What Makes a Novel Young Adult and The Advantages of Buying Used Novels

Young adult fiction is currently the fastest-growing subgenre of new fiction. Young adult fiction is being written by more authors than ever before! There's something about adolescence, with all of its tremendous accomplishments and terrible disappointments, that makes it the ideal setting for gripping storytelling. 

"Young adult literature" is a relatively new category, therefore many people are unsure what exactly qualifies a work as YA. In addition, we've developed a list of the benefits of buying used books so you can get your hands on some used Young Adult books. 

What is the definition of Young Adult fiction? 

Young adult fiction, also known as YA fiction, is literature aimed at people aged 12 to 18. Teenage protagonists in YA books are faced with the specific obstacles of adolescence, such as navigating relationships and discovering one's own identity. YA has grown into a recognized category of literature with many well-known volumes in its canon, despite its origins as a way to "bridge the gap" between children's and adult literature. 

Young Adult and Adult Fiction: What's the Difference? 

Despite the fact that YA and adult fiction have a lot in common, there are a few important differences: 

The protagonist's age 

YA books usually include a protagonist who is a teenager. Adult characters may appear in the novel, but they will never be the protagonists in these stories. 

Adult characters in YA fiction will never be the ones whose fate is in jeopardy, no matter how well developed they are. Adult characters in YA fiction can play a variety of roles for the young protagonist, including serving as a guide, an opponent, a confidante, or an obstacle. However, the adult is never the focus of the story. 

Perspective 

The teenage viewpoint is crucial in YA fiction. 

In general, a novel about a teenager published for adults will be reflecting back on adolescence from an adult perspective. The knowledge base and reference points will be those of an adult. YA fiction, on the other hand, is written from the perspective of a teenager. These books don't just look back on adolescence; they totally immerse you in this unique period of life. 

Other Factors Affecting Adolescent Attitudes 

Biology isn't the only factor that influences a teen's viewpoint. The adolescent life stage is equally important. Teenagers are at a crossroads in their lives. They are now "too old" for actions and emotions that were once acceptable. They must now accomplish for themselves what was formerly done for them. Their social roles and identities are changing. 

This is a period of firsts: first kisses, first heartbreaks, first jobs, first betrayals, first cars, and so on. Teenagers, unlike adults, do not have a lot of baggage from their past experiences to influence their judgments. Because everything is new to them, kids make mistakes and get emotionally overwhelmed. The teen perspective is also influenced by the changing life stage and onslaught of firsts. If you're writing YA, you should try to portray your character from the perspective of a teenager. This is a part of the tone of young adult fiction, as well as the growth of your character. 

Young Adult Novel Themes 

There are no hard and fast standards, but YA literature will often focus on issues that are more pressing for teenagers than for adults (first love, challenges of friendships, leaving home, etc.). 

Even if subjects in YA and adult fiction are similar, the manner these issues are handled is likely to differ - a YA novel is less likely than an adult novel to contain explicit sexual content or excessive violence (although there may be sex and violence in each genre). The distinction is in the graphic nature and intensity. 

Internal and exterior conflict are intertwined. 

Entwined internal and exterior conflict is another important feature of young adult literature that is not required in other age groups. Adult books may contain both sorts of conflict, although they aren't always as intertwined as they are in YA. The external conflict of solving the murder is the featured conflict in adult murder mysteries. At the same time, the protagonist may be dealing with issues such as low self-esteem, alcoholism, or a family crisis. These two battles are occurring at the same time, yet they are not intertwined. 

The two sorts of conflict in young adult novels are inextricably linked. A girl gets bullied (external conflict), which causes her to have low self-esteem (internal conflict). A boy gets into fistfights to prove he's powerful because he feels insecure and weak (internal struggle) (external conflict). This is demonstrated in the scenario between Lena and the police officer. Lena is about to throw herself into an external conflict since she is going through an inside conflict (feeling exhausted and guilty) (turning herself in as a drug mule). 

If you're writing a young adult novel, make sure there are both internal and exterior conflicts, and that the two sorts are influencing one other. 

What signs should you look for to see if your youngster is ready for Young Adult fiction? 

There is a growing tendency of children performing "adult" activities at a younger and younger age, which can be difficult for parents to manage. Parents of younger teenagers and tweens may be concerned about young adult books, which frequently feature scenes of violence, sexuality, and other disturbing or "adult" actions. 

How can you know if your youngster is ready for this more mature material? 

You are familiar with your own child and have a strong understanding of their development level. Make a decision based on your own child. There is a vast spectrum of what different youngsters can comprehend and absorb, and as a parent, you are in an excellent position to judge this. However, teenagers will begin to make their own decisions about what content they are interested in at some time, and it will be difficult (and possibly inadvisable) to try to regulate this with an older child (this is different than with a young teen or tween). 

You can talk to your youngster about your worries as a parent. You might discover that you and your child can have a great discourse about the things they're learning, and that your concerns are unfounded in many circumstances. Teens may like reading about some risky or forbidden behaviors, but that does not indicate they will engage in them themselves. Experiencing this knowledge through literature, especially if it sparks a conversation between you and your child, is likely to be significantly superior to many other methods a youngster might learn about many things. 

Buying Used Novels 

We've never had so many options when it comes to choosing what to read. We now have buckets of content available from our phones, tablets, eBook readers, PCs, and even watches, in addition to time-honored institutions like libraries and coffee shops. So, why is it that buying good old second hand books is preferable? 

Advantages of buying used novels 

1. You will be able to save money when you buy used novels. 

Of course, this one is self-evident. Newly printed books can be expensive, but when you buy used novels, you're almost certain to save at least half. 

2. You'll be reading more by buying used novels. 

There's nothing like a stack of equally interesting titles on your bookcase to get you to complete your present book. You'll have no trouble maintaining that stack stacked high if you buy inexpensive used novels instead. 

3. Buying used novels is more environmentally friendly. 

Purchasing a new book isn't as simple as it appears. Every year in the United States, 2 billion new paper books are created. That's millions of trees and millions of tons of CO2 emitted, making for a significant carbon footprint. Yes, the artwork on the new edition of The Great Gatsby is cool, but why not save the environment by purchasing one of the millions of old used novel copies already on the market? 

4. There is a common past with used novels 

Purchasing a used novel is like to purchasing a box of chocolates... You never know what kinds of ideas are scribbled in the margins. And that's one of the things that makes buying old novels so appealing. You're actively contributing to a common history, and you're allowed to add your own thoughts along the way. 

5. You can give away used novels to others. 

You've finally finished War and Peace. You've highlighted and earmarked your favorite passages, and you're ready to convey your enthusiasm for the well-worn tome. There's something appealing about lending a used novel to friends and relatives. It's adding another mind to the pages' accumulated life! 

6. Used novels have already been worn in. 

Books aren't supposed to be coddled. Pick up a second hand copy instead of worrying about keeping the crisp, coffee-stain-free pages of newly printed books. The binding is most likely bent, and you may come across some rumpled pages along the way, but chuck it in your bag and on the road. Used novels have been around the block a few times, and they've seen some incredible things. We're willing to wager they'll make it through a little trip in your tote bag. 

7. You have the option to use your first-sale rights with your used novels! 

We (and you) can sell used novels, music, or any other copyrighted property because of the first-sale legal doctrine. With the popularity of eBooks and other digital works of art, various troubling interpretations of first-sale rights have surfaced. Purchasing used is a fantastic way to take advantage of your long-standing, money-saving first-sale privileges! 

8. There are some absolutely great old cover designs available. 

There's no shortage of stunning artwork on the covers of used novels, from epic 1970s sci-fi to hot romance novels. Cheesy? Yes, of course. However, it's a terrific technique to strike up a conversation on your way to work on the bus.