Literature Glossary
Don’t be an oxymoron. Know your literary terms.
Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.
Young Adult Lit (YA Lit)
Definition:
If you're between the ages of 16 and 25, then young adult literature is targeted at you. Yes, you. Novels, graphic novels, poems, and short stories in this genre cover a wide range of themes related to the hazards of growing up: We're talking about heady stuff like identity and sexuality, peer pressure, bullying, and family struggles.
You don't have to be in the 16-25 club to dig YA lit, though. As anyone who's read popular YA titles like The Fault in Our Stars, The Outsiders, or The Perks of Being a Wallflower will tell you, YA lit appeals to just about everyone. That's right: even your mom. We know this is hard to believe, but she was young once, too.