Abstract - Guiliana Reitzfeld

This paper examines recent trends in children’s and teen literature, focusing on two contemporary series, Gossip Girls and The Clique, to investigate the theory that the distinction between childhood and adulthood is being eroded. By examining the children’s literature of a specific era, it is possible to understand the issues and circumstances facing youth during that time period. This paper analyzes the content, story, and character development of these books and compares them to children’s literature of past generations to provide insight into how the  passage from childhood to adulthood is being shortened. Sales numbers confirm the books’ popularity with young readers, which suggests a need for further research into the impact of portraying teens as miniature adults. Initial analysis of the complex multi-media phenomena surrounding these titles—blogs, websites, and marketing agendas—indicate that the readers of these books are often confused by their message. Ideally, children’s literature offers a safe space for children to examine their feelings and construct a framework for dealing with this complex time of life. The paper concludes that further research into the perceptions of young readers is necessary to determine whether they interpret these offerings as caricatures or as models for adult behavior.

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