The importance of YAF by Vanessa Harbour

My PhD

I know we keep hearing how difficult the young adult fiction market is in publishing, which I understand, but we need to keep remembering how important these books are. I love young adult books and I know many teenagers who do the same. Back in 2011, I finished my PhD which explored the representation of sex, drugs and alcohol in British young adult fiction. In it I argued the importance of representing these issues realistically as books are a safe place for teenagers to explore these themes and to ask questions of themselves and the world around them.

Roll forward 9 years and Holly Bourne, who writes fabulous young adult fiction, gave a brilliant lecture saying something similar and which inspired this post. Young adult fiction is so vital. Publishers need to continue to let us, as writers, to push the boundaries when creating them. British writers of young adult fiction are outstanding. They can explore such disparate and challenging themes. It has been pointed out by some that there does seem a predominance of US young adult books on our shelves at the moment. Great stories still, but publishers don’t forget our amazing British writers both established and up and coming, please. 

French Writer and philosopher, Maurice Blanchot talks about the idea that the writer leaves questions on the page for the reader to pick up and consider. Young adult fiction is perfect for this. It is all done within the safety of the page. The young adult reader can consider what they will do if they were faced with situations portrayed in the young adult fiction through empathising with the characters and living through the experience vicariously. Reading is all about helping us making sense of our world.

Books such as those by Lisa Williamson and Simon Green, to name just a few authors, help those in the LGBTQ+ community, for example, again asking questions of themselves safely and those around them. Young adults are seeking identities and part of that is asking those questions of themselves and those around them. Reading young adult fiction allows the reader to identify with characters and situations safely. It is all about creating empathy and understanding. A chance to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

 I’d like to encourage publishers to take risks and publish books that deal with contentious issues rather than staying within safe boundaries. There is nothing more likely to encourage a teenager to read a book than to have a parental advisory sticker on it! I know they have to face the gatekeepers but… Obviously, the contentious issue should be relevant to and part of the story and not there for shock value. That just highlights poor writing.

The difference between a book and a film or TV programme is that someone can see what they are watching, but they can’t see what page they are looking at when reading. This means that a reader can go back and reread a scene in a book over and over again. Exploring what it means to them, considering how they’d react in many different ways. Safely and without fear of discovery.

How many of you can remember books like that? Ones that you’d go back to whenever you felt overwhelmed. Your ‘go-to’ book. Your safety valve book.

Very blurred teenage me

However, as writers don’t make the mistake of assuming the young adult now has exactly the same issues and concerns that you had when you were a young adult. Do you fully understand the LGBTQ+ and potential relationships? Then there is, of course, social media and the pressures of the internet that they face.  What about gangs and knife crime? Young adults care about the planet and people’s rights. They want to make a difference. Drink and drugs…maybe not so much and certainly different from your teenage years. The world moves very fast these days and it is hugely complex. As a writer, you need to do your research. 

Also, don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting people write a didactic novel driven by a message. I am sure I’ve shown you this before, but I’m going to remind you because it is important. Philip Pullman said in his Carnegie Medal-winning speech ‘Thou shalt not is easily forgotten, once upon a time is remembered for a lifetime.’ Write wonderful stories with engaging, well rounded young adult characters and let it all evolve. Watch the new adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses (also reread the books) such powerful books that deals with so many issues on many layers but also, it’s still a love story. Read as much young adult fiction as you can if you want to write it.  Attend things like YALC. 

Get out there are and write the best young adult stories that can make a difference.

Vanessa Harbour

@VanessaHarbour

www.vanessaharbour.co.uk

http://chaosmos-outofchaoscomesorder.blogspot.com