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Seven Characteristics of Young Adult Literature. Seven Characteristics of Young Adult Literature . Characteristic #1: Young Adult Authors Write from the Viewpoint of Young People. Young adult literature is often written in the first person.
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Seven Characteristics of Young Adult Literature. Characteristic #1: Young Adult Authors Write from the Viewpoint of Young People. • Young adult literature is often written in the first person. • In a young adult book that uses the first person narrative, thenarrator usually begins the story as an unreliable source. • The narrator grows with the story and by the end of the book the narrator becomes a reliable sources. • The narrator moves from an unreliable source to a reliable source through their experiences in the story that lead to change in their character. • The YA reader is allowed to live out life changing experiences safely through the narrator’s voice. • A young adult narrator may tell the story of another who is not a young adult. • Aproblem that may arise out of this characteristic is that when a young adult narrates a story it is deemed YA regardless of whether the story being told is a young adult or adult story.
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #2: “Please, Mother, I Want the Credit!” • The young adult protagonists solve problems for themselves without the help of their parents. • Elderly relatives, mentors or friends may provide assistance to young adult protagonist. • Young adult protagonist attempt to learn about an unknown parent.
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #3: Young Adult Literature is Fast Paced. • YA fiction may present characters that are a reflection of MTV or the Internet over role model characters for young adult audiences. • YA fiction offers stories that are short and powerful as well as longer stories with more complex plots. • This characteristic may present a problem as young adults will be left with fewer characters who are “role models.”
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #4: Young Adult Literature Includes a Variety of Genres and Subjects. • YA literature offers variety of genres (science fiction, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, ect.) • Young adult literature includes all forms of literature including: nonfiction, poetry, biography, graphic novels ect.
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #5: The Body of Work Includes Stories about characters from Many Different Ethnic and Cultural Groups. • Themes that allow young adult readers and honest view of a diverse set of situations and issues from both a local and global perspective. • Problems could arise as stories and situations from different ethnic and cultural groups may be considered taboo when viewed by a different culture or ethnic group.
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #6: Young Adult Books Are Basically Optimistic, with Characters Making Worthy Accomplishments. • Young adult protagonists are often smarter than the adults in the story. • Young adult stories feature protagonists who will be respected by the young adult audience. • A problem from this characteristic may arise as young adult protagonist who seems to know it all may offend adults.
Characteristics of Young Adult Literature Characteristic #7: Successful Young Adult Novels Deal with Emotions That Are Important to Young Adults. • Truthfully portrays emotions that are important to young adults. • Themes include becoming self-aware, achieving self-identity and being responsible form one’s self. • Reflect young adult emotional struggles. • Problems may arise from this characteristic as stories may deal with mature language and content including: profanity, sexual content, violence, drug use, suicide, teen pregnancy, and abuse.
