What parents need to know about young adult lit

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If you’re a parent and you have teenagers in your home, there’s a big chance you’ve seen a young adult novel lying in their room. Young adult (YA) literature has experienced quite a rise in popularity over the past two decades largely thanks to the massive success of the Harry Potter books. Many of the YA series have made their way to the big screen, with again, Harry Potter being the most popular of them all.


Although the YA category has only been labeled recently, there have always been books about teenagers, written for teenagers, or young adults. Books such as “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Lord of the Flies” have teen protagonists but were never called YA until many years later.

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YA books follow a specific formula, with a main teen character, taking on challenges that teens mostly face. They are mostly about coming-of-age, where one is introduced to the world of adults. This introduction mostly takes place via an experience that seems almost ritualistic. Sex, race, politics, and religion also figure into YA lit.


It’s also worthy of note how YA lit treats adults as background characters, and many times, as the antagonists. The spotlight in YA lit is entirely on teens who are almost always struggling with emotions and ideas.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a St. Louis, Missouri-based student currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. The cross-disciplinary approach of the program enables students to take courses in philosophy, politics, and culture, while intersecting literature with history. More of my writings here.