SJ Longthorne

Been having a think about YA fiction. Lots of people shit on it as a 'lesser' form of literature, but that's not the case at all. If anything, YA actually has more use in our society; it helps to develop and expand malleable young minds by exposing them to philosophical dilemmas.

It can make moral, ethical, and philosophical conundrums both accessible and attractive while also providing positive role models and exposing young people to things they might have little experience of, like mental health and LGBT+ issues.

I read once that children who read Harry Potter indicated higher levels of empathy. Is YA fiction a way by which we can mould the next generation to be more open-minded, kind, and inquisitive?

I know you don't mean it that way, but can't help thinking of some people using YA fiction to purposefully manipulate their audience, and how poorly equipped that audience is to fight it. And that concept scares the hell out of me.

I agree that having literature which exposes moral, ethical and philosophical issues in an accessible way is a great thing, since exposure to different ways of thinking is always valuable, regardless of age or creed.

We all would benefit from having to have those internal arguments, or even better to discuss ethical and moral issues with other people. I think it's really unfortunate we don't give more value to reflecting on our own lives, where we are and where we're headed.

I think it's potentially harmful to think that any fiction has a responsibility to change people. Or that it should be the goal of creating fiction. Yes, a great story can change your perspective. But stories are a catalyst for discovery, for asking questions, not to answer them.