As a young adult, you might have been exposed to a lot of stories and films that have become trends in the last few decades (e.g., The Hunger Games, Twilight, Narnia, and Harry Potter). You might think, “What makes these stories compelling? Why do a lot of people watch the films and read the books which they were adapted from?
Connecting to the young adult audience makes up a strong marketing scheme and a legacy to pass down to the next generation. One reason why a lot of books and films are targeted at young adults is that this generation is the bridge between the wonder and curiosity of children and the wisdom and skills of adults.
Young adults are exposed to trends and coming-of-age that let them explore genres that keep them entertained and the masses that go with it.
Here are top story genres perfect and appropriate for young adults:
Adventure
- This genre challenges the protagonist against the other characters or the environment itself. Stories in this genre have a main character that is exposed to danger and is fighting for survival. It’s a type of storytelling where the readers have to keep themselves on their seats because the story would involve active chasing or appearances of predators.
- Example:
- Kenneth Sousa’sBlack Menace features a bird protagonist fighting with predators/ antagonists (Herons and Alligators).
Romance
- Love and romantic relationship is one formula that still actively invites readers, especially young adults. It follows a traditional boy-meets-girl formula, but since it’s already 2023, the audience tends to also get into the boy’s love or girl’s love stories.
- Example:
- Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook
Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
- This genre features the end of the world or the world “after the end.” Most of the time, this features zero humans, several surviving humans, machines, or animals left to survive after the planet succumbed to an end-of-the-world phase.
- Example:
- Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead features surviving humans
- Kenneth Sousa’s Black Menace features no humans but just surviving animals
Mystery
- Mystery features a protagonist (mostly a detective) solving puzzles and finding a culprit of a crime. The main antagonist does not necessarily pose a danger to the protagonist.
- Example:
- Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes
Thriller
- The protagonist is usually exposed to danger and has to avoid it at all costs. The main character still has to solve dilemmas but he/she is not an experienced detective.
- Example:
- Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Suspense
- This type of storytelling follows different perspectives of different characters. Everyone is exposed to the danger of the unknown. With this, the readers might not know who will be the next victim because the plot follows a juxtaposition of events along with different perspectives.
- Example:
- Josh Malerman’s Bird Box
Fantasy
- Most young adults and even adults don’t want to grow up and still choose to be lost in the world of magic. Fantasy is the genre where readers are compelled into the world of spells, witchcraft, magic, and other dimensions.
- Example:
- C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia
Science Fiction
- This genre is a cousin of fantasy. The only thing that separates it is the use of science and scientific methods. Here, the readers are taken into a parallel world where scientists have made something that would drive the plot of the story.
- Example:
- Earnest Cline’s Ready Player One
Horror
- This genre features a plot that involves the supernatural. If you are into ghosts, ghouls, zombies, demons, and monsters, this one is perfect.
- Example:
- Stephen King’s It
Classics
- This is a group of books that have contributed to literature. Most of them are taught in school to provide learning on symbolism, style of writing, or theatre performance.
- Example
- William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet
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