Defending the 'derivative'

I once read a short review of Mammon where the reviewer said that she found the book ‘derivative’. This was on Goodreads; it was not a formal review in a journal or newspaper. I assumed this woman was in her thirties. Of course, I was bothered by that because as an English teacher, I have access to a book room full of the most original books ever written, and I felt that I had a standard to maintain.

Not so. Not in the way you might think.

I’ve been teaching English for ten years. During this time, I have watched my students suffer while reading books that many adults deemed appropriate (and indeed, these books were award winners). The clue to their boredom, for those who might not have been paying attention, was the raucous applause they gave as we reached the last page. One would assume it was something to do with the narrative that displeased them. Slow pacing is the most common complaint, but I have to wonder if it had something to do with shared understandings and the assumptions that adults make about teenage readers.

Over the past ten years, I have had many kids ask me to explain common words, sayings, ideas and understandings that are presented via the written word: language that we as adults take for granted that other adults will understand. 

Guess what? Kids don’t. They don’t know the old fables, fairytales, songs and poems that were part of our mainstream culture when we were growing up. They don’t know about political, social and historical contexts that are touched upon in books. Okay, some teachers will say, ‘It’s your responsibility to fill in those gaps.’ That is quite right. However, when a teenager is reading a YA novel outside of the classroom, there may not be a suitable adult nearby to explain said concepts. So, this is where a novel’s derivative nature can be of benefit.

As YA authors, we are responsible for passing down stories and ideas to the next generation. This is particularly important for a generation that has become detached from many of the old stories, and the aforementioned ideas, sayings, etc.

Therefore, it is okay to be derivative! I challenge the reviewers who dismiss YA novels as such. Mammon is not the first to be labelled as derivative, but I am pleased that it is!

We should also remember that a good YA novel will encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book again. By filling in gaps, derivative novels can re-engage those who feel intimidated by the so-called more ‘challenging’ YA texts.

I am passing down story structures and ideas to the next generation. Archetypal characters and storylines are part of the practice of passing stories on to a new breed of readers, many of who have never heard of the old tales, fables, sayings and myths.