Urban Fiction for Teens

I'm so glad that authors are starting to write urban fiction especially for teens. The urban fiction, or "street lit", genre is a relatively new one, and one that interests me because so many of my students ask for it. Many of the gritty adult titles, though, have graphic sex, rough language, and other content that makes it difficult to defend for my middle school audience. But new street lit titles aimed specifically at teens make my job much easier -- I can give students what they want -- books with urban characters, dramatic problems, and authentic language -- without getting into hot water.

K.C. Taylor is one such author of teen urban novels. She was kind enough to send me two of her books, "Easier Without" and "Any Possible Outcome: A Book of Urban Tales". Both are published by GND Publishing.

"Easier Without" has two main characters -- Cell, a homeless boy with a troubled past, and the privileged Myla, who nevertheless has problems of her own. The two teens fall for each other, but face challenges. Myla discovers that an old boyfriend is HIV positive, and that she may be infected. Cell must struggle to survive and take care of his twin sister, while dealing with his mother's long-ago death and his incarcerated father's criminal past. The story is fast-paced, and the writing has a feel that is very similar to that of adult urban fiction -- sometimes less polished than more mainstream fiction, but always full of emotion and brimming with the drama readers crave. Though the characters deal with mature situations, the language is appropriate for teenagers. Readers will root for Myla and Cell as they struggle to overcome their problems and make their love last.

"Any Possible Outcome" is a book of short stories. In one story, a boy regrets involving his younger brother in gang activity. In another, a new girl in school deals with middle school friendships and intrigue. Poems, instant messaging, diary entries, and lots of dialogue spice up the narration. I especially enjoyed "Minus 15", a story from the point of view of a teenage boy describing his involvement in selling drugs and how he ended up in a correctional facility. His regrets are clear without becoming preachy.

I know both of these books will be a hit with my students, and I hope to see more titles for teens from K.C. Taylor and other writers in the future.