Is Modern YA Literature Appropriate for Teens? | Teen Ink

Is Modern YA Literature Appropriate for Teens?

May 27, 2022
By Sophie_bernard08 BRONZE, Nairobi, Other
Sophie_bernard08 BRONZE, Nairobi, Other
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

The conversation around Young Adult literature has changed over the years. It started with books similar to The Catcher In The Rye, A Separate Peace and the Archie comics, stories of teenage lives that fit with trends and social normalities of the time, taking place at a school or home, the dialogue being very nonchalant and informal. However, recently, it broadened its horizons to genres like fantasy, romance and even social justice. The new styles of books being available to preteens have been causing a stir of opinions, especially among parents. So what is wrong with more availability of books to teens?

 As the demand for books designed with teens in mind grows, so do the topics and contents of the books. Some parents say that the content in modern YA books is too mature for teens and opens them up to topics too early; they talk about topics including relationships, mental illness and more "mature" subjects. They also believe that YA books are repetitive, follow the same tropes, and dont prepare them for adult literature. The language used is too immature for teens, and that classic books are more fitting for adult practices later in life. They agree that YA books have unrealistic subject matters and do not fit with the attention span of growing kids. I believe that parents will never be content with what their child reads as it is ever-changing and not the same kind of books they grew up with. The unrealistic expectations of life in YA books and the escapism of the books put teens' minds at risk of thoughts of failure. They also conclude that the contents of these books are harmful to teens. It includes themes like mature romance, mental health and real-life issues happening curretly, such as BLM and LGBTQ+ bullying. They believe these subjects matters are too forward and mature for teens. They give an unrealistic view of the world and can lead down the path of craving more adult books too young.

 Some other parents think that the generalization and degrading of YA books prevent teens from reading; in this social media age, it is essential to read and keep yourself grounded, and YA books are a great form of that. They are engaging and have the correct content for growing teens. YA books are a great way to introduce real-world topics to kids as a learning device and have captivating tropes and alluring plots. YA books are a great way to get kids into reading and contain appropriate subject matter for teens today. They say that it is the perfect level of maturity for teens and prepares them for adult literature later in life. It contains appropriate reading levels and has relatable characters that keep them engaged. They believe that YA books are perfect for teens as they are created with teens in mind and have topics that teens can relate to with not too formal writing. 

As someone who likes to read, my stance on this argument is that I believe that modern YA literature is very fit for teens today. Books like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and The Hate You Give are perfect for modern teens as it teaches them about real-world problems while still having inviting plots and fitting language. Nevertheless, I can understand where people can disagree. It is hard to be open to your kids reading books that you dont recognize as the same books you grew up with. The uncertainty can be unsettling as you dont know the plot, background or language that it uses. However, I feel that as teens grow, they have a stronger sense of maturity, and they should not feel anxious about what types of media they choose to consume.


The author's comments:

I wrote this piece on YA literature in my humanities class. we were doing writing pieces that have a neutral stance on a topic you are passionate about, so it pushes your boundaries. I really enjoyed writing this piece as I am an avid reader and would like to do something involving writing in my future.


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