experts think of the genre
5.1 CTVNews.ca
5.2 Daily Mail
5.3 Amanda Craig and Melissa Bordon-King on Sick Lit
5.3.1 Amanda Craig
5.3.2 Melissa Bordon-King
6. What readers think of The Fault in Our Stars
7. Further representative examples of Sick Lit
7.1 Synopsis of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
7.2 Synopsis of Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
8. Adolescents’ understanding and perceptions of death
9. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the influence of the "Sick Lit" subgenre on its adolescent readership, exploring whether such literature serves as an educational tool for processing serious themes like illness and death or potentially fosters negative psychological effects.
- The historical development and terminology of "Sick Lit".
- Differing professional perspectives from experts, psychologists, and authors regarding the impact on young readers.
- Reader reception and reviews of prominent novels within the genre.
- Representative synopses of influential books such as The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Five Feet Apart.
- The psychological understanding of mortality and death during adolescence.
Excerpt from the Book
3. SYNOPSIS OF THE FAULT IN OUR STARS BY JOHN GREEN
In The Fault in Our Stars we follow a 16-year-old protagonist named Hazel and her adventurous relationship with Augustus Waters. Hazel suffers from lung cancer and, on recommendation from her parents, attends a cancer support group. This is the place where she meets Augustus, who has suffered from a rare form of bone cancer up until recently. As they grow closer and spend more time with each other, their bond strengthens. Hazel mentions her favourite book called An Imperial Affliction. Due to it also tackling the life of a girl with cancer, as well as ending mysteriously midsentence, she has many questions about the ending and the fate of the protagonist.
Augustus and Hazel decide to write a letter to the author of the book, who then invites them to stop by his house in case they visit Amsterdam someday. On arrival, Hazel and Augustus are disappointed to meet a drunk man, declining to answer any questions. After their visit to the Anne Frank Museum, Augustus confesses that his cancer has returned. He passes away eight days later. On Augustus’ demand, the author of An Imperial Affliction attends the funeral. There, Hazel finds out about his 8-year-old daughter who died of cancer and inspired the book. Hazel recommends him to become sober and write another book.
The novel ends with Hazel reading Augustus’ handwritten letter to the author, concluding I love her. I am so lucky to love her, Van Houten. You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers. (cf. Green J., 2012, p.313)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the thesis by defining the scope of Sick Lit and explaining the logical structure of the research, which connects expert opinions with psychological theory.
2. Theoretical principles: This chapter establishes foundational definitions for the "Sick Lit" subgenre and specifies the target audience group as Young Adult readers aged 12-18.
3. Synopsis of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: This chapter provides a detailed plot summary of the central novel to allow for later analysis of the genre's themes and impact.
4. History of the genre: This chapter traces the origins of the term "Sick Lit" and introduces pioneer authors like Lurlene McDaniel, while highlighting the massive cultural success of John Green's work.
5. What experts think of the genre: This chapter compiles a range of expert viewpoints, from psychologists fearing the normalization of suicide to others viewing these books as vital launching pads for difficult conversations.
6. What readers think of The Fault in Our Stars: This chapter utilizes quantitative and qualitative data from reader platforms to illustrate how inspiration versus criticism impacts the reception of the book.
7. Further representative examples of Sick Lit: This chapter provides contextual synopses for The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Five Feet Apart to demonstrate the breadth of themes within the genre.
8. Adolescents’ understanding and perceptions of death: This chapter applies psychological principles to explain how teenagers comprehend the finality and causality of death.
9. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the contradictory expert findings and reiterates that, while Sick Lit has a measurable impact, further research is required to fully understand its long-term effects.
Keywords
Sick Lit, Young Adult literature, John Green, The Fault in Our Stars, adolescent psychology, grief, mortality, illness, mental health, readership, literary impact, critical reception, suicide, medical trauma, communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
This paper examines the subgenre "Sick Lit," analyzing how books portraying illness and death impact their adolescent target readership.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work explores themes of mortality, mental health, trauma, social relationships, and the educational potential of literature versus its possible harmful effects on young minds.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The aim is to synthesize historical, literary, and psychological viewpoints to determine if "Sick Lit" is a beneficial guide for adolescents coping with tragedy or a potentially polarizing influence.
Which scientific methods are applied here?
The author employs a qualitative approach, combining literary analysis, expert testimonial synthesis, and psychological theory to evaluate the subgenre.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers a historical overview, analyses of specific seminal works, a survey of conflicting expert opinions, reader feedback statistics, and psychological frameworks regarding adolescent development.
How would you summarize the characterization of this genre?
The work characterizes "Sick Lit" as a polarising, widely popular category of Young Adult fiction that bridges the gap between entertainment and serious, often painful, life lessons.
Why are the books "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Five Feet Apart" featured?
These specific titles were selected to illustrate the diversity within the genre, ranging from mental health and trauma to physical illness and strictly managed medical environments.
What is the author's final conclusion regarding the impact of these books?
The conclusion suggests that while an impact is undeniable, there is no consensus among experts; therefore, it remains an area where professional supervision and parental engagement are recommended.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), The impact of Sick Lit on its target readership, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1243611
