Young Adult Romance Literature
Encyclopedia
Summary
Romance is a rapidly growing genre that has developed throughout the ages. The genre itself hasn’t changed over the years by a very large degree because the subject matter that appeals to the readers hasn’t changed much. Since the readers love the way romance novelRomance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
s work themselves out, the genre has cropped itself into many subgenres that will appeal to a wide group of readers.
In the world of romance, the story always focuses around the central love of two individuals. The protagonist of the story, who is usually female, is always looking at the antagonist, who is usually male. This love is made clear from the very beginning of the story, but is never accomplished until the very end. The reason that romance is such an eye-catching genre is because of the heart pounding thrills that drive the story. The road blocks, obstacles, and struggles that each of the characters must face to develop this love between them is an emotional trip that any reader would love to explore.
Since the genre is such an exciting one to explore, many subgenres have sprung from its initial path. The young adult romance subgenre is geared toward young adults
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
by having the protagonist be a young adult themselves and have issues that would be relatable to young adult lives. The novel draws them in by having the protagonist struggle through the same emotional issues of the young adult and in the end gain the love which they set out for.
History
One of the most popular genres for women to read is Romance. It is debatable when the romance genre was initiated, but it can be dated back to the 16th century. However, it is believed that the first romance novel was written by Samuel RichardsonSamuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
, who wrote the novel Pamela in 1740. Pamela was a book about a courtship the ends in marriage; thus, this happy ending
Happy ending
A happy ending is an ending of the plot of a work of fiction in which almost everything turns out for the best for the protagonists, their sidekicks, and almost everyone except the villains....
and overall story plot focused on romance. This genre started to take shape in the 19th century, when Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
, who is considered an expert in this genre, published romance stories from the heroine’s perspective. Soon after Austen’s work became proclaimed, the Bronte sisters
Brontë
The Brontës were a nineteenth-century literary family associated with Haworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. The sisters, Charlotte , Emily , and Anne , are well-known as poets and novelists...
were inspired to write their own romance novels. These novels all followed a similar outline that became an essential basis for romance novels, which included a hero and a heroine, the heroine finds the hero to be utterly impossible, yet finds herself attracted to him, conflict and tension arise, and the hero ends up saving her in the end. The romance genre continued its popularity, and soon enough books were being adapted into movies (such as Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England...
and Gone With the Wind).
It wasn’t until the 1950s that sub-genres in Romance literature started to grow. Harlequin, a Canadian publishing company owned by Richard Bonnycastle, decided to start distributing books in the U.S., and he started to publish romance books by Mills and Boon
Mills & Boon
Mills & Boon is a British publisher of romance novels. It was founded in 1908, and was independent until its purchase in 1971 by Harlequin Enterprises with whom the company had had a long informal partnership...
. Soon enough, these formulaic romance novels were selling so well that Harlequin decided to solely publish romance novels. He marketed these books in different places, such as super markets
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
and drug stores
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, where women could easily find them. This was the birth of a whole new era of romance novel enthusiasts.
Although the formulaic romance novels still exist and are still quite poplar, modern romance novels have evolved over time. The character of the heroine has become more independent, and sexual content has become far less taboo. This has created controversy and there have been issues with censorships, especially for young adults. The book Forever, by Judy Blume
Judy Blume
Judy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
, is a story two teenagers who fall in love and discover their sexuality, and this book ended up being banned for the explicit sexual content and suggestive language. Some feel that romance books for young adults can help them explore their sexuality and the obstacles of young love.
Books
- Forever- Judy Blume
- Deenie- Judy Blume
- Children of the River- Linda Crew
- Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist- Rachel CohnRachel CohnRachel Cohn is a young adult fiction author. Her first book, Gingerbread, was published in 2002...
and David LevithanDavid LevithanDavid Levithan is an American young-adult fiction editor and award-winning author. His first book, Boy Meets Boy, was published in 2003... - The Princess DiariesThe Princess DiariesThe Princess Diaries is a series of epistolary novels by Meg Cabot in the chick-lit and young-adult fiction genre, and the title of the first volume, published in 2000....
(S)- Meg CabotMeg CabotMeg Cabot is anAmerican author of romantic and paranormal fiction for teens and adults and used to write under several pen names, but now writes exclusively under her real name, Meg Cabot... - The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman- Louise Plummer
- Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
- Stardust- Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
- Stargirl- Jerry SpinelliJerry SpinelliJerry Spinelli is an author of children's novels on adolescence and early adulthood. He is best known for the novels Maniac Magee and Wringer....
- Angus, Thongs and full-frontal snogging (S) Louise Rennison
- A Walk to Remember-Nicholas Sparks
- Like Water for Chocolate- Laura EsquivelLaura EsquivelLaura Esquivel is a Mexican author making a noted contribution to Latin-American literature. She was born the third of four children of Julio César Esquivel, a telegraph operator, and Josefa Valdés.-Literary career:...
- The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants- Ann BrasharesAnn BrasharesAnn Brashares is an American writer of young adult fiction. She is best known as the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series of books....
- The Summer of my German Soldier- Bette Greene
- A Song for Summer- Eva IbbotsonEva IbbotsonEva Ibbotson was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her award-winning children's books as well as her novels for adults - several of which have been successfully reissued for the young adult readership in recent years.-Personal life:Eva Ibbotson was born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner...
- Girl overboard- Justina Chen Hedly
- Eyes of a Stranger- Sharon Heiser
- Dumb Love- Kathleen Johnsen
- Just Friends- Norma KleinNorma KleinNorma Klein was a US children's book author. She was born, grew up and lived in New York City for most of her life. She died, after a brief illness, in New York City....
- Love Rules- Marilyn Reynolds
- The China Garden- Liz Berry
Gay/Lesbian Romance
- Annie on my Mind- Nancy GardenNancy GardenNancy Garden is an American author of children's and young adult literature.- Biography :She is best known for her novel, Annie on My Mind , which was critically acclaimed but attracted controversy because of its lesbian characters, Annie and Liza who fall in love...
- Good Moon Rising- Nancy GardenNancy GardenNancy Garden is an American author of children's and young adult literature.- Biography :She is best known for her novel, Annie on My Mind , which was critically acclaimed but attracted controversy because of its lesbian characters, Annie and Liza who fall in love...
- Empress of the World- Sara RyanSara RyanSara Ryan is an American writer and librarian living in Oregon.-Biography:Ryan was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she graduated from Pioneer High School in 1989. Her first novel, Empress of the World, was published in 2001 and is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults...
- Boy Meets Boy- David LevithanDavid LevithanDavid Levithan is an American young-adult fiction editor and award-winning author. His first book, Boy Meets Boy, was published in 2003...
Vampire Romance
- Twilight Series(S)- Stephenie MeyerStephenie MeyerStephenie Meyer is an American author known for her vampire romance series Twilight. The Twilight novels have gained worldwide recognition and sold over 100 million copies globally, with translations into 37 different languages...
- The Awakening (Vampire Diaries) S)- by L. J. SmithL. J. Smith (author)Lisa Jane Smith, known professionally as L.J. Smith, is an American author of young-adult literature. Her books, which combine elements of the genres of supernatural, horror, science fiction/fantasy, and romance, are populated with young and apparently young human and supernatural characters...
- Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter)(S) by Laurell K. HamiltonLaurell K. HamiltonLaurell Kaye Hamilton is an American fantasy and romance writer. She is the author of two series of stories. Hamilton is known for her New York Times-bestselling Anita Blake series, featuring a professional zombie raiser/supernatural consultant for the police as the protagonist in a world where...
- Vampire Academy(S)-Richelle Mead
- Marked (House of Night, Book 1)(S)by P. C. CastP. C. CastPhyllis Christine Cast is an American romance/fantasy author, known for the House of Night series she writes with her daughter Kristin Cast, as well as her own Goddess Summoning and Partholon book series.-Career:...
- Vampire Kisses - by Ellen SchreiberEllen SchreiberEllen Schreiber is an American young-adult fiction author.-Biography:Ellen Schreiber was an actress and a stand-up comedian before becoming an author; she was also a real-estate agent. She studied Shakespearean theater at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and comedy at The Second City of...
Fantasy/Supernatural Romance
- Fragile Eternity (S)- Melissa Marr
- Shiver (S)- Maggie Steivater
- Hush Hush (S)- Becca Fitzpatric
- Tithe- Holly Black
- Blood and Chocolate- Annette Curtis Klaus