Positive YA Fiction - Guest Blogger L. Diane Wolfe

YA is one of the few genres showing strong growth in the book market. While that is great news, it's important to consider the content our young adults are reading. Welcome YA author L. Diane Wolfe to the blog. She's here to help us understand what writers can do to impact this important group of readers in positive ways.

The Need for Positive YA Fiction

To understand the current state of YA fiction, one has only to view that section in the bookstore. Nestled among the fantasy and light fluff are many negative and salacious titles. Today’s youth face challenges unique to their generation and their reading material reflects this troubling trend. To balance this onslaught, it is vital that they receive a dose of hope and optimism.

The tone of YA titles has changed greatly in the past few years. Many of these books cover subjects such as drugs, sex, child abuse, and rape. Characters are portrayed as sexual deviants and self-abusers, and many possess mean-spirited and selfish traits. Inappropriate behavior is even presented as perfectly acceptable in many of these books. The messages teens receive are dark, depressing and often misleading.

Our world has changed and it is foolish to believe young adults do not encounter such situations and choices in life. However, that is a lot of negativity to dump on an impressionable young mind. A teen’s brain is still developing at this point, and the resulting impaired judgment leaves that person vulnerable to suggestion. Young adults already feel the pressure to fit in and struggle with self-image issues. Do they really need such discouraging and negative messages as those found in many YA books?

Rather than contribute to the problem, YA fiction should uplift and provide hope! More books should offer morally grounded stories that do not promote deviant or illegal behavior. There needs to be consequences for characters who partake in underage sex or illegal drugs, just as there are in the real world. We owe it to our youth to help them understand values and what it means to do the right thing.

Equally important, teens need positive reinforcement. With all the negative residing in the world today, young adults need to know there is hope. Despite their problems or current situation, a better life is available. An uplifting storyline might be the only thing that inspires a teen to keep moving forward despite the obstacles. Young adults need encouragement, to realize that they are worthy. Books containing a positive message, rather than negative, will influence their future in a meaningful way.

As the author of a YA series, The Circle of Friends, I want to inspire and uplift. It is important that I also balance this message with realistic storylines and interesting characters. I find this possible without delving into the negative and salacious or creating a preachy tale. By instilling some values into my characters, I am able to portray healthy relationship dynamics and struggles with positive outcomes.

Enough negative resides in the world without dumping even more into the minds of young people. Controversy and negative may sell, but as demand for cleaner, more positive books rises, that scenario can change. Through author responsibility, parental involvement, and exposing young adults to the right material, we can send a positive message!

- Author and professional speaker, L. Diane Wolfe http://www.thecircleoffriends.net/ http://www.spunkonastick.net/