Adult vs Young Adult Literature

The stories we love and what they say about us

When I was a child, I really enjoyed a series of books called The Inheritance Cycle, of which Eragon was the most popular. Looking back, it wasn’t an amazing story. A knock-off of Lord of the Rings, with hints of Brandon Sanderson where (spoilers) the big bad is eventually defeated with *feelings*. There was a wholesome angst to it, a romance, a young boy protagonist, it was perfect, and I loved it.

Today, I wouldn’t though, and off the back of a conversation I was having with my partner yesterday, I wanted to understand why. The book hasn’t changed, only I have, so what has happened to me in the meantime that I can no longer enjoy Eragon and other young adult novels and series like I used to.

The Protagonists

The protagonists of young adult novels are all different, but their differences are often only surface-level. Boring rural town vs post-apocalyptic dystopia vs authoritarian state all of it is only a stage for them to play on. They might be a wizard, have superpowers or be really good at archery, it doesn’t really matter. Maybe they’re overthrowing the government…