Literacy Matters Vol. 25 Winter 2025

Using Remixed Young Adult Literature as Mentor Texts: An Approach toWriting Fanfiction in the Classroom

by Kelsea Helfgot and Katie McGee

fanfiction published in magazines in the 1980s (De Kosnik, 2019). Merging the concept of remixed Young Adult Literature (YAL) and fanfiction can provide mentors for students to rewrite stories and see themselves reflected in texts (Garcia et al., 2016). Additionally, teachers can use remixed literature paired with standard texts in schools to disrupt the traditional canon of overwhelmingly white, male, heterosexual authors and main characters. Using remixed YAL with traditionally assigned texts can provide additional windows and mirrors for students (Sims-Bishop, 1990). The concept of windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors developed by Sims-Bishop (1990) focuses on representation and how texts can serve as mirrors of readers’ identities, windows into the experiences of others, and sliding glass doors that allow readers to step into the worlds of those with different lived experiences. Sims-Bishop argues that readers deserve texts that act as mirrors, windows, and sliding doors, reinforcing the need for diverse representations of identities in YAL. Remixed texts are examples of purposefully rewritten traditional texts that provide additional mirrors for readers with diverse identities. Remixed texts can be mentor texts that students use as models to write fanfiction that contains representations of their unique identities. This paper provides a brief overview of research related to mentor texts, remixed texts and fanfiction, and representation in literature, followed by a list of suggested remixed YAL and a sample unit plan to get teachers and students started. Literature Review This paper includes suggestions for incorporating remixed literature as mentor texts for student-written fanfiction in the classroom. To support this classroom approach, the following literature review includes a discussion of research on the representation of identities in literature, mentor texts, remixing, and fan fiction. Representation of Identities in Literature Glazier and Seo (2005) and Sims-Bishop (1990) describe identity by comparing it to a mirror. Students want to see themselves reflected through the text and are more open to sharing their experiences when they feel represented. When determining text selection, it is important to create mentor text sets that reflect student identity (Sims-Bishop, 1990). Students need to see themselves within texts. Students connect with characters and see themselves within stories, increasing the need for representation. People can identify with characters they feel would have similar experiences and unconsciously connect with aspects they recognize (Kokesh & Sternadori, 2015). In a study on

ABSTRACT — Remixed young adult novels have become increasingly popular, offering opportunities for diverse representation with familiar stories. Remixed literature and fanfiction can allow students to rewrite stories and see themselves reflected in texts (Garcia et al., 2016). This paper explores the intersections between diverse remixed literature, fanfiction, and mentor texts. We will then provide suggestions of specific remixed Young Adult Literature (YAL) that educators can use as mentor texts for student fanfiction. Introduction Recently, remixing has become popular in Young Adult and adult book releases. Remixing literature is “taking cultural artifacts and combining and manipulating them into new kinds of creative blends and products” (Lankshear & Knobel, 2011, p. 95). Thomas and Stornaiuolo (2016) use the term restorying to describe remixed literature, stating that it is a way for young readers to place themselves within the stories and worlds they are reading. Restorying time and place, perspective, and identity are key concepts behind restorying (Thomas & Stornaiuolo, 2016). Often, these remixes add a more diverse cast, representing people who were not present within the original texts. Examples of remixing are the reworked classics Pride by Ibi Zoboi and Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa. Both stories are remixes of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, adding new settings and identity reflections for readers. Specifically, Pride by Ibi Zoboi is set in modern-day Brooklyn rather than 18th-century England, and the Bennett family is rewritten as the Afro-Latino Benitez family, whose lives are upended when the wealthy Darcy’s move in across the street. Pride maintains core plot points from Pride and Prejudice , like the enemies-to-lovers storyline between the prideful Elizabeth and arrogant Mr. Darcy (Zuri and Darius in Pride ), but also includes themes and issues important to modern Afro-Latino communities in Brooklyn, such as the impact of gentrification and interpersonal clashes based on cultural identity and class. Another example of a remix is Most Ardently , which takes place within the same setting as the original Pride and Prejudice but changes the gender identity of the main character. Still viewed as “Elizabeth” by his family and society, Oliver deals with many of the original struggles of the independent Elizabeth and encounters a Darcy who treats him differently when presenting as a man versus a woman. The core struggles of preconceived notions and pride getting in the way of communication stand, but additional struggles are added that allow for new identities to be represented.

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The concept of remixing to provide representation began with

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