Young Adult fiction is a genre targeted specifically towards young adults. The genre is formed around
audience and theme, rather than setting or plot. Typically, adult fiction is
categorized based on the world it is set in (Fantasy, Science Fiction or
Historical to name a few), or the type of plot tropes it contains (Romance, Mystery,
Thriller). Young Adult Literature (YA) is unique because it can encompass all
of those sub genres and still stand apart from regular adult fiction. First
and most importantly are the themes YA Literature explores. These themes
are created using specific language, such as voice and point of view. The
themes and language use create specific types of teenage characters shaping the genre and its perception. All of these contribute to the many
sub genres that can encompass YA Lit.
Themes
Although many readers are no longer young adults, they were one at one point and can still relate to the themes and experiences. YA novels contain themes of ‘firsts’ (love, death, success, failure), a search for identity, and the building of community. We continue to face firsts, redefine ourselves, and struggle to forge communities our entire lives.
Identity: The teenage years are pivotal for self-discovery and characters in young adult novels face questions in identity. They question who they are and their role within their communities. This questioning can include issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic class.
Community: The changing of community, whether it’s switching schools, friends, family, towns, government, etc. community is an anchor and support system that can drastically shift for young adults. Often characters find themselves suddenly realizing injustice within their community or suddenly being empowered to change it.
Agency: Adolescents who are attempting to find independence search for the agency to make a change within their community or selves. This agency is either given or taken away from the protagonist in the first half of the novel.
Sexuality: Puberty is in full flux for young adults and they’re hormones often drive plot lines. Crushes, transformation (physical and mental), and a lot of firsts are explored here.
Mental Health: Darker themes that are present in YA lit explore drinking and drug abuse, anorexia, suicide, bulimia, etc. These novels are praised for their realistic portrayal of taboo topics and are a big reason for YA Literature’s recent popularity.
Language
Language use in YA books tends to be fairly simple and colloquial in order to capture the attention and understanding of younger readers. This causes the belief that the literature is inferior and too easy for more practiced mature readers. Yet, this universal writing can provide a casual escape for adults from a mentally challenging work world. These books are indeed written by adults and there are often jokes or allusions meant for older audiences that may go unnoticed by young adults. YA books often are a subtle and exciting retelling of revered classic novels, fairytales, and mythology.
Diction/Syntax: Word choice and order are typically complex enough to not bore readers and also to address complicated issues. Yet it’s simple enough to be read without frequent use of a dictionary or fear of concepts being completely missed by readers due to language.
Voice: The narrative voice is usually dramatic. It uses hyperbole, relatively immature opinions and the visual structure will sometimes creatively break to match narrator’s emotion. For example, suddenly putting a word in all capitals, breaking off a sentence mid word, repeating phrases or making up words entirely.
POV: YA is known to stick to First Person POV. The story is usually told from the “I” of the main character, creating a close emotional insight into the character. This is because the themes and stories really center on internal conflict.
Character types
Protagonist: The main character is always a young adult, but beyond that they tend to be rather diverse in personality and situation.
Antagonist: This doesn’t just have to be the bad guy. The antagonist for a young adult novel can be a new place, an internal struggle, or an entire system they’re at odds with.
Friends: They usually have a few friends with contrasting characteristics that serve as comic relief or increase drama.
Love Interest: It’s common that there is a love interest, often one that comes from a different community or social circle, forcing the protagonist to question themes.
Parents: Parental presence is usually nonexistent. Young adults question what it would be like if they didn’t have their parents, and if could they make it on their own. These novels tend to explore that, therefore parents of the protagonist are usually nonexistent and it’s common that they are killed off either before the story starts or near the beginning.
Subgenres
There is also a clear decision by booksellers to separate the YA genre in stores. A fantasy book might be found under the YA fiction section in the bookstore because it’s marketed towards that age even though it is part of the fantasy genre at its core. Because of the overarching organizing principle of intended audience, YA, books of all genres are found.
Contemporary: A young love story that takes place in our world and relative time period. Ex: Anna and the French Kiss, Fangirl, If I Stay
Dystopian: Exploring the end of the world as a teenager, often with the power to change or better that new world. Ex: The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, The Giver
Fantasy: Stories of mythical creatures and worlds, sometimes colliding with our own. Ex: Harry Potter, Twilight, The Mortal Instruments
Realistic Fiction: Stories that resemble real life, are very believable, and are about more serious topics. Ex: The Fault in Our Stars, 13 Reasons Why, Speak
Historical fiction: The story of a teenager from another time in our world, usually during a significant event. Ex: The Book Thief, Code Name Verity, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Themes
Although many readers are no longer young adults, they were one at one point and can still relate to the themes and experiences. YA novels contain themes of ‘firsts’ (love, death, success, failure), a search for identity, and the building of community. We continue to face firsts, redefine ourselves, and struggle to forge communities our entire lives.
Identity: The teenage years are pivotal for self-discovery and characters in young adult novels face questions in identity. They question who they are and their role within their communities. This questioning can include issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic class.
Community: The changing of community, whether it’s switching schools, friends, family, towns, government, etc. community is an anchor and support system that can drastically shift for young adults. Often characters find themselves suddenly realizing injustice within their community or suddenly being empowered to change it.
Agency: Adolescents who are attempting to find independence search for the agency to make a change within their community or selves. This agency is either given or taken away from the protagonist in the first half of the novel.
Sexuality: Puberty is in full flux for young adults and they’re hormones often drive plot lines. Crushes, transformation (physical and mental), and a lot of firsts are explored here.
Mental Health: Darker themes that are present in YA lit explore drinking and drug abuse, anorexia, suicide, bulimia, etc. These novels are praised for their realistic portrayal of taboo topics and are a big reason for YA Literature’s recent popularity.
Language
Language use in YA books tends to be fairly simple and colloquial in order to capture the attention and understanding of younger readers. This causes the belief that the literature is inferior and too easy for more practiced mature readers. Yet, this universal writing can provide a casual escape for adults from a mentally challenging work world. These books are indeed written by adults and there are often jokes or allusions meant for older audiences that may go unnoticed by young adults. YA books often are a subtle and exciting retelling of revered classic novels, fairytales, and mythology.
Diction/Syntax: Word choice and order are typically complex enough to not bore readers and also to address complicated issues. Yet it’s simple enough to be read without frequent use of a dictionary or fear of concepts being completely missed by readers due to language.
Voice: The narrative voice is usually dramatic. It uses hyperbole, relatively immature opinions and the visual structure will sometimes creatively break to match narrator’s emotion. For example, suddenly putting a word in all capitals, breaking off a sentence mid word, repeating phrases or making up words entirely.
POV: YA is known to stick to First Person POV. The story is usually told from the “I” of the main character, creating a close emotional insight into the character. This is because the themes and stories really center on internal conflict.
Character types
Protagonist: The main character is always a young adult, but beyond that they tend to be rather diverse in personality and situation.
Antagonist: This doesn’t just have to be the bad guy. The antagonist for a young adult novel can be a new place, an internal struggle, or an entire system they’re at odds with.
Friends: They usually have a few friends with contrasting characteristics that serve as comic relief or increase drama.
Love Interest: It’s common that there is a love interest, often one that comes from a different community or social circle, forcing the protagonist to question themes.
Parents: Parental presence is usually nonexistent. Young adults question what it would be like if they didn’t have their parents, and if could they make it on their own. These novels tend to explore that, therefore parents of the protagonist are usually nonexistent and it’s common that they are killed off either before the story starts or near the beginning.
Subgenres
There is also a clear decision by booksellers to separate the YA genre in stores. A fantasy book might be found under the YA fiction section in the bookstore because it’s marketed towards that age even though it is part of the fantasy genre at its core. Because of the overarching organizing principle of intended audience, YA, books of all genres are found.
Contemporary: A young love story that takes place in our world and relative time period. Ex: Anna and the French Kiss, Fangirl, If I Stay
Dystopian: Exploring the end of the world as a teenager, often with the power to change or better that new world. Ex: The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, The Giver
Fantasy: Stories of mythical creatures and worlds, sometimes colliding with our own. Ex: Harry Potter, Twilight, The Mortal Instruments
Realistic Fiction: Stories that resemble real life, are very believable, and are about more serious topics. Ex: The Fault in Our Stars, 13 Reasons Why, Speak
Historical fiction: The story of a teenager from another time in our world, usually during a significant event. Ex: The Book Thief, Code Name Verity, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” - C.S. Lewis