Dr Patricia Kennon
Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Sexualities and Gender
Associate Professor
Biography
Research
Publications
Professional
Teaching
Biography
My teaching and research addresses children's literature, young adult (YA) literature, youth culture, genders and sexualities, English Education, and global citizenship education. I am General Editor of The International Journal of Young Adult Literature, the Secretary of NAES (the Irish national section of the European Society for the Study of English), and co-founder and chair of the steering committee of MU SexGen, an interdisciplinary network of Maynooth University faculty, students, and researchers who do research on genders and sexualities.
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 doctoral research in the following areas: genders and sexualities in literature; children's and YA literature; youth culture; picturebooks (picture books); and global citizenship education.
Research Projects
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Patricia Kennon and Emily Corbett (2024) 'Editorial'. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, (5):1-4. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Emily Corbett; Patricia Kennon (2023) ''Editorial''. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 4 (1):1-4. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Alison Waller, Patricia Kennon, and Emily Corbett (2022) ''Editorial''. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 3 . [Link] http://doi.org/10.24877/IJYAL.109 | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) '‘Asexuality and the Potential of Young Adult Literature for Disrupting Allonormativity’'. International Journal of Young Adult Literature, 2 (1):1-24. [Link] http://doi.org/10.24877/IJYAL.41 [Full-Text] | |
| 2020 | Kennon, P (2020) 'Reflecting Realities in Twenty-First-Century Irish Children's and Young Adult Literature'. Irish University Review, 50 . [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
| 2017 | 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] | |
| 2016 | 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] | |
| 2015 | 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] | |
| 2015 | 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] [Full-Text] | |
| 2005 | 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] |
Book Chapter
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Patricia Kennon (2024) 'Maynooth University Teaching and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's)' In: Teaching and Learning Fellowships 2022- 23 Report. Maynooth : Maynooth University Centre for Teaching and Learning. [Link] | |
| 2024 | Sofia Ahlberg, Patricia Kennon, and Katarina Roncevic (2024) 'The Magic of Inclusion: Transformative Action for Sustainability Education' In: All Means All! Open Textbook for Diversity in Education. https://all-means-all.education : All Means All. [Link] | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) ''Using Class Novels'' In: Global Citizenship Education: Curious Teachers, Critical Classrooms. Dublin : Irish Aid. [Link] [Full-Text] | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) 'Zombies Vs Unicorns: An Exploration of the Pleasures of the Gothic for Young Adults' In: Young Adult Gothic Fiction: Monstrous Selves/Monstrous Others. Cardiff : The University of Wales Press. [Full-Text] | |
| 2020 | Patricia Kennon (2020) '‘Writing Childhood: Young Adult and Children’s Literature’' In: Irish Literature in Transition, Volume 6, 1980-2020. Cambridge, UK : Cambridge University Press. [Link] [Full-Text] | |
| 2018 | Patricia Kennon (2018) '“Superpowers Don't Always Make You a Superhero”: Posthuman Possibilities in Michael Grant’s Gone Series' In: Posthumanism in Young Adult Fiction: Finding Humanity in a Posthuman World. Jackson, Mississippi : University Press of Mississippi. [Full-Text] | |
| 2014 | 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. [Full-Text] | |
| 2013 | Patricia Kennon and Ciara Ní Bhroin (2013) ''Introduction'' In: What Do We Tell the Children? Critical Essays on Children’s Literature. Cambridge : Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Full-Text] | |
| 2012 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2012) ''Contemplating Otherness: Imagining the Future in Irish Children’s Science Fiction’' In: Irish Children’s Literature: New Perspectives. London : Routledge. [Full-Text] | |
| 2007 | 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. | |
| 2006 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2006) '‘(W)rites of Passage in Siobhán Parkinson’s Fiction’' In: Mary Shine Thompson and Celia Keenan(Eds.). Treasure Islands: Studies in Children’s Literature. : Four Courts Press. [Full-Text] |
Conference Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Patricia Kennon and Thérèse Hegarty (2018) Citizenship Education: 100 Years On . In: Margaret Nohilly, Bernie Collins, Anne Marie Kavanagh, Seline Keating, Fiona O’ Mahony and Carol O’ Sullivan eds. 50 Picturebooks to Change the World! Dublin, [Link] [Full-Text] |
Published Report
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ciarán Caulfield; Patricia Kennon; Suzanne O'Keeffe. (2023) ‘A collaborative research informed review of whole school Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) practices in a Dublin primary school, supporting pupil and teacher flourishing’. St Fintan's NS, . | |
| 2022 | Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, Patricia Kennon and Siobhán Morrissey (2022) ‘Building A Youth Literature Community Resilience Framework: Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Sustainable Wellbeing Post-COVID 19’. CBI, . [Link] | |
| 2021 | 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, . [Link] |
Electronic Article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Patricia Kennon (2018) Bold Girls: Academic Resource Pack. Dublin: [Electronic Article] | |
| 2013 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Communicating Though Imaginations: Gerda Dendooven and the Rights of the Child Reader. [Electronic Article] [Link] | |
| 2013 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2013) Time, Space and Childhood: Museums as Cultural and Educational Sites for European Young People. [Electronic Article] [Link] | |
| 2012 | Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Hats Off to a Storytelling Master: Jon Klassen’s Visual Narratives'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: [Electronic Article] [Link] | |
| 2012 | Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Making Worlds: Talking Design and Storytelling with the Emberleys'. Inis: The Children's Books Ireland Magazine: [Electronic Article] [Link] |
Podcast
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Patricia Kennon, Valerie Coghlan and Claire Dunne (2018) Podcast: “The Representation and Celebration of Females in Children’s Literature”. Dublin: [Podcast] [Link] |
Magazine Article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Youth Literature: A Rich Tapestry of Storytelling’. ReSourceE Magazine Summer 2022: [Magazine Article] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Video recording / TV
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sofia Ahlberg, Patricia Kennon, and Katarina Roncevic. (2024) ‘Sustainability Education and Inclusion’. [Video recording / TV] [Link] | |
| 2023 | Sofia Ahlberg, Patricia Kennon, and Katarina Roncevic (2023) ‘Sustainability Education and Inclusion’. [Video recording / TV] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Conference Contribution
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Céline Healy; Patricia Kennon; Ann MacPhail; Mariana Amaral-da-Cunha; Irene Kossiva; Frances Rust (2024) Educational Association of Ireland Studies (ESAI) conference ‘An International Collaboration to Capture Teacher Educators’ Professional Identity Through Storytelling in an Online Community of Learners’ Maynooth University, 04/04/2024-04/04/2024. | |
| 2024 | Patricia Kennon (2024) Maynooth University Teaching and Learning Showcase “Maynooth University Teaching and Learning and the Sustainable Development Goals.” Maynooth, . | |
| 2024 | Patricia Kennon; Suzanne O'Keeffe (2024) Educational Association of Ireland Studies (ESAI) conference ‘Exploring Parental Voice and Parental Rights regarding the Provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Irish Primary Schools’ Maynooth University, 04/04/2024-04/04/2024. | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) Gender Equity in Teacher Education webinar ‘Exploring Gender Norms and Discourses in Literature for Young People in Initial Teacher Education’ Online, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon, Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, and Siobhán Morrissey (2023) Crossing Expertise Divides Co-creation of Knowledge across Institutions and Communities of Children’ ‘Exploring COVID-19 Impacts on the Scottish and Irish Children’s and Young Adult Literature Sectors and Possibilities for Sharing and Enhancing Practice’ University of Wroclaw, Poland, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon and Suzanne O'Keeffe (2023) Educational Studies Association of Ireland conference ‘Creating a Collaborative and Caring Policy for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in a Dublin Primary School’ Belfast, . | |
| 2023 | O'Keeffe, Suzanne and Kennon, Patricia (2023) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Creating A Collaborative and Caring Policy For Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in an Urban Primary School Belfast, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) Irish Humanities Alliance Arts & Humanities Research & Innovation Showcase ‘Exploring COVID-19 Impacts on the Irish and Scottish Children’s and Young Adult Literature Sectors and Possibilities for Sharing and Enhancing Practice’ Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) ‘Sustainability in Teaching and Learning’ workshop ‘Supporting and Enhancing Maynooth University Teaching’s Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals’ Maynooth University, . | |
| 2023 | Mariana Amaral-da-Cunha, Céline Healy, Ann MacPhail, Patricia Kennon, Irene Kossiva, Irene, and Frances Rust (2023) International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching ‘Using Storylines in a Community of Practice to Explore and Express Teacher Educator Identities’ Bari, Italy, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) Intersectional Humanities Seminar Series ‘Queerness and Intersectional Identities in Contemporary Irish Children’s and Young-Adult Literature’ Maynooth University, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) Action Research for a Sustainable Future conference ‘Maynooth University Teaching’s Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals’ TU Dublin, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) Maynooth University Teaching & Learning Fellowship Sharing Event ‘Maynooth University Teaching and the Sustainable Development Goals’ Online, . | |
| 2023 | Patricia Kennon (2023) ‘Connecting Higher Education, Teacher Training and Schools to Advance Education for the Digital and ‘Key Lessons and Challenges on Integrating Gender Equality in Initial Teacher Education’ Online, . | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on Scottish and Irish Child and Young Adult Readers’ UCD CHiLD-RC and Children’s Research Network conference UCD, 08/12/2022-08/12/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Children's and YA Literature in Ireland - Developments & Challenges’ Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature seminar Online, 18/11/2022-18/11/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon and Emily Corbett (2022) ‘Publishing with The International Journal of Young Adult Literature’ Young Adult Studies Association conference Online, 02/11/2022-02/11/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Perspectives on YA Studies Publishing’ Young Adult Studies Association conference Online, 02/11/2022-02/11/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) Roundtable discussion on strategic planning for Ireland-Scotland research collaborations Royal Irish Academy and Royal Society of Edinburgh roundtable Dublin, 21/10/2022-21/10/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold (2022) ‘COVID-19 impacts on Irish and Scottish young readers and children’s literature communities’ Children’s Books Ireland conference Dublin, 23/09/2023-23/09/2023. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) 'Reading and Wellbeing: Mental Health and Literature for Children and Young Adults’ 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series of talks, Kildare Libraries Celbridge Library, 24/03/2022-24/03/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Editors Roundtable’ Children’s Literature Association conference Atlanta, USA, 03/06/2022-03/06/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘Reading and Wellbeing: Mental Health and Literature for Children and Young Adults’ 2022 ‘Parenting Programme: Supporting Reading’ series, Kildare Libraries Celbridge Library, 24/03/2022-24/03/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) 'The Sustainable Development Goals: Teaching and Learning Contexts’ Maynooth University Social Justice Week 2022 Maynooth University, 08/03/2022-08/03/2022. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) ‘MU Teaching and Learning and the Sustainable Development Goals’ Maynooth Green Day 2022 Maynooth University, 10/03/2023-10/03/2023. | |
| 2022 | Patricia Kennon (2022) '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 National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Annual Conference Online, 16/02/2022-16/02/2022. | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) Irish Young Adult Literature International Youth Literature module, MLIS, iSChool, San Jose State University, USA Online, . | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) ‘Integrating the Gender Dimension into Teaching and Learning’ 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 Online, 25/11/2021-25/11/2021. | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) Cognitive Approaches in Young Adult Literature Let’s Talk About Sex in YA conference Online, . | |
| 2021 | Patricia Kennon (2021) ‘The Representation of Irish Travellers in Youth Literature’ The Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature 2021 Conversation series Online, . | |
| 2020 | Patricia Kennon (2020) 'Asexuality and Heteronormativity in Young Fiction' International Women's Day 2020 symposium Maynooth University, 11/03/2020-11/03/2020. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) The Irish Publishing Market World Science Fiction Convention Dublin, 15/08/2019-18/08/2019. | |
| 2019 | Patricia Kennon (2019) Telling Tales for Children Through Art and Pictures World Science Fiction Convention Dublin, 15/08/2019-18/08/2019. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Being Aromantic and the Romance Plot in Young Adult Fiction Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature conference Glasgow, 08/08/2019-10/08/2019. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Equality and Justice: A Picturebook Workshop Ethical Education Curriculum events Drumcondra Education Centre, Dublin, 11/06/2019-11/06/2019. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Asexuality, Difference and Heteronormativity in Youth Literature Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature events California State University Fresno, USA, 25/04/2019-25/04/2019. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) 'Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s Literature' Kildare Libraries Reading for Pleasure series Maynooth Community Library, 29/01/2019-29/01/2019. | |
| 2019 | Dr Patricia Kennon (2019) Worlds of Stories: Exploring Global and Intercultural Issues Through Picturebooks Beyond a Single Story: Intercultural Education Conference Dublin City University, 25/01/2019-27/01/2019. | |
| 2018 | Patricia Kennon (2018) 'Picturebooks and Development and Intercultural Education' Picturebooks and DICE Dubliin City University, 11/04/2018-11/04/2018. | |
| 2016 | Patricia Kennon and Anne Dolan (2016) 'Picturebooks and Critical Literacy' Picturebooks and critical literacy Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 07/12/2016-07/12/2016. | |
| 2016 | Patricia Kennon and Therese Hegarty (2016) '50 Picturebooks to Change the World!' Citizenship Education: 100 Years On Dublin City University, 12/11/2016-12/11/2016. [Full-Text] | |
| 2015 | Patricia Kennon (2015) Picturebooks and Intercultural Education Picturebooks and intercultural education Maynooth University, 23/09/2015-23/09/2015. | |
| 2015 | Patricia Kennon (2015) 'Picturebooks: constructing childhoods and texts for children' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature DLR Lexicon, Dublin, 10/04/2015-10/04/2015. | |
| 2015 | Patricia Kennon (2015) Worlds of Picturebooks: World Book Day Talk on international picturebooks for World Book Day Irish Development Education Association office, Dublin, 06/03/2015-06/02/2015. | |
| 2014 | Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Young-Adult Science Fiction and Popular Culture' European Science Fiction Society convention (Eurocon) Dublin, 23/08/2014-23/08/2014. | |
| 2014 | Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Jobs in Young Adult Science Fiction' European Science Fiction Society (Eurocon) convention Dublin, 23/08/2014-23/08/2014. | |
| 2014 | Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Heteronormativity in David Levithan's Every Day' World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) London, 17/08/2014-17/08/2014. | |
| 2014 | Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Picturing Self and Other: Picturebooks and Ways of Knowing' DCU Summer School on Intercultural Studies Dublin City University, 17/06/2014-17/06/2014. | |
| 2014 | Patricia Kennon (2014) 'Children’s Literature and Irish Curricula' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Maynooth University, 28/03/2014-28/03/2014. | |
| 2012 | Patricia Kennon (2012) 'Windows and Mirrors: Social Justice in Jeannie Baker’s Picturebooks' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 25/02/2012-25/02/2012. | |
| 2011 | Patricia Kennon (2011) 'Girlhood, national identity and The American Girl collection' Girlhood and national identity in The American Girl collection of historical fiction Comparative Media Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, 14/11/2011-14/11/2011. | |
| 2010 | Patricia Kennon (2010) 'Histories, Readers, Audiences' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Trinity College, Dublin, 06/03/2010-06/03/2010. | |
| 2010 | Patricia Kennon (2010) 'Picturebooks and Social Justice Education' Comhlámh (Irish organisation for global solidarity) Dublin, 13/02/2010-13/02/2010. | |
| 2009 | Patricia Kennon (2009) 'Travellers and the Irish Nation in Irish Children’s Film and Literature 1990-2009' Biennial Congress of International Research Society for the Study of Children's Literature Frankfurt, Germany, 10/08/2009-10/08/2009. | |
| 2008 | Patricia Kennon (2008) 'Slashing Harry Potter: fandom and readers writing back' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, 09/02/2008-09/02/2008. | |
| 2007 | Patricia Kennon (2007) 'Male subjectivity in William Sleator’s Science Fiction' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin, 23/02/2007-23/02/2007. | |
| 2005 | Patricia Kennon (2005) '“‘Belonging’ in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: New Communities Created by Children' Biennial Congress of International Research Society for Children's Literature Trinity College Dublin, 15/08/2005-15/08/2005. | |
| 2005 | Patricia Kennon (2005) 'The private and the public spheres in Rosemary Sutcliff’s series of historical fiction' Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 11/03/2005-11/03/2005. | |
| 2004 | Patricia Kennon (2004) ‘Rites of Passage and Encounters with the “Other” in Siobhan Parkinson’s Children’s Novel Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe)’ Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 21/02/2004-21/02/2004. |
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.
Professional Associations
Committees
Teaching Interests
I teach across a wide range of genres and media regarding equity and diversity in children’s literature and YA literature (including film studies, picturebooks, comics and graphic novels, science fiction and dystopian literature), genders and sexualities, and global citizenship education. I am the module coordinator for the modules EDF130, EDF134, EDF231, EDF235, 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.