Characteristics and Appeal to Readers

Death and illness has been a popular and prevalent theme in novels for a long time. As its own genre for young adults, though, it is something of a newer creation. There are several characteristics that determine this particular genre. In all of the books, the main character is faced with a life changing situation, usually he/she is confronted with a lifelong and oftentimes, terminal illness. If the main character is lucky enough to surpass the disease, then usually a best friend or close family member is stricken with one. In many of the books, the lead roles find love and romance while learning to life with these new circumstances.

This genre would appeal to many different types of readers. It could be of interest to a reader who is curious about what it is like to be diagnosed with a life altering illness, or perhaps for a reader who has experienced this first hand in terms of his/herself or a friend or family member having an illness. Readers will love the questions of everyone's own mortality and of the hope and inspiration that can come out of both positive and negative situations. These books tackle hard hitting issues such as suicide, cancer, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and so on. The readers will be faced with destruction and despair, and hopefully come out of the text with a sense of renewal and optimism.

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