Dr Patricia Kennon

    Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Sexualities and Gender

    Associate Professor

    School of Education
    3rd
    318
    (01) 474 7410

    Biography

    I teach across a wide range of children's literature, young adult (YA) literature, youth culture, and English Education. I am the Secretary of NAES, the Irish national section of the European Society for the Study of English and the chair of the steering committee of MU SexGen, an interdisciplinary network of Maynooth University faculty and researchers on research in gender and sexualities. I am a former President of The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature, a former President of the Irish national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and a former Editor in Chief and Features Editor of Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine.

    Research Interests

    My research interests address a wide range of issues regarding intersections of childhood, young adulthood, and power. I am interested in concepts of childhood, children's and YA literature and youth culture in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I especially welcome research collaborations and supervising research in the following areas: genders and sexualities in children's and YA culture and literature; picturebooks (picture books); and global citizenship education.

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    ‘Integrating the gender dimension into teaching, learning and educational outreach in initial teacher education’ Co-investigator and member of the Steering Group / 15-DEC-21 19000
    Post COVID 19: the Irish and Scottish youth literature sectors PI Royal Irish Academy / RIA / Ireland/Scotland bilateral network grant 01-SEP-21 22-FEB-22 4426.17

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2021 '‘Asexuality and the Potential of Young Adult Literature for Disrupting Allonormativity’'
    Patricia Kennon (2021) '‘Asexuality and the Potential of Young Adult Literature for Disrupting Allonormativity’'. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 2 (1):1-24 [DOI] [Details]
    2020 'Reflecting Realities in Twenty-First-Century Irish Children's and Young Adult Literature'
    Kennon, P (2020) 'Reflecting Realities in Twenty-First-Century Irish Children's and Young Adult Literature'. Irish University Review, 50 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2017 'Monsters of Men: Masculinity and the Other in Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking Series'
    Kennon P. (2017) 'Monsters of Men: Masculinity and the Other in Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking Series'. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 37 (1):25-34 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2016 'Childhood, Power, and Travel in Salvatore Rubbino's Picture Books: A Walk in the City'
    Kennon, P (2016) 'Childhood, Power, and Travel in Salvatore Rubbino's Picture Books: A Walk in the City'. JEUNESSE: YOUNG PEOPLE, TEXTS, CULTURES, 8 :20-41 [full-text] [Details]
    2015 ''If the Inside was the Outside: Gender, Heteronormativity and the Body in David Levithan's Every Day''
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2015) ''If the Inside was the Outside: Gender, Heteronormativity and the Body in David Levithan's Every Day''. FOUNDATION: THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF SCIENCE FICTION, 22 [full-text] [Details]
    2015 '"'Little Girls are Even More Perfect When They Bleed"': Monstrosity, Violence, and the Female Body in Kristin Cashore's Graceling Trilogy"'
    Kennon, P (2015) '"'Little Girls are Even More Perfect When They Bleed"': Monstrosity, Violence, and the Female Body in Kristin Cashore's Graceling Trilogy"'. BOOKBIRD: A JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, 53 :52-61 [DOI] [Details]
    2005 ''Belonging in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children''
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2005) ''Belonging in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children''. PAPERS: EXPLORATIONS INTO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, 15 :40-49 [full-text] [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2021 'Zombies Vs Unicorns: An Exploration of the Pleasures of the Gothic for Young Adults'
    Patricia Kennon (2021) 'Zombies Vs Unicorns: An Exploration of the Pleasures of the Gothic for Young Adults' In: Michelle Smith and Kristine Moruzi (eds). Young Adult Gothic Fiction: Monstrous Selves/Monstrous Others. Cardiff: The University of Wales Press. [Details]
    2020 '‘Writing Childhood: Young Adult and Children’s Literature’'
    Patricia Kennon (2020) '‘Writing Childhood: Young Adult and Children’s Literature’' In: Eric Falci and Paige Reynolds (eds). Irish Literature in Transition, Volume 6, 1980-2020. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. [Details]
    2018 '“Superpowers Don't Always Make You a Superhero”: Posthuman Possibilities in Michael Grant’s Gone Series'
    Patricia Kennon (2018) '“Superpowers Don't Always Make You a Superhero”: Posthuman Possibilities in Michael Grant’s Gone Series' In: Anita Tarr and Donna R. White (eds). Posthumanism in Young Adult Fiction: Finding Humanity in a Posthuman World. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. [Details]
    2014 '‘Building Bridges To Intercultural Understanding: The Other in Contemporary Irish Children’s Literature.’'
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2014) '‘Building Bridges To Intercultural Understanding: The Other in Contemporary Irish Children’s Literature.’' In: Our Chums in the Family of Nations: Internationalism in Children’s Series. London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
    2013 ''Introduction''
    Patricia Kennon and Ciara Ní Bhroin (2013) ''Introduction'' In: Ciara Ní Bhroin and Patricia Kennon (eds). What Do We Tell the Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Details]
    2012 ''Contemplating Otherness: Imagining the Future in Irish Children’s Science Fiction’'
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2012) ''Contemplating Otherness: Imagining the Future in Irish Children’s Science Fiction’' In: Irish Children’s Literature: New Perspectives. London: Routledge. [Details]
    2007 '‘F(r)ictional Masculinities: The Representation of Manhood in Rosemary Sutcliff’s Roman Britain series of historical novels for young adults’'
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2007) '‘F(r)ictional Masculinities: The Representation of Manhood in Rosemary Sutcliff’s Roman Britain series of historical novels for young adults’' In: Divided Worlds: Studies in Children’s Literature. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]
    2006 '‘(W)rites of Passage in Siobhán Parkinson’s Fiction’'
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2006) '‘(W)rites of Passage in Siobhán Parkinson’s Fiction’' In: Treasure Islands: Studies in Children’s Literature. Four Courts Press. [Details]

    Edited Books

      Year Publication
    2012 What Do We Tell The Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature
    Ciara Ní Bhróin and Patricia Kennon (Ed.). (2012) What Do We Tell The Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2018 50 Picturebooks to Change the World!
    Patricia Kennon and Thérèse Hegarty (2018) 50 Picturebooks to Change the World! . In: Margaret Nohilly, Bernie Collins, Anne Marie Kavanagh, Seline Keating, Fiona O’ Mahony and Carol O’ Sullivan eds. Citizenship Education: 100 Years On Dublin, , pp.31-41 [full-text] [Details]

    Electronic Article

      Year Publication
    2018 Bold Girls: Academic Resource Pack.
    Patricia Kennon (2018) Bold Girls: Academic Resource Pack. Dublin: Electronic Article [Details]
    2013 Communicating Though Imaginations: Gerda Dendooven and the Rights of the Child Reader.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Communicating Though Imaginations: Gerda Dendooven and the Rights of the Child Reader. Electronic Article [Details]
    2013 Time, Space and Childhood: Museums as Cultural and Educational Sites for European Young People.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Time, Space and Childhood: Museums as Cultural and Educational Sites for European Young People. Electronic Article [Details]
    2012 'Hats Off to a Storytelling Master: Jon Klassen’s Visual Narratives'.
    Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Hats Off to a Storytelling Master: Jon Klassen’s Visual Narratives'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: Electronic Article [Details]
    2012 'Making Worlds: Talking Design and Storytelling with the Emberleys'.
    Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Making Worlds: Talking Design and Storytelling with the Emberleys'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: Electronic Article [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2021 ‘Inaugural Report on Maynooth University’s Teaching & Learning’s Engagement with Sustainability and the SDGs’.
    Kenny, Michael, Patricia Kennon, Rebecca Maguire, Joost Slingerland, and Susan Gottlober. (2021) ‘Inaugural Report on Maynooth University’s Teaching & Learning’s Engagement with Sustainability and the SDGs’. Maynooth University website, Maynooth University. [Details]

    Podcast

      Year Publication
    2018 Podcast: “The Representation and Celebration of Females in Children’s Literature”.
    Patricia Kennon, Valerie Coghlan and Claire Dunne (2018) Podcast: “The Representation and Celebration of Females in Children’s Literature”. Dublin: Podcast [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2022 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series of talks, Kildare Libraries.
    Patricia Kennon (2022) 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series of talks, Kildare Libraries. [Invited Lecture], 'Reading and Wellbeing: Mental Health and Literature for Children and Young Adults’, Celbridge Library , 24-MAR-22 - 24-MAR-22 [Details]
    2022 National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Annual Conference.
    Patricia Kennon (2022) National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Annual Conference. [Invited Oral Presentation], 'Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in Youth Literature’. This online workshop explores the importance of equitable and authentic representation and global citizenship education in literature for young, Online , 16-FEB-22 - 16-FEB-22 [Details]
    2021 International Youth Literature module, MLIS, iSChool, San Jose State University, USA.
    Patricia Kennon (2021) International Youth Literature module, MLIS, iSChool, San Jose State University, USA. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Young Adult Literature, Online [Details]
    2021 This online panel (funded by the National Forum of Teaching and Learning) involved presentations and discussion about developing an awareness around embedding gender equality across teaching and learning for academics in teacher education.
    Patricia Kennon (2021) This online panel (funded by the National Forum of Teaching and Learning) involved presentations and discussion about developing an awareness around embedding gender equality across teaching and learning for academics in teacher education. [Oral Presentation], ‘Integrating the Gender Dimension into Teaching and Learning’, Online , 25-NOV-21 - 25-NOV-21 [Details]
    2021 Let’s Talk About Sex in YA conference.
    Patricia Kennon (2021) Let’s Talk About Sex in YA conference. [Chaired Session], Cognitive Approaches in Young Adult Literature, Online [Details]
    2021 The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature 2021 Conversation series.
    Patricia Kennon (2021) The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature 2021 Conversation series. [Chaired Session], ‘The Representation of Irish Travellers in Youth Literature’, Online [Details]
    2020 International Women's Day 2020 symposium.
    Patricia Kennon (2020) International Women's Day 2020 symposium. [Oral Presentation], 'Asexuality and Heteronormativity in Young Fiction', Maynooth University , 11-MAR-20 - 11-MAR-20 [Details]
    2019 World Science Fiction Convention.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) World Science Fiction Convention. [Oral Presentation], The Irish Publishing Market, Dublin , 15-AUG-19 - 18-AUG-19 [Details]
    2019 World Science Fiction Convention.
    Patricia Kennon (2019) World Science Fiction Convention. [Oral Presentation], Telling Tales for Children Through Art and Pictures, Dublin , 15-AUG-19 - 18-AUG-19 [Details]
    2019 Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature conference.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature conference. [Oral Presentation], Being Aromantic and the Romance Plot in Young Adult Fiction, Glasgow , 08-AUG-19 - 10-AUG-19 [Details]
    2019 Ethical Education Curriculum events.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Ethical Education Curriculum events. [Invited Oral Presentation], Equality and Justice: A Picturebook Workshop, Drumcondra Education Centre, Dublin , 11-JUN-19 - 11-JUN-19 [Details]
    2019 Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature events.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature events. [Invited Lecture], Asexuality, Difference and Heteronormativity in Youth Literature, California State University Fresno, USA , 25-APR-19 - 25-APR-19 [Details]
    2019 Kildare Libraries Reading for Pleasure series.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Kildare Libraries Reading for Pleasure series. [Invited Lecture], 'Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s Literature', Maynooth Community Library , 29-JAN-19 - 29-JAN-19 [Details]
    2019 Beyond a Single Story: Intercultural Education Conference.
    Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Beyond a Single Story: Intercultural Education Conference. [Oral Presentation], Worlds of Stories: Exploring Global and Intercultural Issues Through Picturebooks, Dublin City University , 25-JAN-19 - 27-JAN-19 [Details]
    2018 Picturebooks and DICE.
    Patricia Kennon (2018) Picturebooks and DICE. [Invited Lecture], 'Picturebooks and Development and Intercultural Education', Dubliin City University , 11-APR-18 - 11-APR-18 [Details]
    2016 Picturebooks and critical literacy.
    Patricia Kennon and Anne Dolan (2016) Picturebooks and critical literacy. [Invited Lecture], 'Picturebooks and Critical Literacy', Mary Immaculate College, Limerick , 07-DEC-16 - 07-DEC-16 [Details]
    2016 Citizenship Education: 100 Years On.
    Patricia Kennon and Therese Hegarty (2016) Citizenship Education: 100 Years On. [Invited Lecture], '50 Picturebooks to Change the World!', Dublin City University , 12-NOV-16 - 12-NOV-16 [full-text] [Details]
    2015 Picturebooks and intercultural education.
    Patricia Kennon (2015) Picturebooks and intercultural education. [Invited Lecture], Picturebooks and Intercultural Education, Maynooth University , 23-SEP-15 - 23-SEP-15 [Details]
    2015 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2015) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Chaired Session], 'Picturebooks: constructing childhoods and texts for children', DLR Lexicon, Dublin , 10-APR-15 - 10-APR-15 [Details]
    2015 Talk on international picturebooks for World Book Day.
    Patricia Kennon (2015) Talk on international picturebooks for World Book Day. [Invited Lecture], Worlds of Picturebooks: World Book Day, Irish Development Education Association office, Dublin , 06-MAR-15 - 06-FEB-15 [Details]
    2014 European Science Fiction Society convention (Eurocon).
    Patricia Kennon (2014) European Science Fiction Society convention (Eurocon). [Chaired Session], 'Young-Adult Science Fiction and Popular Culture', Dublin , 23-AUG-14 - 23-AUG-14 [Details]
    2014 European Science Fiction Society (Eurocon) convention.
    Patricia Kennon (2014) European Science Fiction Society (Eurocon) convention. [Chaired Session], 'Jobs in Young Adult Science Fiction', Dublin , 23-AUG-14 - 23-AUG-14 [Details]
    2014 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon).
    Patricia Kennon (2014) World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). [Oral Presentation], 'Heteronormativity in David Levithan's Every Day', London , 17-AUG-14 - 17-AUG-14 [Details]
    2014 DCU Summer School on Intercultural Studies.
    Patricia Kennon (2014) DCU Summer School on Intercultural Studies. [Invited Lecture], 'Picturing Self and Other: Picturebooks and Ways of Knowing', Dublin City University , 17-JUN-14 - 17-JUN-14 [Details]
    2014 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2014) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Chaired Session], 'Children’s Literature and Irish Curricula', Maynooth University , 28-MAR-14 - 28-MAR-14 [Details]
    2012 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2012) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], 'Windows and Mirrors: Social Justice in Jeannie Baker’s Picturebooks', St Patrick's College, Drumcondra , 25-FEB-12 - 25-FEB-12 [Details]
    2011 Girlhood and national identity in The American Girl collection of historical fiction.
    Patricia Kennon (2011) Girlhood and national identity in The American Girl collection of historical fiction. [Invited Lecture], 'Girlhood, national identity and The American Girl collection', Comparative Media Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston , 14-NOV-11 - 14-NOV-11 [Details]
    2010 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2010) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Chaired Session], 'Histories, Readers, Audiences', Trinity College, Dublin , 06-MAR-10 - 06-MAR-10 [Details]
    2010 Comhlámh (Irish organisation for global solidarity).
    Patricia Kennon (2010) Comhlámh (Irish organisation for global solidarity). [Invited Lecture], 'Picturebooks and Social Justice Education', Dublin , 13-FEB-10 - 13-FEB-10 [Details]
    2009 Biennial Congress of International Research Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2009) Biennial Congress of International Research Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], 'Travellers and the Irish Nation in Irish Children’s Film and Literature 1990-2009', Frankfurt, Germany , 10-AUG-09 - 10-AUG-09 [Details]
    2008 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2008) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], 'Slashing Harry Potter: fandom and readers writing back', Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin , 09-FEB-08 - 09-FEB-08 [Details]
    2007 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2007) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], 'Male subjectivity in William Sleator’s Science Fiction', Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin , 23-FEB-07 - 23-FEB-07 [Details]
    2005 Biennial Congress of International Research Society for Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2005) Biennial Congress of International Research Society for Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], '“‘Belonging’ in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children', Trinity College Dublin , 15-AUG-05 - 15-AUG-05 [Details]
    2005 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2005) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], 'The private and the public spheres in Rosemary Sutcliff’s series of historical fiction', St Patrick's College, Drumcondra , 11-MAR-05 - 11-MAR-05 [Details]
    2004 Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature.
    Patricia Kennon (2004) Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature. [Oral Presentation], ‘Rites of Passage and Encounters with the “Other” in Siobhan Parkinson’s Children’s Novel Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe)’, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra , 21-FEB-04 - 21-FEB-04 [Details]

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Gender Studies Network (European Society for the Study of English) Representative for Ireland 01-JAN-20 / 31-DEC-23
    The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Committee member and former President 30-MAR-08 / 28-MAR-20
    National Association of English Studies Secretary and committee member 01-SEP-19 / 01-OCT-22
    International Federation of National Teaching Fellows Member 01-JAN-19 / 01-JAN-22

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    University Graduate Education Committee Member 2019 / 2024
    University Research Committee Committee member 2018 / 2022
    Faculty of Social Sciences Research Committee Co-Chair 2018 / 2022
    MU SexGen research network of Maynooth University faculty & researchers on gender and sexualities Chair of the network's steering committee 2018 / 2022
    Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching & Learning Committee Co-Chair 2016 /

    Teaching Interests

    I teach across a wide range of genres and media regarding children’s literature and YA literature including film studies, picturebooks, comics and graphic novels, science fiction and dystopian literature, and social justice education. I am the module coordinator for the modules EDF130, EDF231, EDF342, EDF477, EDF488, EDF609, and EDF687. I have been nominated for and have won a range of institutional, national, and international awards for teaching and learning.