The Fantasy Attraction

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When you walk into a Barnes and Noble and go to the YA literature section, you will find an entire genre dedicated to what is called "paranormal romance." An entire section fully dedicated to books like the Twilight series and other vampire novels, The Mortal Instruments and other fantasy driven novels.

These novels may not be necessarily bad, but does the popularity of this genre within YA literature tell us something about the influences that literature can have on a teen?

Teens, and many adults as well, crave stories with adventure and mystery, and especially those teenage girls, romance. That is the exact audience these "paranormal romance" novels are geared towards.

Western Herald Reporter Sam Stachurski interviewed YA author Holly Black about this very phenomenon. She said that readers like to "flirt with danger while remaining totally safe." Although these novels may seem to be completely superficial to the outside observer, Black said that teens identify with the characters in these novels because "[They] know that the world has darkness in it" and they may have experienced some of those dark moments themselves.

Now, I don't completely disagree with Black, but I do think that there is a certain point where those "paranormal romance" novels can go from being good, dynamic YA literature to simply fun and entertaining fluff.

Let's take for example a very popular YA "paranormal romance" novel right now: Twilight. I will admit, very begrudgingly, that I loved Twilight in high school. But it wasn't because of any life lessons I learned from the book or any characters I wanted to exemplify (which they weren't any of either). It is was because the book was entertaining and it didn't make me think. It was a nice break away from my stressful senior year of high school.

I can see the appeal of these books to teenage girls, not just because of the brooding vampires and hot werewolf boys. Think about the years of adolescence. Those were some of the most awkward years of life, because you're constantly trying to figure out who you are, while trying to fit into a group, and you're body is changing and your hormones are on a never-ending roller coaster. Is it really that far of a stretch that teens would find comfort in novels about humans/creatures that don't ever have to change. They are stagnant, but beautiful. They have those same angsty emotions, but hey, that's attractive in "paranormal romance" land; in real life, you're labeled as "emo" and are shunned. Who wouldn't want to escape to a place where your flaws can actually be perfections.

The problem comes with the lack of conflict and consequences for Bella. What would have made Twilight a great YA novel is if Bella had had to face some sort of devastating loss, and then in the end, came out on top. Bella ends up with everything she ever wanted at the end of the series. When does that ever actually happen in real life?

That's why I'm a firm believer in the YA problem novel. It has those nitty, gritty, dark elements that the "paranormal romance" novel has, but most problem novels use more realistic scenarios. I do think that if done right, the "paranormal romance" can work as a problem novel as well.

Author Meg Cabot recently released a new novel entitled Abandon. This novel is a reworking of the Hades and Persephone myth. The main character is a teenager who dies and then comes back to life. You get the fantasy elements, because she goes to the underworld and is kidnapped by Hades. But this character also faces some real world problems, like her parents getting a divorce, and her best friend committing suicide. Even though it has those fantasy elements, Cabot also does a good job of mixing in the fantasy with reality, and her characters don't usually get everything they want in the end.

Yes, teens are interested in the "paranormal" because they can escape real life and traipse through a fantasy life. But when that fantasy life does not show teens that even though real life can be terrible sometimes, it is possible to make it through, even if you don't end up living happily ever after with your vampire honey.