Young Readers and the Transformative Power of Fantasy Literature
By David Michael Slater
Book cover image courtesy of David Michael Slater.
Some consider the act of reading itself an escape. Diving into a good book, regardless of its content, can whisk us away from the trials and tribulations of daily life. Fantasy literature is typically considered, by definition, escapist, and no doubt that is why it’s such a popular genre. It’s hard to imagine a better way to leave the cruel world behind for while than by immersing oneself in an entirely different one. Despite persistent stereotypes (think: “nerds” with tape on their glasses), recent research reveals that science fiction and fantasy books are read by readers from all demographic groups. And that makes intuitive sense. Who doesn’t need a break from reality now and then?
All that said, it seems obvious, if measured by the sheer volume of books published for them, that young readers gravitate to fantasy the most. Why is that? In my experience over the last 20+ years as a middle and high school teacher, and in my experience during that same time as an author of many fantasy books for young readers, I can say, unequivocally, that it’s not because they are more frivolous or reality-averse than adults. In fact, I’d argue the opposite.
Young people are, of course, desperate to discover their place in the world they find themselves growing up in. But by the time they pick up fantasy novels, they’re often already very unhappy with it: it’s constrictions; it’s contradictions; it’s corruptions. Among the many reasons I’ve learned they escape, especially, into fantasy novels is, of course, to hide from a world that isn’t appealing for as long as they are able. But also among those reasons is a deep and abiding desire to see what else is possible, for them as people and for the world they might one day have a hand in shaping. This might look like finding inspiration in the literal possibilities of future technology they read about in science fiction, but it also might mean pondering the possibilities of birthing new worlds out of dying ones, or of forging true selves out of identities thrust upon them, or, perhaps most promising, of considering the possibility that despite feeling insignificant, they might have the capacity to do great and wondrous things. Any types of books can elicit such thoughts, but fantasy seems especially well suited to inspire them.
I find that most adults have long accepted the world as it is and will read stories to get away from it for a time. But I find that most young readers have raised no such white flags. They escape, yes, but to gather themselves for a triumphant return. They escape to return transformed. They are our hope for a brighter future, a future that isn’t even possible unless someone first imagines becoming the kind of person who can make it so.
Photo by Matt Bieker.
David Michael Slater is an acclaimed author of nearly 30 books of fiction and nonfiction for children, teens, and adults. His early chapter book series, Mysterious Monsters, is being developed for animated series by the director of Angry Birds and Christmas Story 2, and his forthcoming novel, The Vanishing, a Holocaust fantasy, is in development for feature film. David teaches middle school in Reno, Nevada. You can learn more about his work at davidmichaelslater.com. David will also be participating in the panel, “In a World,” at the 2022 Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl on Saturday, September 10 in Reno.