Street Lit: Flying Off Teen Fiction Bookshelves in Philadelphia Public Libraries. (cover story)

PHILADELPHIA (Pa.); PENNSYLVANIA

The article focuses on the flying off young adults fiction bookshelves in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania public libraries. It traces the cultural origins of street literature emerging genre, defines it in detail, and explores why inner-city teenagers at one branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia are passionate about reading it. The authors stress that even though the stories offer little hope for a better life, street literature console the frightened and confused souls of African American teenagers essaying confirmation and validation of their lives, as well as legitimization of inner-city culture. Through urban fiction, they have become indued to employ the library, and thus street literature has reignited the vitality of the urban neighborhood library.