RED 0560: Literature for Children and Adolescents

Dr. Maribel Méndez

Literary Elements

Coming of Age: A Theme Found within Young Adult Novels

By:

Jose I. Jr. Vicente Felciano

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 Outline

Title: Coming of Age: A Theme Found within Young Adult Novels

Introduction:
These literary works have ignited conversations and visibility of what is like to
live as a young adult who struggles with real-life issues and how to look for
solutions.

What is Theme?:
In literature, a Theme corresponds to the works and topic of a message found
within a story.

Coming of Age, a Theme for defining young adult novels:

Coming of Age is quite popular in young adult novels, and this theme allows for
multiple themes and topics to take part in the development of a story.

Themes within Themes, how Coming-of-Age allows for broader topics to be

discussed throughout young adult narratives:
These narratives consist of journeys for mature identities and often link other
identity developments such as social classes, gender, ethnicity, race, and mental
health, among others.

Young Adult Novels that utilize Coming-of-Age as the main theme:

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower
John Green’s Looking for Alaska
Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places

Conclusion: These literary works continue to demand conversations, they allow

visibility for all who have struggled and have served as guidebooks that teach
about real-life issues and how to look for solutions.

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 Coming of Age: A Theme Found within Young Adult Novels

Between the 1940s and 1970s, it took nearly 30 years for young adult novels to blossom

into the essential literary work they are today. These novels are known to not shy out from

exploring both the realities and fantasies lived by young adults. The themes within these novels

explore different takes on what it is like to be young and living in a transitional period. Among

these themes, coming-of-age has allowed these literary works to explore topics like identity,

death, mental health, etc. These literary works have ignited conversations and visibility of what

is like to live as a young adult who struggles with real-life issues and how to look for solutions.

In literature, a Theme corresponds to the works and topic of a message found within a

story. It is a pathway for the story’s deeper meaning. When a work of literature revolves around

complex ideas, the theme is the vehicle that allows the reader to approach these ideas. The

central idea of a story is identified and explored through the theme. Even if not immediately

comprehended, the story will present the central idea. The theme will never be stated directly by

the author, it is instead brought to the reader through other literary tools at the author’s disposal.

The theme is exposed by the development of the following elements: plot, settings, conflicts,

characters, literary devices, and word choice. A major rule regarding a story’s theme is that it

should always remain open-ended. An open-ended theme allows writers and readers to develop

ideas revolving around complex topics.

Theme forms part of a compendium of broad ideas. The theme is set to encompass the

central idea through the different resources the writer will utilize to develop the story. This

process constantly contrasts the theme and motifs, morals, topics, etc. All these sources will

constantly interact with each other to create a full body of work. The topic of the story will

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directly address what a story is about; it is what happens in the story. There will be constant

overlapping over topics and themes. While the topic describes a superficial message, the theme

will argue the topic found in the literary work. It is important to understand that a topic is

definite, whereas the theme is interpretive. Every reader can agree on the topic, but many readers

will have different interpretations of the theme. If the theme weren’t open-ended, it would simply

be a topic (Glatch, S. 2021). The idea that recurs throughout the story is known as the motif. The

motif contributes, explains, and expands the theme – it helps the writer develop the central idea.

The moral of the story is the acquired knowledge of a story, the story’s takeaway. The moral of

the story is derived from the theme. There is no accurate answer or interpretation of the moral,

the reader will elucidate the meaning and message on their own.

Great literature does not tell us what to think, it gives us stories to think

about; the more we discuss our thoughts and interpretations, the more we

learn from each other. (Glatch, S. 2021)

The theme of the story influences all the elements of the story. The theme unfolds

through decisions made by characters, words, and images influenced by the mood of the story,

and the reader’s elucidation.

Various themes are present in young adult novels, among these are Coming of Age, Fate

vs Free Will, Identity, Loneliness, Man vs Self, Survival, etc. Coming of Age is quite popular in

young adult novels, and this theme allows for multiple themes and topics to take part in the

development of a story. Also known as Bildungsroman, Coming of Age involves the multiple

experiences lived while growing up and how these shape the fate of the protagonist. It emerged

during the late 18th century; this Theme and Genre have opened the gates towards outstanding

literary works that detail the life of young adults who explore the wonders of their identity,

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question their values, undergo trials of morality, phase troubled mental states, and transform

themselves and the world at their reach.

These stories venture through social developments and structures that allow scholars to

consider and examine the sociocultural impacts of their narratives. These narratives consist of

journeys for mature identities and often link other identity developments such as social classes,

gender, ethnicity, race, and mental health, among others. The loss of childhood innocence is

pivotal when characters have to face the consequences of their decisions. This embarks the

character in a transition period from childhood to adulthood. Usually, these characters have a

perspective of what adulthood should be through the influence of their parents' mindset, which is

often found clashing with their own. These different shares of perspectives lead the character to

believe of themselves as an outcast to society, that deviates from expected adult norms. This

highlights another narrative, the trials of social expectations and norms. Decisions have to be

made that will place the character in a battle of morals, social construct, and identity. The

character seeks action on what to prioritize: conform to a socially constructed identity or

deconstruct themselves to become a renowned version with a new personal sense of identity. On

another hand, female lead characters are often narrowed down to two options, marriage as the

socially correct social construct or death as an outcome for deviating from socially expected

norms. Race is represented through the different experiences lived by minorities. These

narratives display their poor living conditions and social and economic disadvantages. Most of

these characters face turbulence to prove and renew their innocence.

In more recent publications, mental health has been a central idea surrounding coming-

of-age-themed novels. People are afraid to talk about mental health, nurturing the stigma that

permeates society. These narratives often fall into many layers, that go through different

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depictions of mental health. The characters are portrayed as distant figures, lonely, depressed,

undergoing trauma, or dealing with emotions they cannot come to understand. There is constant

symbolism found within these stories, from abuse, forgiveness, and healing, to death, suicide, or

transformation. These literary works open spaces for conversation and visibility of what is like to

struggle with these issues and how to deal with or seek help to make a change. Young readers

will see themselves in these stories, they will see the problems and learn of solutions. Stories like

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, John Green’s Looking for Alaska, and

Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places are novels that represent what is coming-of-age, and what

it is to deal with the turmoil of being a young adult facing the world through the lens of mental

health.

In Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie, the main character has just

started high school, but is at the time dealing with isolation. As his time in his freshman year

progresses, he acquaints himself with other peers that slowly allow him to break out of his

comfort zone. What initially lead Charlie to participate less in life was the loss of a friend due to

suicide and his aunt's passing. Throughout the story, Charlie comes to understand that there is an

apparent fear of losing the people he loves but he is not quite sure how to express this feeling. As

the story climaxes, his friends also face their tribulations and take their paths, which triggers

Chalie. By the end of the story, it is known that Charlie had not only become isolated by the

death of his middle school friend and aunt but that he had also repressed memories in which he

was molested as a child by his aunt. He is set to seek treatment so he learns to cope and deal with

his emotions. Different takes on what it is to be a young adult play out throughout the story. In

one of the scenes, it is known that Charlie’s older sister is in an abusive relationship. He consults

this with his English Teacher, to with he replies “We accept the love we think we deserve”. This

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quote alone resonates throughout the entire story, which also deals with sexuality and

homophobia, identity, and self-love.

Green’s Looking for Alaska also deals with coming-of-age as a central theme. Much like

Chbosky, Green allows their characters to experience death and loss. Miles is a teenager the new

student in the boarding school and gets acquainted with new friends, among these Alaska Young.

The story revolves around trust and loyalty, as well as the mysteries one person may hide. As

teenagers, these characters dwell on the understanding of death and loss, when the character

Alaska dies all of a sudden. Questions are left unanswered and emotions spike. Grief shifts into

blame and acceptance of the unknown become the only answer to the unexpected demise. It is

known that Alaska was unstable and a troubled teenager that quietly suffers from trauma after

witnessing her mother’s death. There is constant symbolism of alcohol and drug abuse, to come

with emotions. “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive” is the story’s most

defining quote. As Alaska constantly lived blaming herself for her mother’s death, and Miles

blames Alaska for the grief he suffered after her death, the story opens up to those who have lost

a loved one and never came to terms with their loss.

Niven’s All the Bright Places invites you into the lives of Finch and Violet. Just like

Chbosky and Green, Niven combines all the elements found in the previous stories to create not

one, but two perspectives at once. The story details how Finch finds himself struggling with

anxiety, undiagnosed bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, Violet is

implied to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which came to be after surviving a

car accident that killed her older sister. Violet participates less in life and isolates herself, while

also feeling responsible for her sister’s death. These narratives come close to those of The Perks

of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska. As the plot unfolds, Finch and Violet developed

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a romance and it is shown how their instability strips the best of them. The plot takes a pivotal

turn when Finch, who constantly tries suicidal methods but never succeeds, becomes more

unstable, while Violet little by little understands her grief process and looks to heal. Finch’s

disorders and suicidal attempts take the best of him, suffering an unexpected demise that once

again triggers Violet. It is never detailed if Fich did or did not commit suicide, and Violet is left

grieving once again. After Violet comes to terms with both her sister and now Finch’s death, she

develops a more mature sense of grief, “Your hope lies in accepting your life as it now lies

before you, forever changed. If you can do that, the peace you seek will follow. Forever changed.

I am forever changed.” This quote itself wraps up what the narrative initially unfolds, and both

character and reader understand that the circumstances of one's death are not to be blamed for,

there is peace in acceptance, and simply, life will continue. This closure is also displayed at the

end of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska. While the narratives are open-

ended, the characters are implied to understand how life continues regardless of the turn of

events that affected each character.

While it took nearly 30 years to shape up, young adult novels defined a new era for

literature. These novels did not shy away and instead explored the realities and fantasies lived by

young adults. The themes found within these novels allowed writers to display what it is like to

be young and living in a transitional period. Coming-of-age paved the way for these literary

works to expose the complexities of identity, death, mental health, etc. These literary works

continue to demand conversations, they allow visibility for all who have struggled and have

served as guidebooks that teach about real-life issues and how to look for solutions.

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 To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and

enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be

who have tried it.

― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick or, the Whale

References

Galda, L., Liang, L. A., & Cullinan, B. E. (2017). Literature and the child. (9th ed.).

Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Glatch, S. (August 2021) What is theme? A look at 20 common themes in literature.

Writers. https://writers.com/common-themes-in-literature

Smith, K. (August 2021) Teaching coming-of-age. Facing today a facing history blog.

Facing history & ourselves. https://facingtoday.facinghistory.org/teaching-coming-of-

age-literature

Schulze, B. (April 2018) Why coming-of-age books are important to read. The children’s

book review. https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/why-coming-of-age-books-are-

important-to-read/

A brief history of young adult books. (n.d.) retrieved from:

https://www.epicreads.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-young-adult-books/

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 Gandhi, L. (April 2021) Author lizzy mason explores coming of age and mental illness in

"between the bliss and me". Wmc loreen arbus journalism program. Retrieved from:

https://womensmediacenter.com/fbomb/author-lizzy-mason-explores-coming-of-age-and-

mental-illness-in-between-the-bliss-and-me

Bibliography

Chbosky, Stephen (1999) The perks of being a wallflower. Pocket books. Simon &

Schuster.

Green, John (2005) Looking for alaska. Dutton juvenile. Penguin group.

Niven, Jennifer (2015) All the bright places. Knopf publishing group. Penguin random

house.

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