Teen vs. Twenty-Something Tales: Delving into the Distinctions Between Young Adult and New Adult Books
The differences between a series like Junie B Jones and Gossip Girl are obvious. Junie B is a kindergartener and therefore going through some very different life changes compared to the privileged teens of Gossip Girl. The distinction between children’s books and Young Adult books is easy to determine, and similarly the difference between Young Adult and Adult. I don’t think anyone is going to pick up “The Girl on the Train” and think it was written specifically for kids in high school.
In the last few years, however, the “New Adult” category arrived in the literary scene and it has been…confusing. Don’t get me wrong, there have been many exciting NA books released in the last few years, but for both writers and readers, the distinction can get lost.
But also, why does it even matter?
Because when you’re writing your story you want to have at least a basic idea of what themes, tones, and characters your story will include. This helps you write your story and helps the right readers find your story.
What to Consider
The age of your readers & characters
How you write the content of your story
How your character handles the events of your story
Reader & Character Age
The first distinction between YA and NA is the age of your readers and the age of your characters. There are a few different suggestions on age ranges, but generally, Young Adult readers are teenagers around 15-19 while New Adult readers are 20 and up. Readers, most of the time, want to read stories with characters in their age group because it’s more relatable. A YA character is going to be going through the challenges of the story while also navigating the new privileges of teenhood while an NA character will be going through the challenges with the added responsibility of adulthood. There are some nuances to keep in mind. For example, if your narrator is an adult recounting their teen years. They will be viewing and explaining teen activities through the lens of an adult who has since learned new things, therefore, this story could fall into the Adult or New Adult categories but not necessarily Young Adult.
How You Write the Content
Both Young Adult and New Adult stories cover a variety of experiences that may include drugs, alcohol, violence, and sex. The key is how these topics are handled. Young Adult books address the content and then focus more on the processing and the aftermath whereas New Adult can be more descriptive and in the moment. Take, for instance, romance and sex. A romance within a Young Adult book will be written through the lens of these emotions being experienced for the first time and what it means for them to be growing into adulthood. A New Adult book centering around characters that have experienced relationships before may consider the pros and cons of a love interest and ultimately what it means about themselves to be attracted to this new person.
While YA books sometimes involve teens who are having sex, these scenes are implied. This is one of the most confusing aspects for some readers when they think they are picking up a YA book and come to find out it is New Adult as recent trends show these books may have more focus on “spicy” scenes with detailed descriptions.
How Your Character Handles Events
You can throw two different characters into a situation and they are going to handle it differently. Their reactions rely heavily on their personality, maturity level, and backstory, not necessarily their age, but what is influenced by their age is how they communicate both internally and externally throughout the story. A teen carrying the responsibility of caring for their family is a heavier weight to bear than an adult parent caring for the family they have created. The stress on the teen is a trauma while the stress on the adult is a natural consequence.
Not sure about your story?
While the age category is helpful to consider while writing, I don’t suggest forcing your writing to fit a specific category. During the writing process, you should be focusing more on the plot, character development, the fun of world-building, and creating excitement! If you read through your final manuscript and aren’t sure what age category to place it in this is a great question for your Beta Readers.
