If you are a solid bookworm, then you might already be familiar of the young adult fiction genre. It is often called YA or YA fiction, which houses books intended for readers’ ages 12 to 18 years old. But, that doesn’t mean that readers beyond the genre’s set target are not allowed to read YA books — in fact, many adults are fond of works from this genre and are constantly waiting for new releases.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven, The Other Side of Love by Attilio Guardo, and Playing Hurt by Nardella are some of the promising YA fiction books .
Additionally, the typical themes and subgenres of YA fiction correspond with the age and experience of the main character. The stories typically center on different essential themes, such as struggles of the youth, first love, heartbreaks, identity, and more.
Common Characteristics of YA Fiction
- The most basic trait of YA fiction is a teenage main character that is commonly in high school, which is really related to the age bracket of its target readers. However, there are still a bunch of exceptions to this rule where the main character is already a university-aged, which means that he or she is already a college freshman.
- The issues faced by the main characters should be relevant to their age and capabilities, such as coming of age and self-discovery. However, focusing on the issues about growing up shouldn’t be the main conflict of the story. There should be a more vivid and stronger central obstacle to set the mood, increase the engagement, develop the characters, and move the plot.
- Young Adult fiction novels are usually told using the first-person point of view; but, that doesn’t mean that authors aren’t allowed to use other POVs. The first-person POV enables readers to connect with the characters and somehow experience the events in the story through their eyes easily.
Tropes of YA Fiction
The tropes used in YA fiction can either make or break the story. Some say that these tropes are the genre’s largest flaw; but, if you come to think of it, they can become the greatest strength of the book if the author used them in a uniquely beautiful way.
Love Triangle
It is the most isolating yet popular trope. Contemporary YA novels usually feature a love triangle. There is at least one main love interest and a secondary love interest; both are competing to win the heart of the protagonist.
A great example is the love triangle found on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Readers seem to predict the where the friendship of Katniss and Gale is going, which could be towards a blossoming love story. But, the author surprised the readers after Katniss found love on one of the tributes named Peeta Mellark. The protagonist didn’t openly show her interest on Peeta romantically during the games, but it was manifested as a survival tactic on a dangerous quest instead. However, Katniss’ focus wasn’t in love but on the game. Thus, the love triangle instantly becomes a literary device to build tension and help move the story forward instead of becoming the main problem.
Being Different from Others
Conforming to the norm is one of the most common tropes in YA fiction. Characters that are high school students tend to portray the predator-prey relationship. They often go in groups, fight for popularity, and try so hard to fit in. But, there will always be that character that outshines the others because of his or her looks or traits — which is usually portrayed by the protagonist.
This “different” character is not your typical high school student who wants to become a cheerleader or have the most famous group in school. But, it is someone who is plain and simple yet still found a way to climb up the ladder by staying true to his or herself.
A great example is Lara Jean Covey from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. At first, there wasn’t something special in her. She just loves to bake cookies, write letters, and spend time with her family until everything starts to twist and turn. She started to date the most popular boy in the campus, reconnect with old friends, and get known by others while still being the same old Lara Jean.
Oliver’s Twist 