This week of 13th -19th October is Teen Read Week, which is the national adolescent literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It began in 1998, with it's main purpose being to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.

When I looked up the definition of a teenager, it did give me some concern. If a teenager's years are from 13 to 19, that is a vast difference in life experience and parental guidance. However, when you look at young adult fiction the age range is 12 - 18, so there is most certainly a cross over. So how do you gauge your narrative when writing for young adults, bearing in mind these age ranges?

Firstly, recognize that kids typically “read up” in age, reading stories about kids older than they are. This gives you some guidance in creating your main character to be between 15 to 18 years of age. Some young adult books, especially in fantasy, do have protagonists nearer 19 years of age. Generally, middle-grade fiction will not actively involve sex, or drugs, however for young-adult novels, there are no bounds in terms of topic. It is a careful balance to ensure your narrative does not expose your readers to topics that they are not familiar with. (As a side note with the freedom of social media, I wonder if there are any unrestricted topics.)

The other consideration with young adult literature is the 'message' you want to bring to the fore. The most common themes are friendship, getting into trouble, interest in the opposite sex, money, divorce, single parents, remarriage, problems with parents, grandparents, younger siblings, concern over grades/school, popularity, puberty, race, death, neighborhood, and job/working. It is how you treat these themes within the character's journey that will allow your reader to relate, or emphasize toward.

For my part, I wrote two novellas for these ages groups.

A robotic protector, an invading creature, and four friends on an adventure...
Join Lenni, Troon, Braze, and Nevis on their terrifying mission to seek out and destroy a creature intent on invading their planet. The main theme is friendship, but also the discovery that a friend has been bullied and their protection of him.

Click. Click. Clickety-Click – Alice does not realize the significance of this sound; only feels the overwhelming fear it instills. What secret are her guardians keeping from her?  What future awaits Alice? What is Alice? The main theme in this novella is self acceptance and that of others.

For older readers, my Rython series (first two books) are a great escape into a fantasy set in medieval England. Where good and evil battle, alliances are made and magic is sourced. The third novella is a prequel to these two and is for the older age range. (or so I think, I could be wrong!)

What is your viewpoint on modern teen reads?

Did you have these types of subjects in your teen books?

What was your favourite teen read?