The Evolution of Young Adult Fiction Novels

The evolution of young adult fiction novels is unique and extremely interesting to analyze and explore. It’s a genre that is continuously evolving and transforming. What remains constant are its themes, which relate to what are considered “edgy” coming-of-age and adolescent issues, including relationships, drugs, peers, family and even sex. While YA fiction  is typically geared for readers ranging from the ages of 12 to 18, the market has expanded dramatically to include men and women from tweens to those who are past middle age. The theories behind this expansion are that these issues are not limited to any age range in particular, and that everyone can relate to having gone through the same situations in the past or even in the present.

Books for young adults have been written and published since the 1800s, with notable best sellers including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer and Little Women—all of which have stood the test of time and remain popular best-selling classics. Some of the most famous young adult fiction books of the 1900s include Little House on the Prairie, The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird. Today, young adult fantasy novels are ubiquitous, especially since the onslaught of series like Twilight and Harry Potter, which revitalized teen literature around the world and set the stage for blockbuster films.

While many young adult fiction novels of today are scrutinized for more mature and controversial content, they are also acclaimed for encouraging reading and literacy, as well as provoking teens to read about issues and life lessons in a way that can positively influence their own life path. Even young adult fantasy novels have characters and situations that teens can relate to, despite characters with paranormal or supernatural powers and sci-fi settings.

Young adult fiction novels have evolved in many ways. Plots are more complex and realistic in terms of the actual issues, even when there is a high level of fantasy and science fiction. If you look at both early and current examples of books for young adults, you’ll find interesting similarities and differences and can understand why some elements stay the same. A major turning point was when The Outsiders was published in the late 1960s—its realistic and unique tone and set a new standard for young adult fiction books. The author was actually a young adult at the time, so his perspective was as real as it could get. When the book became extremely popular, publishers recognized the response and began searching for other writers ready to tackle adolescent issues and themes in their books. This trend continues to prevail in recent bestsellers and is expected to stay at the forefront of young adult novels.