Young Adult science fiction and fantasy

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The Young Adult category of science fiction and fantasy novels has seen a boom thanks to a number of highly skilled authors including JK Rowling, Garth Nix and many others.

So what exactly is Young Adult fiction (YA for short)? Essentially YA is fiction written for or marketed towards the young adult market, roughly the ages between 14 and 21.

There are usually distinct attributes that distinguish YA from adult fiction and the primary of these is the age of the protagonist, which in the vast majority of cases is of adolescent age. This is usually then reinforced with the story and subject matter consistent with that age group.

Another popular attribute focuses on the challenges that growing up, or being adolescent bring, sometimes even referred to as problem novels or coming of age novels.

There is of course a vast and varied history of young adult novels, dating as far back as 1812 with "The Swiss Family Robinson"

The popularisation of the young adult market didn't really take off though until the late 1950's and early 1960's, with 2 precursors paving the way in the shape of "The Catcher in the rye" and "Lord of the flies". These books were written with an adult audience in mind but featured the young adult distinctions of young protagonists and this appealed to the younger market.

As publishers began to focus on this emerging market, the distinction began to gain clarity and during the 1970's up to the mid 1980's the market matured with challenging novels that spoke directly to the adolescent psyche.

Since the release of popular series like Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl, Young Adult novels have seen a growth in the genres of both science fiction and fantasy.

Books Reviewed

• The Final Orchard

  by C J Rivera

  Science Fiction

  When the apocalypse inevitably comes do you want to know about it? Would you like the chance to peer out of the window and see the world burning, perhaps you can make a run for the high ground? Another option is to live in pure ignorance underground, competing with your fellow residents for the perc...

  27th Nov 2024 Read review
• The Principle Moments

  by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

  Science Fiction

  You see it more often in fantasy than science fiction, but there are stories about young people living a life of drudgery only to be plucked into being exceptional as if fate is playing with them. It is a comfortable coming of age trope that has worked so well, so many times, but what if fate did co...

  29th Jan 2024 Read review
• Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses

  by Kristen O'neal

  Fantasy

  Stories about monsters were told back in the day as a way of making people scared. And they should be. How do you stop a curious child from walking in the woods at night or going for a swim in a deep lagoon? You speak of vampires, werewolves and merfolk that are there to eat them. This may not be tr...

  5th May 2021 Read review
• The Rise of the Arch Illager

  by Matt Forbeck

  Fantasy

  The best villains have depth; a reason why they became villainous. There are few maniacs that comes out of the womb thus, they must be moulded into the cackling psychopaths that you love to hate. In the Minecraft Dungeons game, you go up against the Arch-Illager; a diminutive enemy who has the power...

  4th Aug 2020 Read review
• Teslamancer

  by Matthew Donald

  Science Fiction

  Science Fiction is fun in so many ways and one of the most entertaining games to play is to think about if. What is Nickola Tesla invented a way to harness an all-powerful energy? Would such power be safe to use, not only for an individual, but for a nation? This was an era of World Wars; more power...

  30th Sep 2024 Read review
• Rory Hobble and the Voyage to Haligogen

  by Maximilian Hawker

  Science Fiction

  I remember being a young science fiction reader and scouring the shelves of my local library looking for works designed for my age group. The only one I ever remember getting my hands on was  Batteries Not Included  by Seth McCoy. The modern 8–14-year-old reader has so much more choice, from differe...

  16th Jul 2021 Read review