“Heads up reader”: Content warnings in young adult literature
Background: Discussions around censorship of literature for young people abound today. Excluding the voices of young readers, teacher librarians, and other professionals can make difficult decisions around content. At the heart of their work is ensuring young people have the freedom to read and develop a habit of reading for pleasure while also balancing a duty of care and the varying developmental levels and interests of young people. This study grew out of an interest in the role of peritext, specifically content warnings, in young adult literature in supporting reading.
Aim: This exploratory research investigates the rise of content warnings included as peritext in young adult literature, the themes identified within the content, and how these messages persuade readers to continue or stop reading.
Method/approach: Our sample includes nominations for an international young adult book award for first-time authors. We examined each title’s peritext and recorded inclusion of 12 categories from the Content Warnings Typology (Charles et al., 2022, p. 8). They were violence, sex, stigma, disturbing content, language, risky behaviours, mental health, death, parental guidance, crime, abuse, and sociopolitical.
Results/findings: The findings show over 20% of the sample included a content warning before the text began, covering a range of topics, with most related to mental health, followed by violence, stigma, and abuse.
Conclusion: This research lays the foundation for future research, including the voices of young adults, to determine if and how they use content warnings to make reading decisions.
Implications for children and families: This research asks you to consider your agency when reading books, including why you choose to read or why you stop reading.
Implications for practitioners: This research asks you to consider how content warnings support or impede young people’s agency to make decisions about what to read.
Funding: CSU Thematics Funding.
Keywords: young adult literature, peritext, content warnings, teacher librarian, school libraries, reader agency
This presentation relates to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: