IS "A COW CALLED BOY" AN ADOLESCENT LITERATURE TEXT?

Overview

One of the most intriguing and fascinating books I have read is the book written by Everard Palmer in the year  1972. Reviewer Oren O Cousins described the novel as a “humorous and true to life novelette which can be enjoyed as a serialized bed time story. The book in question, “A Cow Called Boy”, has been ordained as a  novelette which can be read with enjoyment by “literate six year olds”. Upon close examination it can be deduced that this novelette can be classified as a young adult text since it possesses the characteristics of such genre.

Characteristics

Attractive/ organization

At face value the novelette appears to be one which will attract the age range which defines young adult. Though it may appear to be very superficial, the mere fact that an appropriate font size was used and the chapters were not long appears to attract young adults especially those at the lower end of the age range. Additionally, the pictures and illustrations which are found in the book serve as enticements as they cater to the visual learners. These illustrations also give a general idea as to what was happening in the book or chapter to which it was a part of. Furthermore, the author presented a caption with each chapter. The captions serve as sub stories within the bigger story. According to Vygotsky’s theory, the captions serve as a means scaffolding which our students need  to take them through the zone of proximal development. Moreover, the captions serve as the More Knowledgeable Other in the absence of the teacher. It lets the reader know what to expect in the chapter before actually reading it. It creates some sort of suspense and instils a sense of anxiety in the readers as they really want to know what exactly is going to happen and how will it be achieved. For example in the novelette “A Cow Called Boy”, the caption “Josh gets Boy back” will get the readers anxious as they will want to know how Josh got Boy back.

Language

Blasingame (2007) has identified language which is relative to adolescent age group as another characteristic of young adult literature. This characteristic seems to the most prevalent ones in the novelette. The language used is very simple making suitable for all adolescents even the struggling readers. The simplistic nature of the vocabulary as well as the use of short simple sentences has contributed to the simplicity of the content. Students who have read the text have acceded that the text was easy to comprehend.

Identifying with the issues and characters

According to Blasingame (2007) a novel in which young readers can identify the characters and issues can be categorized as a young adult literature text. Critiques have suggested that teachers such as Mr. Redmond, who seem to be very rigid and depend on the strap for correction, do exist in the schools today. On the contrary, students are still blessed with caring and loving teachers like Mrs. Anthony. Students do come across shop owners and community members like Mr. Watson who prey on them. They can identify with characters such as Mrs. Mahon who seem to be representation of many single mothers who work laboriously to fend for her son. Most importantly, students can identify with the protagonist of the novelette, Josh Mahon. He seemed to have been a “problem” child at school- one who gets himself into constant dilemmas. He was a strong willed and determined boy who proved to everyone that he gets whatever he wants and won’t give up until he succeed. Josh, like most young adults believed at some point that no one understood him and cared about how he felt. Lesesne (2003) is of the opinion that the primary focus of young adult literature is on a young adult lead character.

The identifiable issues in the novelette are not all foreign to our adolescents. This therefore provides an avenue for the issues students faced to be dealt with in a safe haven. Critiques have described the novelette as a “light hearted novel but it is altogether frivolous as there are lessons to be learnt” (Cousins). A number of issues which adolescents can identify with are present in the novelette. These include tolerance, love for animals, justice, determination and courage.  These are all themes which Lesesne reiterates are present in adolescent literature. As the issues are developed, they help the readers identify with the characters more and instils a sense of security when issues mirror what is going on within their lives. This therefore explains why most students gravitated towards Josh.

Problem

Zindel (1968) and Hinton (1967) have attributed young adults being forced to confront to confront their problems alone as a major trait of adolescent literature. In “A Cow Called Boy” Josh was forced to tackle his problem all by himself at the initiation stages. He was determined to do whatever it takes to get his “Boy” back. It was after realizing his relentless efforts the adults assisted.

Upon close examination, it becomes unequivocal that the novelette “A Cow Called Boy” suitably qualifies as a young adult literature text.