As the Parent of a YA Protagonist, I’m Concerned for My Safety
I know the rules say we must die in the beginning of the novel, but might I suggest — NO?
I understand that, as a parent, I must be relocated, trapped in a faraway land, or — most likely of all — killed in order for my child to fulfill their one true destiny. It’s long been the backbone of YA story arcs, and I’m not here to push back this trope’s use in the past. My kid will go on a daring quest, and, for whatever reason, there will be no responsible adult to aid in their mission. There’s no question that the go-to solution for absent parent(s) is to have them meet an untimely demise ahead of the story’s main action. Think: Harry Potter’s mom and dad or Katniss Everdeen’s dear old pop. We never really knew you, Mom and Dad!
My question is — isn’t there any other way?
I get it. My kid needs to ride a fire-breathing dragon into a bleak and vaguely futuristic dystopia while falling in love with someone who might or might not be their mortal enemy. These are the rules, and I will not question them. My precious baby sailing around on a mythical man-eater? Of course! It’s every parent’s DREAM. Not remotely concerning. The kid used to ride around on our family dog as a toddler, so I dare say they have practice under their belt!
