Värdegrundsfrågor i svenskämnet : En tematisk analys av ungdomsromanerna Fula tjejer och Adios hockeyhora ur ett litteraturdidaktiskt perspektiv

This study explores the didactic potential of two youth novels, Ugly girls [our translation](Bjärbo et al., 2020) and Adios hockey whore [our translation] (Falk, 2022) to address the Swedish national curriculum’s (Skolverket, 2024) core values in grades 7-9. It examines how these novels can be used to address social media and mental health in the teaching of the Swedish subject. This study utilizes Biesta’s (2011) educational philosophy as an overarching theory and applies Alkestrand’s (2016) theory of didactic potential in the analysis of the data. Data is analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes and relevant content related to the study’s focus areas, social media, and mental health. The result suggests that both novels offer didactic potential for engaging core-value discussions with students about our focus areas. The study highlights silent reading and literature discussions as didactic methods for working with the novels to offer the students an opportunity to cultivate an understanding of themselves and others.