YA Book Clichés: Trouble or Treasure?
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As someone who's read a lot of young adult books, I can tell you that there are a lot of overused ideas in the genre. To be precise, there are a lot of clichés. Clichés are ideas, themes, and even phrases that are used over and over again, to the point of banality. Here I've highlighted a few of the most popular clichés, and as you read, I'd like you to consider the question: are clichés still effective and enjoyable, or are they irritating and unoriginal?
Dead Parents
The protagonist is lonely, depressed, and raised by their aunt/uncle/closest relative. They feel unloved and unwanted. Most of us have read the Harry Potter series and know about Harry's borderline-abusive aunt and uncle, who take care of him after his mother and father die in a fateful accident. As a result, Harry often feels estranged from any family he has, never wants to go home on holiday breaks, and is a bit angsty at times-- especially about not being able to go and get butterbeers (the famous drink from the books) with his friends, because his aunt and uncle won't sign the permission slip for him to do. Orphan characters pop up in all sorts of YA books, and they always seem pretty unhappy with their lot in life. What do you think? Are orphans a fresh and interesting take on the average teenager, or just a moody and depressing attempt to get the reader to sympathize with the protagonist?
Examples: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Harry Potter, Trash, The Edge of the Water, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, the Percy Jackson series.
The Chosen One
The world is destroyed. Everything that could possibly go wrong has. Only one person can save us... The protagonist, who just happens to be your average teen. Sound familiar? Probably because some of the most popular YA books are about the chosen one: one person who is, against all odds, selected to save the world. Alternatively, the protagonist who discovers she was really the long lost princess all along! Is this cliché still compelling, or has it lost its magic?
Examples: Harry Potter, Maze Runner, Throne of Glass, Cinder, the Percy Jackson series, Carry On, This Savage Song
Love Triangle
He's in love with her, but she's in love with him, but he secretly despises her, but-- Does this sound too complicated? Or does it sound just right? Love triangles are a staple of YA fiction (e.g. Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Selection, Throne of Glass, Matched, Shadow and Bone, Red Queen...), and the list of YA books with love triangles goes on and on (as I just illustrated). Usually, the protagonist has two love interests, both of which are equally alluring (and equally perfect for him/her), and the reader is kept guessing which one he/she will end up with until the very end! Irresistible or infernal? It's up to you to decide.
Examples: See above.
"Plain" Female Protagonist
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You've seen her. She's gorgeous, she's strong, she's smart-- but she thinks she's just the "average girl". Or every other character thinks she's beautiful, but she's described as simply "plain" so that she's more relatable. Do you relate more to the "average girl," or would you rather your heroine be unique and interesting because of her flaws and exceptions?
Examples: Hermione from Harry Potter, Jane from Jane Eyre, Tris from Divergent, Katniss from The Hunger Games, Bella from Twilight
Love At First Sight
You've probably read this cliché a million times. Boy meets girl. Immediately, they know they're perfect for each other. The spark is ignited. Fireworks are set to explode. You have to wonder, though-- how often is it that people really feel that way about each other the first time they meet? On the other hand, fiction is about escaping from reality. Is it okay to make every romance instant? You tell me.
Examples: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, Twilight, The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Matched, The Hunger Games
Now you've read about five different clichés in young adult literature, and it's your turn to answer the question: Do clichés grind your gears or rev your engine? What clichés do you love/hate? Why?
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