
History
Characteristics
Genres
Awards
Exit
Site Map
Turn of the 20th Century
1940s to 1966
Unofficial Beginning
The Golden Ages
Exit
Main Menu Site Map
The first recognition of young adults as a distinct group was by Sarah Trimmer, who in 1802 described "young
adulthood" as lasting from ages 14 to 21. In her self-founded children's literature periodical, The Guardian of
Education, Trimmer introduced the terms "Books for Children" (for those under fourteen) and "Books for
Young Persons" (for those between fourteen and twenty-one)
establishing terms of reference for young adult literature that
remain in use today. However, nineteenth-century publishers
did not specifically market to young readers, and adolescent
culture did not exist in a modern sense.
Early 1900’s – 1930’s  Series Books
• 1905 Edward Stratemeyer Syndicate founded. It
produced the following series and others:
• Tom Swift
• The Hardy Boys
• Nancy Drew (110 titles)
• Bobbsey Twins
•
1922 John Newbery Medal established to honor the
“Most distinguished contribution to American literature
for children”
• 1936 Helen Boylston’s Sue Barton, Student Nurse
• With its publication, Margaret Edwards said, “the
dawn of the modern teen-age story came up like
thunder”.
• 1938 John R. Tunis’ The Iron Duke
• called the “first sports novel that could legitimately
be called ‘literary’ fiction”.
Exit
Main Menu Site Map

1940’s  Teen Romance
• 1940 Betsy-Tacy Series (13 books) by Maud Hart Lovelace
• 1942 Maureen Daly’s Seventeenth Summer
• called the first young adult novel by Margaret A. Edwards (“the
patron saint of young adult librarians”), even though it was
published for adults.
• dealt with sexuality and teen romance.
• remained popular well into the 1960’s.
• still in-print today.
1950’s  The Teen Identity
• 1952 J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye
• “introduced the contemporary themes of adolescent angst,
alienation, and anomie that would inform so much of the teenage
fiction that followed in its influential wake”.
• 1957 Young Adult Services Division of ALA established
1960’s  Rise of Realism
•
•
1960 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
1965 “The All White World of Children’s Books” published by Nancy
Larrick
• exposed/examined the lack of “authentic” multicultural books for
children.
Exit
Main Menu Site Map


The modern classification of young-adult fiction originated during the 1950s and
1960s, especially after the publication of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. This book
focused on a group of teens not yet represented and instead of having the nostalgic
tone that was typical in young adult books written by adults, it displayed a truer,
darker side of young adult life because it was written by a young adult.
As publishers began to focus on the emerging adolescent market, booksellers and
libraries, in turn, began creating YA sections distinct from either children's literature
or novels written for adults.
1967 THE YEAR THAT YA UNOFFICIALLY BEGAN
• G. Robert Carlsen’s Books and the Teenage Reader: A Guide for
Teachers, Librarians, and Parents
• Ann Head’s Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones
• S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders & Robert Lipsyte’s The Contender
• The Outsiders and The Contender “have come to define the form that we
think of today as ‘young adult literature’” (Cart).
• 1968 Paul Zindel’s The Pigman
• 1969 John Donovan’s I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip
• first YA book to deal with homosexuality.
Exit
Main Menu Site Map


1970’s  Realism & Golden Age of Young Adult Literature
• 1971 Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
• 1974 Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War
• “perhaps the most controversial and discussed YA novel of the
century”.
• 1975 Judy Blume’s Forever
• 1976 Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
• one of the first YA books by a writer of color
• 1977 Shelton Root coined the term “New Realism”.
• described books that dealt with the harsh realities, moral dilemmas,
and problems faced by teenagers.
• teens became a “distinct social group—not just extensions of their
parents”.
1980’s  Return to Romance & Series Books
• 1987 Young Adult Choices Award established
• 1988 Margaret A. Edwards Award established
• 1989 Francesca Lia Block’s Weetzie Bat
• introduced magical realism to YA lit
1990’s – 21st Century  Return to Realism & Second Golden Age of YA Literature
• 1992 Young Adult Services Division of ALA becomes Young Adult Library Services
Association
• 1996 Pura Belpre Award established
• 2000 Printz Award established
• awards YA novels purely on the basis of literary merit
Exit
Main Menu
Young adult literature contains specific characteristics that are
present throughout the genre. These characteristics encompass:
“multi-themed story, tension versus shock effect, memorable
characters, accurate facts and details, no unlikely coincidences,
original idea, memorable voice, authentic dialogue, effective/clear
writing style, sense of humor, widespread appeal, intriguing
openings and memorable closings”.
Other characteristics of Young Adult Literature include: "(1)
characters and issues young readers can identify with; those
issues and characters are treated in a way that does not invalidate,
minimize, or devalue them; (2) is framed in language that young
readers can understand; (3) emphasizes plot above everything
else; and (4) is written for an audience of young adults".
Overall, Young Adult Literature needs to contain specific
elements that will not only interest adolescent readers, but
elements that relate directly to real situations adolescents face,
and contain believable, empathetic characters.
Exit
Main Menu Site Map
Realistic Fiction
Historical
Fiction
Science Fiction
Mystery
Fantasy
Exit
Main Menu Site Map
Realistic Fiction
Setting:
Story is situated in the real world during the time when the story
is written.
Characters:
Real People/ Humans
Only people can talk
Major Characters are teenagers
Plot:
Events that happen in the book could happen in the real world
Conflict is a problem that teenagers face
Themes:
Often deal with issues or themes teenagers struggle with (Ex.
Finding one’s identity, dealing with abuse, etc)
YA Examples:
• Sarah Dessen: Lock and Key, Dreamland, Just Listen
• Mike Lupica: Heat, Summerball
• Sharon Draper: Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire
• Walter Dean Myer: Monster
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map

Science Fiction
Setting
• Story usually takes place in the future, in space, on a different
world, or in a different universe or dimension
• Story may be set during present day but in a different world than
ours
Characters
• Human characters
• Feature characters that have been altered using technology
• Characters from other planets
Plot
• Conflict explores moral, social, or other intellectual issues or
questions within our culture.
• Events and objects can be explained using laws of science or
advances in technology.
Themes:
• Science fiction may make predictions about life in the future.
• Comments on important issues in society.
YA Examples:
• Lois Lowry: The Giver
• James Patterson: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
• Rodman Philbrick: The Last Book in the Universe
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map


Fantasy
Setting:
• May be in set in the our world, in a world similar to
our world that has magical or mythological beings, or
in a created world.
• May be set in the present or past
Characters:
• Mixture of Human and fantasy creatures like vampires,
witches, ghosts, werewolves, fairies, superheroes, or any
being that possess abilities beyond that of a human.
Plot
• Conflict usually revolves around a battle of good versus
evil
•
Battle is fought using magic or superpowers.
Theme:
• Good triumphs over evil
YA Examples:
• Cassandra Clare: City of Bones, Clockwork Angel
• Rick Riordan: The Lightening Thief
• Maggie Stiefvater: Wolves of Mercy Falls
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map


Margaret A. Edwards Awards
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of
his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is
administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal magazine. It recognizes an
author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about
their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.
2011 Winner
Sir Terry Prachett is the
recipient of the 2011 Margaret
A. Edwards Award, honoring
his significant and lasting
contribution to writing for
teens for the following nine
titles
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map

The Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It
is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library
Services Association. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
2011 Printz Winner
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In Ship Breaker, near a drowned New Orleans
ravaged by hurricanes and global warming, Nailer
and his young crew eke out a meager existence by
scavenging materials on the ship-littered coast.
“This taut, suspenseful novel is a relentless
adventure story featuring nuanced characters in
thought-provoking conflicts. Bacigalupi artfully
intertwines themes of loyalty, family, friendship,
trust and love,” said Printz Award Committee
Chair Erin Downey Howerton.
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map


Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award is given to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding
inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote
understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the
American dream of a pluralistic society.
The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs.
Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world
brotherhood.
2011
Author Award Winner
“One Crazy Summer,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia
and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins
Publishers, tells the story of 11-year-old Delphine and her
two younger sisters as they travel to Oakland, Calif. in 1968
to face the emotional challenge of reaching out to a distant
mother and learn about a different side of the Civil Rights
Movement. Themes of friendship, family and identity
intertwine with broader social issues in this compelling
historical novel.
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map


Links to Book Lists for Young
Adult Literature
•
•
•
•
•
2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults
Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adult Fiction
Amazing Audio Books
2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Ouststanding Books for the College Bound
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map

Margaret A. Edwards Award
Michael L. Printz Award
Coretta Scott King Award
2011 Best YA Booklist
Exit
Main Menu
Site Map
Exit
Main Menu
Young Adult
Literature
Intro 1
Intro 2
Menu
Genres
History
Turn of
the
Century
Golden
Years
1940s to
1960s
Unofficial
Beginning
Characteristics
Realistic
Fiction
Science
Fiction
Mystery
(inactive)
Historical
Fiction
(inactive)
Fantasy
(Submenu)
Rick Riordan
(incative)
Maggie
Stiefvater
Cassandra
Clare
Awards
Margaret
A.
Edwards
Coretta
Scott King
Michael L.
Printz
2011 YA
Booklists
(external
Links)
Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood
travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a
month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old.
Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under
her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates,
including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name
(and which later inspired her current pen name).
After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked
at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where
she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe
malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004,
inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favorite city. She turned to
writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about
Paris Hilton again.
Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s
Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie
hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV
shows and the antics of her two cats, so she usually sets out to write in local
coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends,
who see that she sticks to her deadlines.
City of Bones was her first novel.
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map


City of Bones:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the
Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects
to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by
three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing
bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but
it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into
thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but
Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the
murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret
tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons.
Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and
Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes
like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get
the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map


Clockwork Angel:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to
find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the
reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting
for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks
and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the
Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of
demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret
organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself
is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into
another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the
Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the
London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help
them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends:
James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose
caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's
length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the
heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa
realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her
new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of
all.
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map

Cassandra Clare
Maggie Stiefvater
Rick Riordan
Exit
Main Menu Site Map
All of Maggie’s life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to oneself,
staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy
instructor, or technical editor (all of which she has tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists, musicians, and
artists (She has made herliving as one of these since she was 22).
Maggie now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with her charmingly straight-laced
husband, two small kids, two neurotic dogs, one criminally insane cat, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.
She is an avid reader, an award-winning colored pencil artist, and plays several musical instruments, including the
Celtic harp, the piano, and the bagpipes. She also makes great cocktail party conversation.
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map

Grace, 17, loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind
her home. It is here during the cold winter months that she
gets to see her wolf—the one with the yellow eyes. Grace is
sure that he saved her from an attack by other wolves when she
was nine.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen
woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a
fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being
human... until the cold makes him shift back again.
Over the ensuing years he has returned each season, watching
her with those haunting eyes as if longing for something to
happen. When a teen is killed by wolves, a hunting party
decides to retaliate. Grace races through the woods and
discovers a wounded boy shivering on her back porch. One
look at his yellow eyes and she knows that this is her wolf in
human form. Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace together,
and as their love grows and intensifies, so does the reality of
what awaits them. It is only a matter of time before the winter
cold changes him back into a wolf, and this time he might stay
that way forever.
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map


Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but
prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a
Cloverhand—one who can see faeries.
When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly
out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the
enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a
soulless faerie assassin—and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark.
Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only
a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.
Exit
Fantasy Menu Main Menu
Site Map
