The Necessity of Young Adult Fiction

Abstract

AbstractThe Necessity of Young Adult Literature argues that young adult (YA) fiction helps readers to think about some of the most pressing problems of the twenty-first century by offering imaginative reconceptualizations about identity, nation, family, and the human relationship to the planet. Using examples from YA fiction that range from the Harry Potter series to Nnedi Okorafor’s trilogy set in contemporary Nigeria, the book argues that the cultural work of YA fiction shapes readers’ perceptions, making them receptive to—and invested in—the possibility of positive social change. Speculative YA fiction shows how a cosmopolitan world-view can help to form communities that are not threatened by difference but instead see diversity and dissent as sources of strength and knowledge. YA literature opens up conversations about cosmopolitanism and climate change, suggesting that cosmopolitanism is not just a subject for theoretical debate but an ongoing practice that could radically restructure readers’ relationships with one another and the planet. The novels examined in this book could all be considered “fantastical,” but they offer insights into the real world that all readers—and particularly young adult readers—might draw on to reimagine social structures and the well-being of the planet. In different ways, these novels also illustrate the dangers inherent in fundamentalist visions of the world. The cultural work they perform and their engagement with important social and political issues demonstrate not only the power of literature to shape understandings of the world but also the ongoing relevance of “the book.”