Young Adult fiction is one of the most popular categories in books. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Is it an age range or a genre? Is it defined by the age of the readers or the characters? Does it always include magic?

Let’s clear up some of the common misconceptions. And get to the heart of what actually makes a book YA.

Why is Young Adult such a confusing term?

Someone, at some time, for some unknown reason, thought it would be a good idea to give teenagers a new name. And they went with ‘Young Adult’. What could go wrong? Well, quite a lot really.

Since then, books for teenagers have frequently been purchased for those in their 20’s. And who’s going to tell them they are not young adults?

Young Adult books have also, without any justification I can find…