The Dear One / From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun

Two of Jacqueline Woodson’s novels, “The Dear One” and “From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun,” are effected literature works that can be used to teach young adult readers about economic diversity, sexuality and racism. Woodson is successful in treating the topics effectively because young readers can easily relate to the storylines. Her style of writing deals with multi-cultural issues in present time and touch upon topics that many young students may have to face themselves.

Each of the novels held my interests because I enjoyed the way each story flowed. Both stories were a quick read, but hit upon real and serious issues in a matter-of-fact way; nothing was sugar-coated or overly fabricated. The protagonists in both novels made me realize that young adults have to face various multicultural issues, and these situations are real and may be present within my own classroom.

Both novels brought the issue of sexuality into the story line. Each book brought to light how same-sex couples are perceived by others, as well as how young people handle the situation too. I’m not sure if I would use either of these novels in my class this year, because one of my students is currently struggling with parent separation and one parent is engaged in a new relationship with a same-sex partner. I feel that if I used either of these books in my current class, the story might not be well received by the majority of students. However, I would not be opposed to using either novel in next year’s class.

The universal themes that can be found within both books are familial ties and social acceptance. Both novels demonstrate the direct correlation between familial bonding and how people are perceived in social situations. The manner in which young adults handle social challenges is directly effected by the amount of immediate family support and resources that are available to them.

I enjoyed Woodson’s novels and would add them to my classroom library. However, due to the culturally sensitive issues contained within each story, teachers should known their students before assigning such works.