Trends in Young Adult Literature
By Mallory Rose Huffman

Perusing through the many choices of award winning young adult literature and reading our book reviews, it is easy to see that this genre is growing. YAL is important because the age group that it focuses on is a very particular demographic. They are not old enough to handle adult issues, but all they can think about is how to be ‘cool’ and act like the people they see on the television and magazines. Because of this, there are many factors that I believe will change the course of the books that will come out in the future. How far and long the trend of emulating celebrities and athletes will go will definitely contribute to content of YAL. People’s fascination with watching ‘train wrecks’ and disasters will also determine what type of material will be put out. Alongside these factors comes the school systems implementation of reading programs and teacher training. YAL has a long life ahead of itself, but where it is going will be exciting to see.
Looking at the first few books our class was assigned, it would seem that they all shared common themes of overcoming obstacles and sorrow. All four books, including Monster, Make Lemonade, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Speak, dealt with teenagers getting over bad situations. The topics were honestly very depressing at times. Why then do children, tweens, and teens eat these books up? This is a question that our class has posed many times. I believe that reading about intense situations is more interesting than reading about someone’s perfect life. Herein lies why YAL is able to become so popular with young adults. This trend continues with the books I chose for Unit 2 as well as the other books posted on Blogger.com. In the case of the book Harmless, which deals with three girls who tell a lie to get out of trouble, common problems like teen drinking and over-bearing parents are brought up. With every year, authors are able to tap into new circumstances that are no longer taboo to talk about. I do not think that Harmless would have been very popular ten or twenty years ago because it was a different time. Kids respected their parents more and there were not such harsh rules for underage drinking. Now, a book talking about three girls who lie to get out of getting grounded is a hot topic for a junior high or high school student. Maybe the question to ask is not where the trends in young adult literature are going, but where the trends in teenager’s lifestyles are.
Another book that I read, Secrets of My Hollywood Life, dealt with a teenage girl who was a famous star. Many people commented on my review saying that it reminded them of Hannah Montana, a television show. I believe that this is another growing trend in young adult literature; the obsession with celebrities. Referring back to my comments, a few wrote that this idea seemed tired or overused. However, I would have to argue that Hollywood has infiltrated all our lives! I do not see this trend going anywhere soon. CNN even reports celebrity news over ‘actual’ news. Children and teenagers enjoy reading these types of books because they do not feel forced. The main reason behind having an extensive YAL collection available is to boost reading. Whatever subject will get the kids to pick up a book is legitimate. Though a book where the major drama is who gets to be prom queen does not sound too stimulating to an adult, it can be for a young adult reader.
Besides books about conflict and the Hollywood lifestyle, another trend in YAL is the graphic novel. When I was first introduced to this form of book, I did not really agree with it. However, now that I see what a fantastic job it does with giving tentative readers confidence to read. It also seems to be very popular among young boys. I really believe that getting kids to pick up a book using whatever tactics available is what the major trend in YAL is right now. Graphic novels are another way to do this. In the book I chose, Avalon High Coronation, there are even subjects that appeal to female readers. Incorporating the different topics that appeal to both girls and boys is another sign that graphic novels are a growing trend within the young adult novel category.
I think a trend that gets overlooked but is very important, is the focus from teachers and students to recognize this as a ‘teachable’ genre. Some people are still stuck on the idea that the classic novels and poetry are the only acceptable reading material for children after the sixth grade. It is crucial that teachers and other contributors to literature speak out about the great things that YAL can do. As an undergraduate student, this is my second class that has focused solely on YAL. Not only have I learned better ways to structure lessons, like using K-W-L’s, graphic organizers, and always giving subjects meaning and relevancy, but I have learned that there is always an opportunity to incorporate literature into every lesson. It is proven that children who are read to by their parents perform better in every case. I think that because of classes like this, and school's and teacher's knowledge of the importance of reading, young adult literature is going to become a crucial part of every student’s life.
Hollywood and gossip; death and broken friendship; artwork telling a story; all of these are becoming trends in young adult literature. Though many may not agree on the longevity or importance of these subjects, I believe that they are here to stay. YAL is an important genre because, as I have seen through this class, it can spur so many things. It is that small area of the library, with the thick, red letters that spell YAL on the book cover. To many it seems like an insignificant part of the curriculum, but as I have shown, it encompasses all that can interest, inspire, and teach a child.