The continued shift toward illustrated covers appeals to a younger audience, emulating the popularity of the same trend in YA, causing confusion and misinterpretation of the intended audience for these books. This is a concerning failure to match content with audiences as social media such as BookTok picks up adult romance books, including those with high levels of spice content, and promotes them to the primarily YA audience.
The dystopian setting—futuristic, typically end-of-world or post-war-world environments with oppressive governments and limited possibilities to be individualistic—creates perfect conditions for young adult readers to push the boundaries like the protagonists in these books, especially with such dominant themes of empowerment, liberation, identity, individual thinking, and agency.
Young adult (YA) fiction captivates readers with its relatable themes of first love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, all while addressing pressing social issues like mental health and discrimination. Through its unique narrative style and diverse genres, YA fiction offers a transformative reading experience.
As of 2019, according to Pew Research Center, 4.6 million Indian Americans live in the United States, more than two times the population of 1.9 million in 2000. Indian Americans are an important part of the Asian American community and it’s past time that their literary contributions are recognized.
Support diversity in publishing by reading Latinx authors. Feel free to let us know what authors you loved from this list and share other Latinx authors you love reading!
Ever read a YA novel and wondered how a teenage character was created? Developmental editors assist authors with developing characters with an empathetic approach. They can be a great resource when creating young adult fiction.