Parents in YA2/3/2023 Katniss Everdeen, Jude Duarte, Alina Starkov, Avey Grambs, Lin Cinder. All of these popular main characters have different traits in common. Stubbornness, empowerment, a hero’s journey. And in all cases, they do not have parents. YA, especially when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy, tends not to include the parents of the main characters. While it is understandable that parents would probably complicate the quests of a seventeen-year-old, it stretches to an unrealistic point that can become a weakness of the genre. The death of parents in YA often bids to the tragic backstory of the main character. It also involves characters having to grow up too early. It can become inaccurate, to expect teens to behave like adults. Because the truth is that most teens in real life are still figuring out how to become independent. So perhaps including and exploring this kind of family relationship is worth having more characters in a story. Healthy Relationships Representing healthy and healing relationships in media is important. And this includes parents too. Having parents support, teach, and love their children should be a more popular concept in stories. Audiences should see mothers and fathers who put effort into healing themselves so they can help a new generation. There should be moments to work through arguments and show readers that healthy family relationships are possible to build. An example of this is portrayed in Marissa Meyer’s Renegades trilogy, an action-packed story full of superheroes and villains threatening the streets of Galton City. Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden are the adoptive parents of Adrian Everhart. One of Adrian’s internal conflicts is the fear he feels of telling them about his vigilante alter-ego since they are Galton’s most acclaimed heroes. Their relationship (even if it is not the focal point of the story) is explored throughout the books. In the plot Parents can also become part of the conflict in different ways. Frist, the hero’s journey includes a mentor figure most of the time, so why not have parents be it? Second, parents can oppose their child’s aim, and add to the conflict. Third, they can be a motive for the main character to act and fight. And finally, even if they are not active characters in the plot, having their child call or write them even while on an adventure can maintain their connection without major alterations to the plot. An example that integrates some of these points is the one and only Sally Jackson. It is her sacrifice and bravery that first shapes and influences our main character. During Percy Jackson - The Lightning Thief, finding his mother is a strong Motive for Percy to take on a quest. Then, throughout the series, she supports him, takes care of him, and interacts with other characters too. Family relationships can get as complex as any other, with many angles for writers to explore. Building and including healthy relationships with parents is something I hope to see more in the future of the genre. Paula Argudois an Ecuadorian writer who weaves culture and magic into her stories. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as SeaGlass Literary and Ice Lolly Review, and she was an international finalist in the Metamorphosis contest. When not writing, you can find her dancing, baking, or daydreaming.
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