10 Worst Young Adult Tropes in Fiction

I’m breaking down the 10 worst tropes in young adult fiction! So buckle up, it’s about to be a rough ride. I’m talking about some of the problematic–and just plain annoying–YA tropes you can find in young adult literature, including the “dark and mysterious teenager,” the “teenager who’s actually ANCIENT,” the “plain main character,” and more. So if you’re trying to avoid the worst YA tropes or just need a list of the worst young adult fantasy tropes, this video’s got your name on it. Be sure to stick around, because the last trope just doesn’t hold up. 🧐

–Straight from my cold, dark heart,

Your Cyborg Queen
#JennaMoreci #CyborgQueen #CyborgArmy

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CHANNEL PLAYLISTS:

[AndiLang]

"I've read books where the Chosen One does nothing but MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE."
Me: *Maybe I am the Chosen One*

[Alias_Anybody]

Controversial opinion: Brats who actually improve and grow up (like, you know, a character arc) tend to be pretty satisfying to read/watch.

[trinaq]

Just this once, I'd like to read about a female protagonist who knows that she's pretty, but isn't vain about her beauty. Also, many High School relationships don't last beyond school, yet they're typically portrayed as THE one.

[theboozybookwyrm]

The older I get, the less I understand why an immortal being would hang around a high school.

I felt the "I just personally can't get into it because I'm a jaded adult and I know too much" in my soul.

And also yeah, WTF is up with sexualizing minors?

[ruthmellodasilva]

The trope of the teenage boy who looks like a 6'1" bodybuilder but is 15 years old. *Note: He is also compared to a living Adonis by the female protagonist. After a few scenes of exposing his abdominal muscles, it is revealed that despite his charismatic personality and flirtatious ways, he has not had any significant relationships in the past. The epitome of beauty and modesty, perfection personified.

[martapenczek]

I actually like YA for the lack of overtly sexual scenes. I like romance as much as the next person, but not erotica. I prefer leaving things to imagination. Also, sometimes the steamy part overshadows the story and it bugs me.

[ElleLSings]

a YA book where the protagonist goes to the grocery store and her dark and mysterious crush is in a flourescent blue work apron bagging groceries at checkout stand 3 would absolutely destroy me, that would be so funny

[trinaq]

Thanks for addressing all of these clichés, Jenna. The "Plain Girl who is wanted by virtually every guy she meets" always gets my goat. Bella Swan is definitely the epitome of this, she outright says that she's completely ordinary, but she has several different guys falling for her on her first day.

[lydia]

as a teen who reads a fair bit of YA, I've almost never related to the main character. "old souls" aren't what people want to read about I guess. I've always wished for a protagonist who doesn't struggle with grades, or with her body, but maybe deals with other things. It often seems like those are the only issues I'm allowed to have and it's frankly rather annoying because that's never been a big part of my experience. Give me girls who know they're smart and pretty who have to deal with the social flack of actually doing well in school. Girls who know their worth but are suffocating under all the pressure adults put on her for her so-called "potential." Girls who are a bit out of touch with their emotions. Where are these girls.

Sophie Hatter from the book Howl's Moving Castle is the closest I've gotten. Sophie is a mood and I love her dearly. she really got turned into and old hag and just went with it. fantastic 10/10.

[Rosemont]

The masquerade ball is just the fancier, "fantastical" version of the prom, which probably seems appealing to teens.

[kittykat]

Consider this: A YA Teen Protagonist whose favorite book is The Great Gatsby because it was assigned reading at first, but she was surprised by how much she actually liked it and constantly argues with her English teacher because she 100% ships Nick x Gatsby and Daisy x Jordan.

[saanrio]

One of these days, I will put together a master list of Jenna's worst tropes and write a book with all of them. I'll either massively fail, or I'll never need to work again. lol

[ludovico]

Loving a genre or a category of fiction does not mean you have to love all the clichés, the lazy elements or the derivative aspects.

[tsifirakiehl]

You are so right about #3! Why can’t we have a leading lady who knows she’s pretty? Or—and the world might not be ready for this—one who’s legitimately unattractive? Or maybe her beauty or lack thereof isn’t relevant to the plot, so we get a neutral description of her appearance, e.g., “She was tall and light-skinned, with shoulder-length red hair, brown eyes, and lots of freckles, ” and the audience can decide for themselves whether they find her attractive or not!

[kevin]

Japanese 5, 000 year old dragon loli × American 18th century vampire

[TriKittah]

I write YA/NA, hoping to be published soon. My main beta reader has always been my oldest, who's now only 13 but she's a college reading level, so she's well read, but she would be right between my arms as I would write while she was younger. I try to write so SHE's not embarrassed to read it. All three of my kids like to pop in at random times while I'm writing, and naturally they like to read what I'm working on, so I write so I'M not embarrassed by what my 5 and 7 year olds see on the screen. The pros and cons of raising book dragons, though the only down side is I don't have enough room for all their books right now.

[preciousogbuenyi]

"...these ungrateful teenagers, that's who." 😂😂😂😂

I would fully embrace being the chosen one with cool powers. Immediately. No hesitation.

[wootwoot]

My main question about adult writers who write immortals who are repeatedly going back to school: WHY!? They could JUST LIVE OUT IN THE WOODS?! AND WHY ARE THEY USUALLY THE LOVE INTEREST?

[MerleyMnster]

Okay, so hear me out, a masquerade ball, but its so the hero and villain (regardless of gender) can talk and they can only talk because there's too many bystanders?

[VorpalSpider]

Running the mile in PE sucked. You couldn’t make me do that again, even under penalty of death- they’re both the same.