Love ’em or hate ’em, YA tropes are here to stay. As a hardcore YA fiction fan, I have a complicated relationship with these common themes and devices that show up again and again in young adult books. On one hand, there’s a comfort in the familiarity of certain tropes – I know I’m in for an entertaining ride if the book I’m picking up has a magic school or a dystopian society (I’ve written about both). But on the other hand, these repeated tropes can start to feel tired, predictable, even lazy at times.
So let’s take a deeper look at some of the most classic YA tropes and debate: are they overdone clichés or do they still work if executed well?
One of the biggest is the love triangle. What YA novel worth its salt doesn’t have a protagonist forced to choose between two swoon-worthy love interests? Love triangles like Bella/Edward/Jacob or Katniss/Peeta/Gale keep romantic tensions high and ramp up the drama. But frankly, I’ve about had it with heroes stringing along two hopeful romantic partners. Can’t we come up with some more interesting relationship dynamics? With that said, love triangles can be nostalgic and fun when done right. I wouldn’t want to live in a world with no Team Edward vs Team Jacob.
With love triangles dominating as the go-to source of romantic tension, we’re overdue for some fresh relationship dynamics in YA stories. Why not complicate the romance with a friends-to-lovers slow burn? The anticipation as lifelong best friends realize their feelings have deepened would be swoon-worthy. Or explore a nuanced dynamic between an ex-couple who have broken up but still care deeply for one another. There’s so much complexity to tap into there. Even a flirtatious rival who challenges the protagonist could create steamy romantic conflict without another love interest vying for their affections. And what about subverting gender dynamics and having two interested female characters competing for the affections of a male hero? The possibilities are endless once you move past the tired love triangle formula. With thoughtful character development and a keen understanding of the teenage experience, writers can find new ways to keep romantic storylines captivating. In my eyes, YA romance is ready to blossom into something beyond the predictable constraints of a classic love triangle.
Chosen one narratives are everywhere too – heroes discovering they are the only one who can save the world because of their special powers or destiny. Harry Potter pulled it off flawlessly, but how many COPYCAT novels do we need about “the one” teenage girl who is the key to defeating evil? Then again, the idea of an ordinary person discovering their own hidden greatness resonates for a reason. It’s an empowering wish fulfillment tale when well-executed.
What about special powers like magic, supernatural gifts, advanced intelligence or abilities? These can start to feel gimmicky if they’re just thrown in to make the protagonist appear cooler or more unique. But imaginative powers open up amazing possibilities for world-building and adventure. Personally, I’ll never get bored of magic school settings and teens discovering new talents.
From dystopian societies to secret royal bloodlines to apocalyptic disasters, YA tropes have become ubiquitous. But the best YA authors take these familiar premises and breathe new life into them with innovative spins. After all, every genre relies on recognizable conventions – it’s how the writer uses them that matters. We shouldn’t dismiss tropes as clichés outright. Instead, we can analyze how a skilled author makes tired tropes feel fresh and subverts our expectations. They tap into universal themes but anchor them in vulnerable, nuanced characters and imaginative world building. That’s always my goal with my novels – to take YA tropes we ‘think’ we know, and shine a new, thoughtful light on them. Have I achieved that? If you’ve read my work I’d love for you to share in the comments below which perspectives feel fresh or tired to you.
So in the end, I don’t think we should abandon classic YA tropes – we just need to demand more originality and artistry within the formulas. Tropes only become tired clichés in the wrong hands. Instead of repeating the same plot points, use tropes as a framework to tell deeper, more thoughtful stories that reflect real teenage experiences. Make the love triangles messy and complicated, show the burdens of being the chosen one, explore how special powers isolate teens. When universal themes are anchored with vulnerable characters and innovative world-building, even the most familiar tropes take on new meaning. YA authors have proven they can reinvent these narratives again and again. And as a lifelong reader, I know I’ll never outgrow my love for magic, adventure and angsty first crushes – even if I roll my eyes at the tropes on the surface.
For more on how YA tropes have evolved over time, check out this great Vox article: [https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/12/4/18121098/ya-novels-history-problem-social-justice-diversity]
I highly recommend this BuzzFeed piece on YA tropes that still work brilliantly: [https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyrondeau/ya-tropes-that-still-hit]
For YA readers bored of love triangles, try these books with fresh romantic dynamics recommended by BookRiot: [https://bookriot.com/ya-books-without-love-triangles/]
Want to dig deeper into chosen one narratives? This Bustle article analyzes why we can’t get enough of them: [https://www.bustle.com/p/why-are-chosen-one-narratives-so-appealing-heres-what-it-means-to-be-the-one-9974928]
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