Saturday, April 30, 2016

Nine classic YA novels primed for genderbent versions

At the B&N Teen Blog Natalie Zutter tagged nine classic Young Adult books ripe for some creative genderbending of the main characters, including:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

For most of these I’m genderswapping the entire cast of characters, but I personally would want to read a version of Perks where only Charlie is genderbent, and everyone else stays the same. That would tweak each of the dynamics in key ways: Sam taking an interest in Charlie and giving her her first kiss from someone who loves her might help Charlie better relate to the closeted Patrick. Furthermore, there’s something more damning in being a girl who’s a wallflower than a boy, in shrinking away from the scrutinizing gaze of her peers and adults in equal measure; I’d want to see a book like this address a young woman finding her place without the social requirements of prettiness or popularity.
Read about another entry on the list.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is on John Corey Whaley's top ten list of coming of age books for teens, Ema O'Connor's top ten list "of the most rockin’ songs mentioned in the most rockin’ books", and Lauren Passell's list of the best Manic Pixie Dream Girls in fiction.

--Marshal Zeringue