Beyond Youth Sports: Family Values in the Young Adult Fiction of Matt Christopher, 1954-1997
Open Access
Author:
Davis, Nathaniel
Graduate Program:
American Studies
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
April 29, 2024
Committee Members:
Charles Kupfer, Major Field Member Jeffrey Tolbert, Major Field Member Mary Napoli, Outside Unit & Field Member John Haddad, Chair & Dissertation Advisor Anthony Buccitelli, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies
Keywords:
Matt Christopher Children's Literature Sports Literature
Abstract:
This dissertation is the first significant scholarly treatment of the Matt Christopher series of novels. Christopher’s writing has rarely elicited any more than a passing line from scholars. I believe Christopher’s work has been overlooked. Panned for his formulaic writing, heavy doses of moralizing, and happy endings, Christopher’s work offers more than meets the eye. By contextualizing his novels with personal and professional correspondence, along with relevant historical context gleaned from popular culture and scholars, I show that Matt Christopher's novels do more cultural work than previously understood. I argue that Matt Christopher uses formulaic writing and his concept of “family” to help his readers navigate changes within American society in the mid to late twentieth century.
