Novels written for young adults usually reflect the ways teens think about themselves and the world around them, which is one reason for their popularity, but they also sound a little different. Read this excerpt from the beginning of a story written for teen readers. What seems unique about its focus and style, compared to other kinds of literature?
“You won’t believe what came in the mail today,” Mom called out to me before I got both feet in the kitchen door.
“What?” I asked.
She walked into the kitchen and tossed a thick manila envelope down on the counter in front of me.
“Take a look.”
I dropped my bag of fighting equipment to the floor and walked to the kitchen sink to wash the blood and debris from my hands.
“How about you just tell me?” I said. After all, I was exhausted from spending the entire day training with the generals.
“Just open the envelope, Lainey.”
Question
How is the style and content of this passage similar to other examples of young adult fiction?
How well do you know young adult literature? See if you can answer these questions about themes common to the category.
Two of these themes are common in novels written for teen readers. Which theme is LESS likely to be developed in a young adult novel?
suffer as people
grow and change.
yourself matters more
than being cool.
Young adult novels tend to develop themes related to establishing one’s identity, maintaining friendships, and deciding how to react to new situations and experiences.
Young adult novels tend to develop themes related to establishing one’s identity, maintaining friendships, and deciding how to react to new situations and experiences.
Young adult novels tend to develop themes related to establishing one’s identity, maintaining friendships, and deciding how to react to new situations and experiences.
Which character would be LEAST likely to appear as the protagonist in a young adult novel?
sick of living in a
small town, in a small
house, sharing a room
with his kid
brother
Protagonists in young adult novels are usually teenagers who are dealing with issues common to most actual teens, such as preparing for college or careers, navigating first love, or working toward life goals.
Protagonists in young adult novels are usually teenagers who are dealing with issues common to most actual teens, such as preparing for college or careers, navigating first love, or working toward life goals.
Protagonists in young adult novels are usually teenagers who are dealing with issues common to most actual teens, such as preparing for college or careers, navigating first love, or working toward life goals.
Two of these sentences are written in a style commonly used in young adult literature. Which sentence seems to belong in a different category of fiction?
Lila scratched her
chin. She felt
bewildered by the
exchange between
herself and the
Lord Chancellor.
helmet and jumped
onto his skateboard.
He knew exactly
where to go to
cool off and organize
his thoughts.
Modern young adult novels are full of everyday conversational English--they sound more like the way people speak.
Modern young adult novels are full of everyday conversational English--they sound more like the way people speak.
Modern young adult novels are full of everyday conversational English--they sound more like the way people speak.
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