contemporary: existing at the same time. Authors who are writing about issues occurring in their life times are writing about their contemporaries. With regards to literature, the focus is on issues and characters contemporary to the reader.
#ownvoices: stories told by people who have first hand experience similar to those experienced by characters in a story (i.e. stories about being black in America told by black authors, stories about mental illness being told by people with those conditions, etc.)
neurodiversity: the range of differences in individual brain functions and behavior traits. Commonly used in reference to people on the autism spectrum, the term applies to anyone whose differences are an expression of brain function. These differences are regarded as normal variations in the human population.
toxic masculinity: current terminology used to describe any expectations placed on young men that limit their ability to socially express emotion or empathy or respect the rights of women.
black lives matter: a movement organized around the social inequities and injustices experienced by people of color in our American communities.
Contemporary fiction is filled with stories that are realistic--things that could happen to real people in real settings in contemporary (our own) times. They often deal with topics and issue that are important to/for the intended audience. So, YA contemporary fiction will include books centered around issues like teen relationships, teen health, social issues such as racism and substance abuse. Be assured, though, that YA authors rarely "preach" at their audience. Rather, they allow you to explore and discover the common themes of these tough topics in a safe space--a book.
WORTH NOTING: There are many contemporary novels that fit very neatly into other genre as well. Generally speaking, when you encounter a genre-organized collection of books (in a library, in a bookstore, or online) you'll find that also books that fit into other genre are placed there, first.
While YA authors do focus on issues and topics particular to their teen audiences, they may also use their talents to draw attention to or provide support for issues important in larger society. Current issues being addressed by young adult authors include:
Updated 6/4/2020
Library Information and Media Center - Monona Grove High School - Monona, Wisconsin