Research Paper 200

8/19/2019 Research Paper 200

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RUNNING HEAD: Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom

Reading, Writing, Reblogging:

The Young Adult Literature Fandom and Inormation !eha"ior

LI!R #$$%&& Inormation 'ommunitie(

)athleen E(ling

*roe((or Robert !o+d

an -o(. tate Uni"er(it+

A/ril ##, #$&0


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #

Abstract:

Young Adult Literature i( an engaging genre 1ith a di"er(e an ba(e2 While the

genre3( title a((ume( a +outhul reader(hi/, man+ adult( are al(o an( o the(e boo4(2

5nline, YA an( ha"e ound their o1n 6ommunitie( in 1hi6h to (hare inormation (u6h a(

boo4 re"ie1(, re6ommendation(, an i6tion, and an art2 *ubli(her( ha"e in6rea(ingl+

tried to brea4 into thi( andom in order to boo(t (ale(, and thi( in6rea(ed /re(en6e o

reader( and /ubli(her( online ha( led to an intere(ting 6o%6reation o 6ommunit+

identitie(2 The 6ommunit+ o boo4 lo"er( online i( (o immen(e that a term ha( been

6oined to de(6ribe it: the boo4ternet 7(hort or 8boo4 Internet92 5n the boo4ternet there

are man+ (ub%6ommunitie( o reader(2 5ne (u6h (ub%6ommunit+ i( the Reblog !oo4 'lub

on Tumblr, a grou/ that meet( ;uarterl+ and di(6u((e( ne1l+ relea(ed boo4(2 U(ing idea(

e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom >

Introduction:

=an+ /eo/le rel+ on the Internet to (u//l+ them 1ith e"er+thing the+ need ?

inormation, entertainment, and 6onne6tion to other(2 'ommunitie( o reader(, or

e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom C

While meeting online, the(e reader( di(6u(( more than u(t 1hat i( on their

(hel"e(2 A little 6reati"it+ goe( a long 1a+ in the YA andom2 Reader( 1rite their o1n an

i6tion ba(ed on their a"orite boo4(, and the+ (el%/ubli(h their i6tion online2 In an

arti6le or the Handbook of Research on Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Dutro

and =6I"er e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom 0

hel/ an( na"igate the (tor+ a6ro(( /latorm(2 A( =a64e+ note( in her arti6le or the

Handbook , 8Harr+ @*otter i( not alone @2 It i( a6tuall+ Harr+3( reader( 1ho oin him in

inhabiting a multimedia 1orld, 1here multi/le "er(ion(, in6arnation(, ada/tation(, and

(/in%o( are 6om/letel+ ta4en or granted9 7#$&&, /2 C02 Dierent 1eb(ite( oer

reader( dierent 1a+( to engage 1ith their a"orite te


6/28

Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom K

Thi( anal+(i( o 1hat ma4e( 6ult i6tion a//ealing to teenager( hel/( (hed light on 1h+

adult( eno+ YA2 The(e genre%bending te arti6le, +oung /eo/le need to (ee (torie( about them(el"e(2 !+ re6a(ting the

brilliant +oung 1it6h Hermione a( a /er(on o 6olor, an( are able to 6ombat the 8(ingle

(tor+,9 a troubling trend in +outh literature that Hughe(%Ha((el e, /2 #&K

Harry !otter an( o 6olor (ee a lot o them(el"e( in ho1 Hermione Granger i( /ortra+ed:

(he i( an out6a(t be6au(e o her =uggle%born (tatu(, but (he ri(e( to the to/ an+1a+ due

to her talent and determination2 =an+ 6hildren o 6olor identi+ 1ith being marginalied


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom

and undere(timated, and Hermione3( (trength i( in(/iring to them2 !+ 6reating an art that

allo1( other reader( to (ee the Hermione that the(e an( imagine, tho(e reader( are able to

o/en u/ a di(6u((ion about di"er(it+ in YA that other1i(e ma+ ne"er ha"e been

6on(idered b+ man+ other an(2 The(e t+/e( o /o(t( are (hared re;uentl+, and

di(6u((ion( 6ontinue about ho1 /eo/le (ee Hermione and Harr+, a( 1ell a( 1hat other

/o((ibilitie( la+ o/en to inter/retation2 In an arti6le or Young Adult Library Services,

!renner argue(, 8an 1or4( are more in6lu(i"e than main(tream media9 7#$&>, /2 >02

Thi( i( immediatel+ a//arent on Tumblr2 In engaging 1ith and di(6u((ing ea6h other3(

6reation(, YA reader( o/en them(el"e( u/ to ne1 inter/retation( o their a"orite 1or4(2

The(e di(6u((ion( al(o o(ter riend(hi/ and other 6onne6tion( 1ithin the 6ommunit+2

The YA 6ommunit+ trul+ i( a "ibrant one2 Thi( /a/er 1ill addre(( the ;ue(tion o

ho1 the(e reader( intera6t 1ith ea6h other2 What t+/e( o di(6u((ion( are the mo(t ruitul

78ruitul9 here meaning mo(t able to o(ter di(6u((ion and inormation (haringO im/l+

being a reader i( not enough member( mu(t be able to 6ommuni6ate their eeling( about

1hat the+ are reading in order to be /art o thi( e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom B

on the 1a+ rom 6hildren3( literature to adult literature, and a( (u6h, "er+ little re(ear6h

ha( been underta4en to ollo1 trend( in YA2 There i( (ome general re(ear6h into +oung

/eo/le3( reading habit( a( 1ell a( ho1 /eo/le intera6t online, and tho(e are the arti6le(

that ha"e been u(ed or thi( /a/er2

It ha( been noted that +oung adult( them(el"e( /arti6i/ate oten in dierent online

6ommunitie(2 -en4in( ha( 1ritten about ho1 both teen( and adult( engage in /arti6i/ator+

6ulture( online, and Harlan, !ru6e, and Lu/ton (tudied ho1 teen( in /arti6ular

6ommuni6ate on the Internet 7#$2 !roo4er ound that man+ an grou/( tr+ to 6reate

8an ongoing an te


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(tud+ o Au(tralian teenager( that not all a"id +oung reader( are re;uent u(er( o (o6ial

media2 Thi( goe( again(t inding( b+ -en4in(, Rutherord, and Harlan et al2 U/on urther

6on(ideration, ho1e"er, it be6ome( 6lear that =erga doe( not 6on(ider an i6tion (o6ial

media, a( her re(/ondent( are "er+ a6ti"e on an i6tion (ite( 7=erga, #$&02 !renner and

)ell, t1o librarian( in"ol"ed 1ith teen( and tea6her librarian(hi/, ha"e ound that teen(

eno+ the 6ommunit+ o other an i6tion author( online 7#$&> and #$$, re(/e6ti"el+2

)ell al(o ;uoted a #$$> (tud+ b+ 'handler%5l6ott and =ahar, noting that the teenager( in

that (tud+ "ie1ed an i6tion a( a 1a+ that the+ 6ould orm online riend(hi/( 7#$$2

=erga3( inding( are 6onu(ing a( the+ ma4e it (ound a( though her reader( are a(o6ial

online 1hen in a6t the+ are e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &$

mo(t /o/ular 1ithin the boo4 6lub 6ommunit+ a( thi( i( a 6ommunit+ that 6ommuni6ate(

"ia 6reati"e rea6tion( to te2 Art 7Needle1or4, Nail Art, 5ther =i(6ellaneou( ArtC2 FoodMDrin4

02 !log *o(t 7Re/ortingMRe"ie1(

K2 Written Word 7'reati"e2 Fan6a(t( 7'reati"e /o(t( 6a(ting a6tor( or the ilm "er(ion o the no"el

B2 ue(tion( or the Author

2 *la+li(t(

&$2 uote(


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &&

&&2 Slog(

=i(6ellaneou( Tumblr 7/o(t( that do not it into an+ other 6ategor+

5n6e a /o(t 1a( 6oded, I re6orded ho1 oten ea6h /o(t 1a( 8(hared29 7Here, 8(hared9

mean( either it 1a( 8li4ed9 b+ a Tumblr u(er or it 1a( reblogged2 The t+/e( o re(/on(e(

and amount( o (hare( 1ere re6orded rom the (tart o the boo4 6lub through =a+ B th, and

the inal number( are re/orted a( total( 7total amount o ea6h t+/e o /o(t(, total amount

o (hare( /er /o(t t+/e in Table &2 While thi( 1indo1 o ob(er"ation doe( not a66ount

or an+ la(t%minute reblog( or ne1 (ubmi((ion(, it 6a/ture( the maorit+ o the intera6tion

on the (ite and /ro"ide( enough o a ba(i( or me to re/ort m+ inding(2

In addition to 6ondu6ting an ob(er"ation o the boo4 6lub, I al(o read arti6le(

di(6u((ing ho1 /eo/le 6onne6t online, /arti6ularl+ 1ith regard( to a"id reader( and teen(2

While there 1a( not a great deal o inormation on m+ (/e6ii6 grou/ o all%age( YA an(,

I 1a( able to ind a great deal o general re(ear6h through the Librar+ Literature

Inormation 6ien6e Full Te


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6ollege or 1hat their maor 1a( or an+ o that2 Your 6redential( don3t gi"e +our o/inion

more 1eight than an+one el(e3(39 7=in4el, #$&02 'ommunit+ 6ulture i( a maor or6e

behind the Reblog !oo4 'lub3( /o/ularit+2 In their #$ (tud+, Harlan et al2 ound that

teenager( 6hoo(e /arti6i/ator+ 6ommunitie( b+ 8an intentional and rele6ti"e 6hoi6e

guided b+ ob(er"ing the /arti6ular( o the 6ulture o the 6ommunit+ beore choosing to

/arti6i/ate9 7/2 02 While their (tud+ o6u(ed on teen(, their ob(er"ation( ring true or

mo(t Internet u(er(2 The Reblog !oo4 'lub 6ommunit+ i( a un, re(/e6tul, and engaging

/la6e2

Thi( attitude o re(/e6t i( im/ortant a( an( o YA are u(ed to being mo64ed in the

media2 In -une o #$&C, Ruth Graham 1rote an arti6le or Slate (lamming adult an( o

YA 1hen (he /re(6ribed that an+ and all adult reader( o YA i6tion (hould eel

8a(hamed29 he di(6u((e( *leanor & !ark , a /o/ular YA no"el, and (tate(, 8the reader

(eem( to be e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &>

di(agree 1ith other member(3 inter/retation( o the te


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &C

(+m/ath+ or 6om/a((ion2 That3( 1here /er(onal e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &0

Reblog !oo4 'lub, a 6ou/le o them 1ere reblogged into the di(6u((ion, and together

the+ a66ounted or o"er a thou(and (hare(2

The mo(t /o/ular 6ontent t+/e( 1ere /hotogra/h(, blog /o(t(, and ;uote(2 A(

rele6ted in Table &, there 1ere >0 /hotogra/h /o(t(, C0 blog /o(t(, and ;uote( /o(ted2

The /hotogra/h( /o(t t+/e re6ei"ed a total o >,>> (hare(, the blog /o(t t+/e re6ei"ed a

total o #,K0C (hare(, and the ;uote /o(t t+/e re6ei"ed &,C#$ (hare(2 Fan art earned

hundred( o (hare( a( did ;ue(tion( or the author, but the other /o(t t+/e( 1ere (hared

mu6h le(( re;uentl+2

To be 8(u66e((ul9 and earn a lot o (hare(, /hotogra/h( needed to be uni;ue2

=an+ boo4 6lub member(# too4 a /hotogra/h o the re"ie1 6o/+ o All the Rage the+

re6ei"ed along 1ith the Tumblr 8(1ag9 in6luded in the /a64age2 The ir(t e1 /o(t( o

that nature garnered it+ or more (hare(, but (ub(e;uent /o(t( to//ed out 1ith e1er than

t1ent+ (hare( a/ie6e2 5ther /o/ular /hoto o/tion( 1ere /hotogra/h( 6reati"el+

(ho16a(ing red nail( or nail /oli(h and red li/( or li/(ti64 a( the main 6hara6ter 1ear( red

6o(meti6( a( her 8battle armor29 Thi( limited 6o(/la+ 1a( re1arded 1ith more (hare( than

the a"erage /i6ture2

Regarding blog /o(t(, the (horter and 6le"erer the better2 Long 1all( o te


16/28

Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &K

or e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &

To dra1 attention to an unu(ual e"ent rom the boo4 6lub, 8Art #9 re6ei"ed B&K

(hare(2 BC o tho(e (hare( 1ere (/lit a6ro(( t1o /o(t( o needle/oint an art /ie6e(

de/i6ting 6hara6ter( rom the boo42 5ne o tho(e needle/oint( 1a( eatured a( the Tumblr

login /age onl+ da+( ater it 1a( /o(ted2 in6e the (e6ond, non%home%/age needle/oint

onl+ re6ei"ed #& (hare(, it loo4( a( though the a6t o being eatured on the Tumblr home

/age (ignii6antl+ in6rea(ed the ir(t needle/oint3( (hare "alue2 Needle/oint i( a uni;ue

1a+ o re(/onding to the te /a/er, 8/eo/le tend to ind inormation

6ontributed b+ (imilar other( to be more 6redible 9 7/2 &2 Teenager( 1ant reader%

generated 6ontent, not ad(2 !+ u(ing (ite( (u6h a( Tumblr to engage 1ith their an(,

/ubli(hing 6om/anie( are loo4ing more and more li4e their demogra/hi6 a( the+ (tri"e to


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &B

engage the(e reader( online2 A( Ta


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom &

ae(theti6,9 but not e"er+ blogger 1ant( to in"e(t that mu6h mone+ into (torie( that the+

1ill li4el+ read on6e2 !oo4 blogger( ha"e al(o (el%re/orted their 6omort u(ing the

Internet to learn more about ne1 relea(e( oten, thi( i( 1here the(e reader( ind their ne


20/28

Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #$

Thi( /a/er al(o 6ould not a66ount or the (ilent member( o the 6lub, nor doe( it

a66ount or the thet and re/o(ting o image( onl+ dire6t li4e( and reblog( 6ount to1ard(

8(hare(29 For the (a4e o time, (/e6ii6 6on"er(ation( 1ere not re6orded2 In addition,

(ome u(er( build on other(3 /o(t( b+ in6luding 6omment( in the tag(2 The(e tag( are onl+

"i(ible to mutual ollo1er( and are not re6orded in the 8Note(9 (e6tion o Tumblr2 hould

an+ di(6u((ion( ha"e ta4en /la6e in the tag(, tho(e e


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #&

detailing theme( and /lot /oint( that the+ ound mo(t engaging in their a"orite no"el(2

Arti(t( /aint, dra1, (4et6h, (6ul/t, and (e1 their a"orite 6hara6ter( and (6ene(2 Slogger(

ha"e dominated a 6orner o YouTube no1 4no1n a( !oo4Tube 1here the+ /o(t DIY

in(tru6tion( and detail their /rogre(( on "ariou( boo4 6hallenge(2 The boo4ternet i( one

giant /arti6i/ator+ 6ulture, and ea6h (ub%6ommunit+ 6reate(, (hare(, and (u//ort(

amaing ne1 6ontent2

The Reblog !oo4 'lub i( a itting home or mu6h o thi( 6reati"it+2 While

"logger( and man+ an arti(t( 1ere ab(ent rom thi( round o boo4 6lub, thi( 6an be

attributed to the (eriou( nature o All the Rage2 T+/i6all+, boo4 6lub member( 6reate their

o1n "ideo( and an art /ie6e(2 For 0ivian A((le at the *nd of the 1orld , (4et6he( o

Si"ian 6lut6hing a (ledgehammer illed the boo4 6lub ne1(eed2 %ro.n /irl rea,ing

in(/ired reader( to re6ord them(el"e( re6iting Wood(on3( /oetr+2 #he +,(ossible -nife of

)e,ory e"en in(/ired (omeone to 6reate e1elr+ ba(ed on the boo42 A( thi( round3(

(ele6tion o6u(ed on a ra/e (ur"i"or and a mi((ing girl, ho1e"er, it ma4e( (en(e that

(ome o the more 1him(i6al re(/on(e( 1ere not a /art o thi( di(6u((ion2 While All the

Rage 1a( not a te


22/28

Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom ##

larger rame o Tumblr 7and, e((entiall+, an+ (o6ial media (ite, te


23/28

Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #>

te


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #C

Table 1

Types of Posts Created and Shared During the April-May 2015 Reblog oo!Club

Data Type Amount of Posts Shares (Total)

Photos 35 3,373

Art 1 4 542

Art 2 3 814

oo!"Dr#n$ % %

&lo' Post (eport#n') 45 2,54

*r#tten *or! (+reat#e) 1 37

an-asts % %

./s for Authors 3 130lo's % %

#s- 11 14,%17

Playl#sts 1 75

.uotes 12 1,42%


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #0

References:

!renner, R2 7#$&>2 Teen literature and an 6ulture2 Young Adult Library Services4

7C, >>%>K2 Retrie"ed rom htt/:MM1112+al(a2ala2orgM+al(M1/%

6ontentMu/load(M#$&>M&$M&&nC(ummer#$&>2/d

!roo4er, W2 7#$$02 VIt i( lo"eV: The Le1i( 'arroll (o6iet+ a( a an 6ommunit+2 #he

A,erican %ehavioral Scientist4 567, B0%BB$2 Retrie"ed rom

htt/:MMab(2(age/ub26omM6ontentMCBM2to6

'adden, =2 7#$&&2 Genre a( ne


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #K

Flanagin, A2 -2, Ho6e"ar, )2, amahito, 2 7#$&C2 'onne6ting 1ith the u(er%generated

1eb: Ho1 grou/ identii6ation im/a6t( online inormation (haring and e"aluation2

+nfor,ation4 Co,,unication & Society4 7 7K, KB>%KC2 D5I:

&$2&$B$M&>K&&B2#$&>2B$B>K&

Graham, R2 7#$&C, -une 02 Again(t YA @1eb log /o(t2 Retrie"ed rom

htt/:MM1112(late26omMarti6le(Mart(Mboo4(M#$&CM$KMagain(t+aadult((houldbe

embarra((edtoread6hildren(boo4(2html

Harlan, =2 A2, !ru6e, '2, Lu/ton, =2 7#$2 Teen 6ontent 6reator(: E2 D5I:&$2&>0>Mlib2#$$$$&

Hughe(%Ha((ell, 2 7#$&>2 =ulti6ultural +oung adult literature a( a orm o 6ounter%

(tor+telling2 Library Quarterly4 6:7>, #%##B2 Retrie"ed rom

htt/:MM1112/re((2u6hi6ago2eduMu6/Mournal(MournalMl;2html

-en4in(, H2 7#$&Ca, Februar+ &2 A meme i( a terrible thing to 1a(te: An inter"ie1 1ith

Limor himan 7*art one @Web log /o(t2 Retrie"ed rom htt/:MMhenr+en4in(2org

M#$&CM$#Ma%meme%i(%a%terrible%thing%to%1a(te%an%inter"ie1%1ith%limor%(himan%

/art%one2html

-en4in(, H2, 'linton, )2, *uru(hotma, R2, Robi(on, A2 -2, Weigel, =2 7n2 d22

'onronting the 6hallenge o /arti6i/ator+ 6ulture: =edia edu6ation or the #&(t

6entur+ @*DF File2 %uilding the 2ield of igital )edia and Learning; An


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #

=a6hado, A2 =2 7#$&&2 Where 1orld( meet2 In 2 Wol2 )2 'oat(, *2 En6i(o, '2

-en4in( 7Ed(2, Handbook of research on children’s and young adult literature

7>%C$$2 Ne1 Yor4: Routledge2

=a64e+, =2 7#$&&2 /inning o: To+(, tele"i(ion, tie%in(, and te6hnolog+2 In 2 Wol2

)2 'oat(, *2 En6i(o, '2 -en4in( 7Ed(2, Handbook of research on children’s and

young adult literature 7C0%0$2 Ne1 Yor4: Routledge2

=erga, =2 )2 7#$&02 Are a"id adole(6ent reader( (o6ial net1or4ing about boo4(O =e.

Revie. of Children>s Literature & Librarianshi(4 ?7&, &%&K2

doi:&$2&$B$M&>K&C0C&2#$&02K$>

=in4el, E2 7#$&0, -anuar+ #2 The Future o the boo4: A Future or boo4( online:

Tumblr3( reblog boo4 6lub @1eb log /o(t2 Retrie"ed rom

htt/:MM1112themillion(26omM#$&0M$&Mthe%uture%o%boo4(%online%tumblr(%reblog%

boo4%6lub2html

reblogboo46lub2 7#$&0, A/ril B2 Wel6ome to the Reblog !oo4 'lub, Tumblr3( oi6ial

boo4 6lubP @Web log /o(t2 Retrie"ed rom htt/:MMreblogboo46lub2tumblr26om

M/o(tM&&0BB0#&M1el6ome%to%the%reblog%boo4%6lub%tumblr(%oi6ial

Rutherord, L2 =2 7#$$2 Indu(trie(, arti(t(, riend( and an(: =ar4eting +oung adult

i6tion( online2 2irst )onday4 57C Retrie"ed rom

htt/:MM1112tandonline26omMto6Mr6ll#$M6urrentQ2SN"F$LDF/4

te"er, G2 2, La1(on, )2 7#$&>2 T1itter a( a 1a+ or 6elebritie( to 6ommuni6ate 1ith

an(: Im/li6ation( or the (tud+ o /ara(o6ial intera6tion2 =orth A,erican @ournal

of !sychology47#, >>%>0C2 Retrie"ed rom htt/:MMna/2u(M


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Reading, Writing, Reblogging: The YA Fandom #B

Ta

Documents

Research Paper 200