ABSTRACT Research acknowledges the value of youths reading books that represent their lives and cultures, yet there is a growing need to better understand how youths of understudied groups respond… Click to show full abstract
ABSTRACT Research acknowledges the value of youths reading books that represent their lives and cultures, yet there is a growing need to better understand how youths of understudied groups respond to multicultural stories. This single-case study of a multilingual refugee adolescent from Burma (Myanmar) investigates how she draws from her lived experiences in responding to literature. Using the culturally situated reader response model (Brooks & Browne, 2012) to understand the participant’s response to literature allows us to see how her transaction with the texts was mediated by various aspects of her lived experiences as a refugee and adolescent girl. The participant’s powerful response is indicative of not just the need for relevant literature but also authentic ways to respond with a caring adult. Findings suggest that far more important than new programs or strategies, multilingual youths need access to relevant literature and authentic meaning-making for educators to most effectively nurture their literacy, language, and identity development.
               
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