Young Adult Fiction 101: A starting point for learning more about YA Literature, also known as teen fiction

In the over 10 years that Teen Librarian Toolbox has existed, we’ve written a thing or two about Young Adult literature. Today, I am compiling some of those articles for you to help you get an idea of just what it is we’re talking about when we talk about YA lit, which we often also call Teen Fiction. Here at TLT we have over 70 years combined of over 6 professional librarians who have shared their journey in the YA lit world. These articles are a great starting place when you want to know what it is people mean when they mention YA lit.

It’s really important that you know and understand when we talk about YA literature here at TLT, we are always talking about teens. We are, after all, a blog about librarians serving teens. We know and understand that any can and does read YA lit, and more power to them, but we are a blog dedicated to the service of teens. So we always trying to center the teens we serve.

What, Exactly, Is YA Lit?

What Makes a Book A YA Novel? A discussion of what YA is, and what it isn’t

How Long Has YA Lit Existed?

A Brief History of YA Literature, an Infographic

Some Other Thoughts About YA Lit

Dear Media, Let me help you write that article on YA literature

Sunday Reflections: YA Literature Too Dark! Why Don’t We Ask the Teens?

What Does a Year in YA Lit Publishing Look Like?

Teen Fiction 2022 by the Numbers (So Far)

https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2023/01/24/by-the-numbers-a-look-t-ya-being-published-so-far-in-2023/

What’s On the Other Sides of YA Lit? A Brief Look at Middle Grade Fiction and New Adult Fiction, which isn’t really a thing but could be

Middle Grade Fiction and Collection Development: Everything You Need to Know to Help Pre-Teens Transition into Teen Readers

The Difference Between YA and NA and Why It Matters, Part II: A Teen Librarian Perspective

Some other great resources to check out:

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2012/04/what-does-young-adult-mean/329105/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/jul/31/ya-books-reads-young-adult-teen-new-adult-books

https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/living/young-adult-fiction-evolution/index.html

https://www.epicreads.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-young-adult-books/

Fantasy to Reality: The History of Young Adult Literature

Filed under: Professional Development, YA Lit, YA Literature