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In:Children’s Literature Across Media: Concepts and perspectives of transmedia narratives
Edited by Nina Christensen, Ute Dettmar and Sarah Mygind
[Children’s Literature, Culture, and Cognition 21] 2026
► pp. 170–190

Chapter 9
“You can merge two brains”

Youth literary practices in a local, collaborative context

This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter explores youth literary practices through a qualitative case study of Univers, a Danish talent school for young people aged 14–18. Situated in Aarhus, Univers fosters collaborative creation of visual texts, challenging traditional notions of literary production, authorship, and talent development. Drawing on participant observation and interviews, the study highlights students’ motivations, experiences of creative trust, and their roles as literary citizens within a local cultural community. Findings underscore the value of structured, non-commercial environments in cultivating relational agency and expanding definitions of legitimate literary expression.
Article outline
  • New frontiers in children’s and young adult literary production: The case of The Talent School Univers
  • Data and method
  • Motivation: Finding their people and their voice
  • Outcome: A space to belong and be pushed
  • Collaboration: Building creative trust beyond school group work
  • Conclusion: Rethinking literary creation through local, collaborative practice
  • Author queries
  • Notes
  • References
References (35)
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