Young Adult Fiction
Teen RA Training
Fall 2009
Danielle Dungey
What Is Young Adult Fiction?
Definition
• “…“Young Adult” refers to a story that tackles
the difficult, and oftentimes adult, issues that
[arise] during an adolescent’s journey toward
identity, a journey told through a distinctly teen
voice that holds the same potential for literary
value as its “Grownup” peers”
-Stephens, Jonathan. (Fall 2007). Young adult: a
book by any other name…: defining the genre.
ALAN Review.
Definition…(cont.)
• “Teen books are like adult books, without all the
bullshit.”
-H. Jack Martin, assistant coordinator of young
adult services at New York Public Library
Roback, D. (2008, April 30). “Think Future” panel
debates what makes a YA a YA. Publishers
Weekly.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6556
117.html
Other Characteristics
• Variety of genres
• Experimental formats
• Shorter length than adult fiction
• Brief time span
• Focus on the main characters
• Positive or quasi-positive resolution
Changing Landscape
Teen-Directed Marketing
• Rise of publishing imprints for YA literature
Teen-Directed Marketing (cont.)
• Promotion via the Web &
social networking tools
– Websites
– Blogs
– MySpace & Facebook
– Twitter
– YouTube
– Skype
Pop Culture Connections
• Movies, TV Shows & Magazines
Adult Cross-Over
• Readers • Authors
More, More, More!
• More Books
• More Prominence
• More Genres
– Urban Fiction
– Christian Fiction
– LGBTQ
Hottest Book or Series*
*excluding the Twilight Saga
Hottest Book or Series
• Sci-Fi page-turner with a
strong female heroine, a
convincing post-apocalyptic
future and an engrossing
plot
• “Reading The Hunger
Games is as addictive (and
as violently simple) as
playing one of those shoot-
it-if-it-moves videogames in
the lobby of the local
eightplex...” –Stephen King
• Sequels: Catching Fire,
Untitled (forthcoming)
Hottest Genres
Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction - Girls
• Touching & thought-
provoking story of
family, friendship,
love, loss and life.
• View book trailer:
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=SrpMNXd
El3Q
Realistic Fiction – Girls
• Sarah Dessen • Sara Zarr
• Deb Caletti • Maureen Johnson
• Ann Brashares • Martha Brooks
• Joan Bauer • Sonya Sones
Realistic Fiction - Guys
• LOL funny debut novel
with an edgy, true-to-
life voice
• “Reading it reminded
me of what I like about
the HBO show
ENTOURAGE: the
guys are jackasses, but
deep down they’ve got
decent hearts. In the
end, you root for them
to win.” - Booklist
Realistic Fiction – Boys
• Walter Dean Myers • Paul Volponi
• Christopher Paul Curtis • Todd Strasser
• Don Aker • John Green
• Gordon Korman • Leslie Choyce
• Chris Crutcher
Realistic Fiction - Issues
• Gut-wrenching story
of Anorexia Nervosa
told through haunting,
lyrical prose
• Not for sensitive
readers
• View book trailer:
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=DIjyJ_tqe
dc
Realistic Fiction – Issues
• Laurie Halse Anderson • Sharon Draper
• Ellen Hopkins • Patricia McCormick
• Chris Crutcher • Lurlene McDaniel
• Rita Williams-Garcia • Sherman Alexie
Fantasy
Fantasy
• Debut novel with a strong
female heroine, a steamy
romance and an
engaging plot
• Received many starred
reviews, awards and
accolades
• Companion book: Fire,
Sequel: Bitterblue
(forthcoming)
• View book trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=m7jwHLDpxFM
YA Fiction – Fantasy
• Tamora Pierce • Robin McKinley
• Christopher Paolini
• Terry Pratchett
• J. K. Rowling
• Philip Pullman • Donna Jo Napoli
• D. J. MacHale • Alice Hoffman
• Ursula Le Guin • Jane Yolen
Paranormal & Supernatural
Paranormal & Supernatural
• Dark urban fantasy with
a fast-paced plot, witty
dialogue and
(deliberatively) flawed
characters.
• “Fans of the
Supernatural television
series will be hooked
from the novel's
opening lines” – Leah
J. Sparks, School
Library Journal
• First in a planned trilogy
Paranormal & Supernatural
• Vampires • Demons
• Zombies • Angels
Future Trends
Future Trends
• Dystopian Fiction
• Steampunk
• Multimedia & Interactive