Since the arrival of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, bookshelves have been brimming with teens bent on saving the world. But while magically gifted students and young rebels are still in vogue, the nuances have changed and so has the scope.
As 2018 draws to a close, we took a look at the year's biggest trends in the world of young adult literature.
A melting pot of magic.
Trend #1: Culturally inspired fantasies.
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YA fantasy settings have often been inspired by medieval Western Europe. This year we're seeing a larger wave of magical worlds inspired by other countries.
At the top of this list is Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. This 2018 Goodreads Choice Award winner is based on Nigerian folklore, and its immense popularity is a testament to the demand for more representation.
Asian culture also continues to be a major influence. Representing Japan are Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox and Emiko Jean's Empress of All Seasons. Natasha Ngan's Girls of Paper and Fire is a love letter to her Malaysian roots. The anthology A Thousand Beginnings and Endings features reimagined myths from both East and South Asia.
From India we have Sangu Mandanna's A Spark of White Fire. This genre-bending high fantasy is set in the far reaches of outer space, similar to Somaiya Daud’s rich Morrocan-inspired Mirage. And finally, this year's odes to Latin America include Zoraida Córdova's Brooklyn Brujas series and Anna-Marie McLemore's Blanca & Roja.
Rise up.
Trend #2: Teens take a stand.
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YA heroes often fight for what they believe in. Their readers do as well.
Today's teens are especially savvy about social justice, as seen throughout YA fiction. A prime example is Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give, which follows the story of a young girl drawn into a movement after witnessing the police shooting of her best friend. This groundbreaking book continues to resonate with readers, winning the Best of Best category in this year's Goodreads Choice Awards.
Its success has also paved the way for other socially conscious contemporaries, including Jay Coles' Tyler Johnson Was Here, Mark Oshiro's Anger Is a Gift, and Ellen Hopkins' People Kill People.
Recent news headlines have also brought in a wave of YA nonfiction for the aspiring activist. Among these are "starter kit" anthologies, including How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation, Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration, and Our Stories, Our Voices.
Where do I belong?
Trend #3: The immigrant experience.
First- and second-generation immigrant narratives are also becoming a larger part of YA contemporary fiction, telling the stories of teens torn between two worlds.
Many of this year's young adult debuts explore the conflict of dual cultural identities, including Gloria Chao's American Panda, Samira Ahmed's Love, Hate & Other Filters, Emily X.R. Pan's The Astonishing Color of After, and Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Is Not Okay.
What trends have you been noticing in the YA world this year? Tell us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Announcing the Winners of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards!
The Most-Read Books of the 2018 Reading Challenge
Bill Gates Picks His Favorite (and Highly Giftable) Books of 2018
posted by Marie on December, 10
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