What is YA literature? (Mertz & England,1983)

YA literature draws upon how adolescents develop. Young adult literature is fiction written for the age category of about 13- 18 years of age.

 Characteristics of YA literature include 

• It has a youthful yet highly independent protagonist.
• The main character's life will have a significant change, and will reap consequences of decisions and actions. This reminds me of why we read to children, for readers to live vicariously through a book. It will show gradual change, including incomplete growth of the main character.
• It is written in a point of view which presents an adolescents interpretation of events, mirroring concerns over contemporary issues.
• It has direct confrontation and direct expositions. Information that usually details a reader needs to know to understand a later plot development. Without expositions the reader would be confused about key moments. 
• Generally the setting is limited, covers a brief time period and has a few fully developed characters.