Abstract
This study explores how a rural adult book club engaged with gender identity through young adult literature (YAL), focusing on Mason Deaver’s I Wish You All the Best. Facilitated by two teacher educators, the club brought together local residents and a guest speaker from a regional support organization to discuss gender, pronouns, and the experiences of nonbinary youth. Using critical discourse analysis and thematic coding, the authors examine how participants, cisgender adults, navigated unfamiliar concepts, reflected on their own beliefs, and considered implications for their personal and professional lives. Findings highlight the power of YAL to serve as a window, elicit connections, challenge language practices, and examine identities in rural settings. The article offers practical insights for educators, researchers, and community leaders seeking to use literature as a tool for social justice education.
Methodological Approach
Qualitative
DOI
https://doi.org/10.60808/cyn2-pz78
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Boyd, A. S., & Wolney, R. R. (2026). Reading about Gender Identity in a Rural Community: Discourse around Young Adult Literature and Social Justice. Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.60808/cyn2-pz78
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Included in
Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons, Education Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons
